ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Background documentation

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:56:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: Background documentation

I never ask for lists of terms, but I almost always ask for background documents so that I can find the terms in context. Professional terminologists, like those in the European Commission and the United Nations, build glossaries by working with paired documents. As Prozians well know, the Internet now makes a lot of that material available on-line.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Ask Ask Ask

Nico_M_ITEN — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:02:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Nico_M_ITEN
Post title: Ask Ask Ask

It's our duty as translators to convey the most accurate meaning possible. It is written in all the Codes of Practice that you can find, from T&I associations all over the world... if I don't understand or I am not comfortable with a term, I ask, not just because I like to, but because I am supposed to. Since I do a lot of technical work, this happens very often.

Besides, often it turns out that the client wasn't clear, or chose the wrong word, so my enquiring attitude saves me a lot of later - and boring - work.

My clients, especially the long-term ones, are usually happy when I ask questions and often get back to me with precious reference material.
One-off jobs are a different story, because asking may expose your weak spots... but who likes to do one-off jobs?

If a client thinks less of you because you are "sweating" over their project, well... then, in my modest opinion, they are not clients you'd really want to be involved with.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Good point, Wanda

Irene N — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:30:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Irene N
Post title: Good point, Wanda

[quote]Wanda de Melo wrote:

In fact, when I started translating I was afraid of asking. Most clients think that if you ask them questions you are not a good translator. [/quote]

I'm not so sure I'd go for distributing any kind of translators' testaments among the clients but before asking too much we need to be perfectly clear about who we are dealing with. Clients experienced in running international projects, end or agencies "educated by experience", clients who regard us as a part of the team will understand, answer and appreciate. Clients who believe that what you are doing is "retyping into" should better be left alone. What's the point to irritate a milking cow?

Work the crowd and only then take the next step! IMHO.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Afraid of asking

Wanda de Melo — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 19:02:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Wanda de Melo
Post title: Afraid of asking

Yes I contact customer for terms support, but only when the translation is finished.

In fact, when I started translating I was afraid of asking. Most clients think that if you ask them questions you are not a good translator.

It is always a good idea to send your customer a copy of the "Seven Signs of a Good Translator". One of the signs is : "a good translator asks questions".

Wanda

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Depends upon origin of document

Siobhán Fulton — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:39:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Siobhán Fulton
Post title: Depends upon origin of document

In my experience in the US, many documents are provided by clients who are even more clueless about terminology than I am. They've received a bid specification from a potential German client and need to know what it says. In some cases they've asked for partial deliveries in order to determine the actual content and have canceled the project after the first document or two, once they've realized that they weren't interested in bidding.

In the case of European clients who have originated the documents, they usually have preferred terminology and welcome queries.
Again, my experience may be different from others.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Always!

Stephanie Mitchel — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:37:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Stephanie Mitchel
Post title: Always!

Obviously, I get as much as I can from my own resources, but then:

If I'm dealing directly with the end client, I will ask them about anything that appears to be specific to them.

If I'm dealing with an agency, I'll pass these kinds of questions through to the end client.

If I'm on a tight deadline, and nobody's available to ask, well, that's when I turn to you, dear ProZians.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Group of Questions

Hellen Varela-Fdez. — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:09:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Hellen Varela-Fdez.
Post title: Group of Questions

I agree with Maria's comment. This is almost the same "strategy" I try to use, but instead of waiting until the very end of the translation, I try to send a group of questions when I feel it's necessary. Of course, I send the questions/problems that I could not solve by my own.

As a client, I guess I would not like to receive the questions one by one, by emails everyday or everyhour, or to receive all the questions at the very end because I would feel the pression to reply as quickly as possible to get the translation ready. That's why I prefer to send them in groups! ;)

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | translation as dialogue

Richard Robinson — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:38:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Richard Robinson
Post title: translation as dialogue

I am sure I produce my best work for the clients I have a good relationship with. The relationship is built up through dialogue, which includes me asking them terminology questions as well.

I find that this is usually easier with the end client or a small agency than via a large agency. I have come across situations where a large agency allows me contact with the end user only after repeated queries (that's a euphemism for the P word).

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | only when necessary

Brandis (X) — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:33:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Brandis (X)
Post title: only when necessary

some times, the customer emphasizes on certain usages, regardless of whether they fit the overall picture or not, and due to his/her own special reasons. Then it is necessary to pre-check with the customer with due reasoning of such usages and get his approval and only iff.. Best Brandis

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | i always ask, but almost never receive

Dusica Lukrecija Stilic — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Dusica Lukrecija Stilic
Post title: i always ask, but almost never receive

as many words can be translated in two or more ways, i prefer to use the client's preference... that is why i ask, but - unfortunately, not many of my clients have glossaries... well, then i translate and made glossaries as i go, checking with the client when it comes to terminology i am not certain about or if i want to confirm the use...

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | agree entirely with Erik...

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Post title: agree entirely with Erik...

[quote]Erik Hansson wrote:

Surprisng to see that 43 % percent of all participants voted for "Only in rare cases". As for me, I always contact my client, if end client or agency, if there are any terms I need to get clarified.

