Translation - art & business » Money matters »
Rate offered for a literary translation into English
Thread poster: Eugenia Corbo
Eugenia Corbo
Eugenia Corbo  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:41
English to Spanish
+ ...
Jul 26, 2005

Dear colleagues... I had to share this:

http://boston.craigslist.org/wrg/84453105.html

"spanish to English translator needed
Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2005-07-14, 2:03PM EDT
for one job only 6 week deadline. 165 pages single spaced. Mafia novel needs translation to... See more
Dear colleagues... I had to share this:

http://boston.craigslist.org/wrg/84453105.html

"spanish to English translator needed
Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2005-07-14, 2:03PM EDT
for one job only 6 week deadline. 165 pages single spaced. Mafia novel needs translation to English. $550.00 upon completion in 6 weeks. Only serious inquiries please."

Rather than an enquiry, I wrote this person a very serious e-mail... Unbelievable! If we do the rough calculation of 500 words per page, this is 0.006666666666666 per word.

Eugenia

[Edited at 2005-07-26 04:50] ▲ Collapse
 
craigs
craigs
Local time: 12:41
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Maybe 6K pesos is a lot Jul 26, 2005

Eugenia Corbo wrote:

Dear colleagues... I had to share this:

http://boston.craigslist.org/wrg/84453105.html

"spanish to English translator needed
Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2005-07-14, 2:03PM EDT
for one job only 6 week deadline. 165 pages single spaced. Mafia novel needs translation to English. $550.00 upon completion in 6 weeks. Only serious inquiries please."

Rather than an enquiry, I wrote this person a very serious e-mail... Unbelievable! If we do the rough calculation of 500 words per page, this is 0.006666666666666 per word.

Eugenia

[Edited at 2005-07-26 04:50]


I dunno how much 6,000 pesos will buy in Mexico...

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
 
Patricia Rosas
Patricia Rosas  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 09:41
Spanish to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Prices in Mexico for Literary Translations Jul 26, 2005

A publisher I work for in Mexico pays 12 cents a word. SO YES, THAT OFFER IS RIDICULOUS.

Also, it is worth considering that the book being translated will be SOLD in the US (or throughout the English-speaking world), and there will be royalties. I try to give my Mexican clients discounts, but if they are going to make a profit off the translated work, I take that into consideration, too.
 
Lesley Clarke
Lesley Clarke  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 10:41
Spanish to English
Mexico is not cheap to live in Jul 27, 2005

6000 pesos for six weeks work in Mexico would certainly be an economic disaster, as well as a literary disaster. If anyone were to accept that payment I would hate to think what the end result would be, considering the additional talents and qualifications needed for literary translations.
 


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Rate offered for a literary translation into English







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