Off topic: To the unsung heroes of translation. Thread poster: BelkisDV
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BelkisDV 
United States
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
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(Contributions to this mediocre attempt at poetry will be greatly appreciated.)
We’re the heroes of translation,
Don’t you put down our profession.
We are here day and night
Delivering your message right.
Tell us when the job was great,
Let us know if we’ll get paid…
Kindly treat us with respect,
Don’t avoid payment requests.
After a... See more (Contributions to this mediocre attempt at poetry will be greatly appreciated.)
We’re the heroes of translation,
Don’t you put down our profession.
We are here day and night
Delivering your message right.
Tell us when the job was great,
Let us know if we’ll get paid…
Kindly treat us with respect,
Don’t avoid payment requests.
After all we’re here all night
Working on your job...that's right!
If you think a term is wrong,
Why don’t you pick up the phone?
Could you tell your secretary
That this issue is monetary?
- “We want CAT tools”
- “Here you go”
- “We want prices to be low”
- “Oh, my word…heck no, heck no!”
Most are experts, some beginners
But don’t take us to the cleaners.
On this train you are the passenger…
We are here to avoid disasters.
Check the text and click that mouse
YOU made those mistakes 'in-house'.
Et nous sommes ici toujours,
Pas plus CAT Tools, pas du tout!
So refrain from placing blame…
On translators, what a shame!
[Edited at 2006-07-27 15:10] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 16:10
Spanish to English
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| Not so unsung | Jul 27, 2006 |
I just wanted to share something that happened at the start of the month.
A tense client leaving to supervise a month of earthworks in a state garden project asked for a timeline on a 20K project he didn't expect could be finished in 2 weeks. As it turned out, I quoted 10 days, without including weekends. He was happy because it meant he could start earlier.
The project got underway, and partial deliveries were pouring in. But as it turned out, it was really 30K on that... See more I just wanted to share something that happened at the start of the month.
A tense client leaving to supervise a month of earthworks in a state garden project asked for a timeline on a 20K project he didn't expect could be finished in 2 weeks. As it turned out, I quoted 10 days, without including weekends. He was happy because it meant he could start earlier.
The project got underway, and partial deliveries were pouring in. But as it turned out, it was really 30K on that same short notice.
He had agreed to all emergency surcharges. In the middle of the mess -- admittedly on their end, since they had left some documents out of the estimate -- when it became clear we were going to meet the target with more than enough time for printing and binding, I received 2 dozen long-stemmed white roses from that office with a heartfelt note of thanks that I hadn't expected.
We also say, this is a business and we're in it for the money.
Really, now? ▲ Collapse
| | | | BelkisDV
United States
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Parrot wrote: I received 2 dozen long-stemmed white roses from that office with a heartfelt note of thanks that I hadn't expected. We also say, this is a business and we're in it for the money. Really, now?
Way to go and we're certainly in it for the money besides the sense of self-achievement we all feel when we give our all.
Cheers.
Belkis
| | | | PatriziaM.
Italy
Local time: 16:10
English to Italian
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| Bravo! One more rhyme | Jul 27, 2006 |
Belkis Díaz-Vidaillet wrote: (Contributions to this mediocre attempt at poetry will be greatly appreciated.) We’re the heroes of translation, Don’t you put down our profession. We are here day and night Delivering your message right. Tell us when the job was great, Let us know if we’ll get paid… Kindly treat us with respect, Don’t avoid payment requests. After all we’re here all night Working on your job, n’est-ce-pas? .....
I like your poetry, bravo!
In order to create the rhyme in the only strophe where it is missing, I would say:
"Working on your job, we are your faithful knights"
What do you think of it?
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BelkisDV
United States
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Oh my goodness! | Jul 27, 2006 |
I like it...you're a poet and you didn't know it
| | | | | Translated rhyming | Jul 27, 2006 |
"After all we’re here all night
Working on your job, n’est-ce-pas?"
I had interpreted this as rhyming in a convoluted, translated way.
"After all, we're here all night
Working on your job, isn't that right?"
but translated into French!
Anna
| | | | BelkisDV
United States
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | We need more languages | Jul 27, 2006 |
Thanks Anna,
I dared to add a strophe in French, now we need some more languages to get it going.
(I'm really enjoying this).
Rgds,
Belkis
| | | | | Here is my story! | Jul 27, 2006 |
After doing a very rush job for a client and delivering it a bit early, he was so pleased that he not only paid but had a huge box of my favorite ice cream delivered.
Yes, Parrot, I agree, these little things make it all worthwhile.
Lucinda
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BelkisDV
United States
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Here's my favorite | Jul 27, 2006 |
One of my best clients, whom I seldom charged because the work was very little, made it big...he threw a party inviting some famous singers and on the back of the CD wrote:
Many thanks to (me)!!!! (Actually it was in print, on the list of contributors).
THAT was worth it!
Rgds,
Belkis
[Edited at 2006-07-27 16:30]
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