Any client who is interested in a high-quality translation should be happy for these term questions, as it's simply an indication that the translator wants to deliver a best possible translation. 99 % of my clients appreciate getting questions.

In some cases there are also technical details which need to be clarified, e.g. size if cables (client's text mentioned a cable of 1,5 square metre, which turned out to be 1,5 square millimeter). ;-)

It was obvious client's mistake, but client appreciated us telling them about their mistake.

Erik

**********************************
Erik Hansson ( SFÖ )
Technical translator DE-SV
Hansson Übersetzungen GmbH
Am Birkenwäldchen 38
D-01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde, Germany
Phone +49 - 3 59 52 - 321 07
Fax +49 - 3 59 52 - 322 02
E-Mail [email removed]
Internet [url removed]
Internet [url removed]
Internet [url removed]
ProZ profile [url removed]
***********************************

[/quote]

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Of course "YES"

Erik Hansson — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Erik Hansson
Post title: Of course "YES"

Surprisng to see that 43 % percent of all participants voted for "Only in rare cases". As for me, I always contact my client, if end client or agency, if there are any terms I need to get clarified.

Any client who is interested in a high-quality translation should be happy for these term questions, as it's simply an indication that the translator wants to deliver a best possible translation. 99 % of my clients appreciate getting questions.

In some cases there are also technical details which need to be clarified, e.g. size if cables (client's text mentioned a cable of 1,5 square metre, which turned out to be 1,5 square millimeter). ;-)

It was obvious client's mistake, but client appreciated us telling them about their mistake.

Erik

**********************************
Erik Hansson ( SFÖ )
Technical translator DE-SV
Hansson Übersetzungen GmbH
Am Birkenwäldchen 38
D-01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde, Germany
Phone +49 - 3 59 52 - 321 07
Fax +49 - 3 59 52 - 322 02
E-Mail [email removed]
Internet [url removed]
Internet [url removed]
Internet [url removed]
ProZ profile [url removed]
***********************************

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | customer's in-house terminology

JackieMcC — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:08:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: JackieMcC
Post title: customer's in-house terminology

Another aspect not mentioned so far is checking the customer's in-house terminology. I often work for big banks, investment firms or big groups in other sectors. They tend to already have their own way of saying things, so when there are two or more accepted ways of translating a term I often check which they prefer.
Also, it makes sense to ask customers how they translate the names of their internal departments etc. This saves the customer having to go through changing names, and will also improve the customer's general impression of the translation, I believe.
FWIW
Jackie

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Occasionally

Parrot — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Parrot
Post title: Occasionally

although I had the same experience as CMJ. However, now that we have more free access to documents, the occasions became less frequent.

Take the case of companies who, you discover, do not use dictionary-standard translations (distributors are "dealers" in an increasingly horizontal structure, contracts fall under specific categories, the terminology of some new EU directive conflicts with their rendering...) THEN I think questions are indispensable, and not exactly to be solved by KudoZ.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Definetely YES

Maria Tulbure — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:19:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Maria Tulbure
Post title: Definetely YES

I voted 'Yes - regardless of customer type'

I always ask customers for terms support when I am not sure about a certain term. However, I do this only after I have exhausted all the other possibilities: dictionaries, internet, friends ... etc., and only after I have finished the translation and found out that it was impossible at least to guess the meaning from context. I prefer to get in touch with the end-user if possible. I usually try to sort the matter out by e-mail, almost never on phone.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Thanks, Deborah and Kirill!

Nicole Schnell — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:46:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Nicole Schnell
Post title: Thanks, Deborah and Kirill!

I should have mentioned that I am specializing in advertising/copy writing. I am supposed to do freestyle. And localizing. That's what I am being paid for and my clients have full trust in me, which is hard to build up in the first place.

In case I would have problems w/technical terms or similar I would pester my client night and day via all media available.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Spot on

Alison Schwitzgebel — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:45:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Alison Schwitzgebel
Post title: Spot on

[quote]CMJ_Trans wrote:

So I would say that, far from making you look unprofessional, asking the RIGHT questions (not asking each and every word, of course) should make you more friends than enemies. And you learn a lot as well. [/quote]

A translation for a customer is not a test - the aim is to produce a product that meets the client's needs. And if you're stumped with a terminology question then the best course of action is to ask - and not to guess. I've often asked questions about terminology - in many cases only to find out that the client has used the wrong word in the original text. And they're (almost) always thankful because they want the text to be right in both languages.

FWIW

Alison

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | As a client, I always say "please ask".....

CMJ_Trans (X) — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:39:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: CMJ_Trans (X)
Post title: As a client, I always say "please ask".....

I answered this poll but in truth I had to fudge because I never deal with agencies, except when placing work.

When I worked full time as a translator/interpreter, I would always ask if there was any specialised vocabulary. For interpreting I/we would always ask for past documents, in-house literature (this was before the days of websites, not SO long ago!), etc. The clients lapped it up because it showed we were serious and prepared to spend time researching the subject, especially when it was for highly technical congresses.

The same applied/s to translation.

In addition, I have just handed in a huge text together with a list of comments regarding errors I have found in the text. Again, if you handle it tactfully, the customer loves it because it shows you are thinking about what you are doing. For years I have been handling an annual report and the client relies on me to do the final proof-read on the original at the same time as translating. It is a good card and one that can pay dividends.

I say this because, as a client placing work, I far prefer to work with people who do their job intelligently and that means swallowing your pride and asking politely if the end client has any preferences in terms of vocabulary and any material that can help. Asking for a contact to the original author or commenting on things in the text that seem wrong is not offensive (unless you are aggressive). For me, as a client, it is a plus point.

So I would say that, far from making you look unprofessional, asking the RIGHT questions (not asking each and every word, of course) should make you more friends than enemies. And you learn a lot as well.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | I voted `Sometimes'

Kirill Semenov — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:34:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Kirill Semenov
Post title: I voted `Sometimes'

[quote]Nicole Schnell wrote:
One thing that I learned while being self-employed, long before I got into translating: "Never let your clients see you sweat."
[/quote]

Instead, I learned that `the result of your work is the most important thing'. If I want to do my best - and I suppose everyone of us shares the goal - I will use anything to make my final translation better. If it implies asking my clients - it's perfectly OK. I do it sometimes when I feel it's necessary, and I've never had any problems with my clients because of it. They want good translation, and so do I - it means we are collaborators, not enemies. And I'm not afraid to show that there are things I don't understand or I don't know yet. :)

Also, I believe that many of us establish nice, not very official relations with our clients (especially regular clients), and this is great, it's not only `pro-pro', but also `human-human' relationships. :)

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Point taken but .......

Deborah do Carmo (X) — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:20:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Deborah do Carmo (X)
Post title: Point taken but .......

[quote]Nicole Schnell wrote:

One thing that I learned while being self-employed, long before I got into translating: "Never let your clients see you sweat."

[/quote]

There are many instances where it is obvious clients have preferred terminology but due to a lack of communication - often between end-client and agency - one doesn't receive it. In those cases, we would be remiss in our duties as a translator if we didn't enquire.

I don't view that as "sweating". I view it as responsible behaviour.

An obvious example would be a tender: recently I translated an extensive set of tender documents for a bidder and was provided with the relevant State department's preferred terminology. Another colleague received the identical document for translation from another bidder, far later, less organised and with no terminology lists at all.

All the sweat and research in the world would not have helped as they were in-house terms, specifically coined for this tender.

He contacted me and I, knowing there were lists, suggested he enquire. He then received the lists. In his case, he'd just had the initial misfortune of a PM who didn't know enough about the project type to realise there must be lists and an end-client who just wanted the job done, was obviously disorganised and would have complained bitterly afterwards - even though he would have used valid terms, they wouldn't have been "the terms".

Of course, we should only use preferred terminology that is valid. I have no qualms about telling a client why I can't use a particular preferred term (ambiguity in law, grammatical errors, etc) - which I am able to do with confidence as I'm also a lawyer and translate solely in my specialisation areas -and they are then generally happy to adapt them.

Translation is a two-way street. In many cases - and I imagine literary would be another area where author contact would be vital - the only way to produce the best possible translation is to ask for terminology lists, further clarification etc. That shouldn't be followed blindly however. WE are still responsible for the end product.

Debs

[Edited at 2006-02-22 11:02]

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | I voted No

Nicole Schnell — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 08:35:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Nicole Schnell
Post title: I voted No

I guess that's because I got lucky so far. I rather break my back doing research, even doing phone calls to foreign countries at bizarre times.

One thing that I learned while being self-employed, long before I got into translating: "Never let your clients see you sweat."

Besides, the colleagues at proZ are helping a lot..

Thanks!

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | Blame me...

Henry Dotterer — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 07:53:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Henry Dotterer
Post title: Blame me...

[quote]Mrudula Tambe wrote:

or either the question should be.

I think there should be 2 questions 1) How many times you ask your customer for term support 2) To which kind of customer do you ask for the term support.

Here when I voted I wanted to vote for two answers in the given poll.

Let your question and options be accurate next time. [/quote]
Blame me for the survey format, not the member - I edited it substantially in this case.

It is not uncommon for two questions to be rolled into one around here, though. Since we have more surveys coming in than we can run, I try to economize (to run two surveys would take two days). I reason that this is ok because the polls are primarily intended to kick off an exchange of views.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support? | The poll combines two questions

Mrudula Tambe — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 07:26:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: Mrudula Tambe
Post title: The poll combines two questions

or either the question should be.

I think there should be 2 questions 1) How many times you ask your customer for term support 2) To which kind of customer do you ask for the term support.

Here when I voted I wanted to vote for two answers in the given poll.

Let your question and options be accurate next time.

Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?

ProZ.com Staff — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 05:47:19 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ever ask your customers for terms support?".

This poll was originally submitted by McNohara

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: [url removed]