Poll: How often do you outsource work to other translators? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Erik Matson 
Thailand
Local time: 03:30
English to Norwegian
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I selected "Never" as an answer because this is the option that most closely describes my history of outsourcing. However, I wish "almost never" had been an option, because this is the case for me. I felt that selecting "occasionally" would be an exaggeration based on the fact that I have only outsourced twice in all my years of translating.
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:30
German to English
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I work virtually exclusively for agencies, who largely stipulate that all work must be translated by me! So I couldn't outsource, even if I wanted to, which I don't! It would involve more proof-reading and translator management, and personally, I'd rather be doing the actual translation.
| | | | | I don't "outsource" translation work, I refer | Mar 22, 2010 |
If I can't or won't do a job for any reason whatsoever, I don't outsource. I put the client in direct contact with the colleagues (usually two) I consider capable of delivering a good job in that specific case, wish both parties good luck, and step out of the process.
I try to offer two options because one of them might be overloaded at that time, unable to commit to an acceptable deadline.
I don't expect any compensation... See more If I can't or won't do a job for any reason whatsoever, I don't outsource. I put the client in direct contact with the colleagues (usually two) I consider capable of delivering a good job in that specific case, wish both parties good luck, and step out of the process.
I try to offer two options because one of them might be overloaded at that time, unable to commit to an acceptable deadline.
I don't expect any compensation other than goodwill, and this has paid off quite well. These and other colleagues refer clients to me, when they know something is in my specialized area.
I do outsource other services that I am not equipped to do economically, or that I am unable to, do such as video dubbing, DVD mass duplication, large scale printing, etc. that are add-ons to the translation process, if the client needs the whole package. Then the client can choose between comparing the vendors I recommend with the ones they have (if any) and dealing with them directly, or paying me a fee to manage the whole process.
[Edited at 2010-03-22 11:59 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-03-22 12:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:30
Russian to English
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In memoriam | My experience differs from Mary's | Mar 22, 2010 |
I have worked for many UK agencies for over 40 years, and I cannot remember any occasion when an agency has refused a proposal from me to outsource part of a job to another translator. When I do this, it is always on the basis that the work comes back to me first so that I check it and am responsible for it, the payment comes to me and I send the appropriate part of it on.
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:30
German to English
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Jack Doughty wrote:
I have worked for many UK agencies for over 40 years, and I cannot remember any occasion when an agency has refused a proposal from me to outsource part of a job to another translator. When I do this, it is always on the basis that the work comes back to me first so that I check it and am responsible for it, the payment comes to me and I send the appropriate part of it on.
I've never actually proposed outsourcing to an agency, so it may be that the response I got would be similar ... In all honesty I've never yet felt the urge to outsource!
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 16:30
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Never/Other? | Mar 22, 2010 |
I don't outsource, in that I don't pay another translator for part of a job. However, I have often suggested other translators, usually by name, to clients, either because I was too busy, or the job was outside my expertise.
Soooo, does the latter count as outsourcing?
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 23:30
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
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Though I have occasionally engaged translators/proofreaders on behalf of clients for projects from other languages into English when they have asked me to.
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 22:30
English to French
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| Occasionally | Mar 22, 2010 |
Only when a handful of (local) direct customers ask me a translation in a pair I do not do (mainly into foreign languages).
When I am not available in my pairs, I refer to someone I trust.
FYI: some international organisations have you sign a confidentiality agreement specifying you undertake not to outsource.
| | | | | It depends on the deadline | Mar 22, 2010 |
I outsource mainly when a client has a very large translation project and needs it fast. In such cases, I contact a group a colleagues to help me out, but I almost always do at least translate some pages to get a feeling of the work at hand. I provide a glossary based on my previous experiences with this client and do check the doubts of my colleagues so that we have a common vocabulary base. I try to proofread the work of my colleagues before I put the translation together and submit it to the ... See more I outsource mainly when a client has a very large translation project and needs it fast. In such cases, I contact a group a colleagues to help me out, but I almost always do at least translate some pages to get a feeling of the work at hand. I provide a glossary based on my previous experiences with this client and do check the doubts of my colleagues so that we have a common vocabulary base. I try to proofread the work of my colleagues before I put the translation together and submit it to the client.
If I am too busy, and the client cannot wait, I usually suggest my client to contact some colleague directly. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I've done it only once in 10 years | Mar 23, 2010 |
I wish "extremely rarely" would be an option. Like once in 10 years, which is my case.
| | | | | I'd rate it as never | Mar 23, 2010 |
Alexandra Goldburt wrote:
I wish "extremely rarely" would be an option. Like once in 10 years, which is my case.
I've translated 8 videos for dubbing from French (with competent double-checking afterwards) once in 37 years. I don't think I'm lying when I say that I only translate between English and Portuguese.
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| A few times - and I regretted it | Mar 24, 2010 |
With international organizations, it's a violation of contract, so I don't do that.
The few occasions when I have, the biggest problem I found was that my colleagues left things out - words, phrases, whole sentences. They were relying on me to catch that kind of thing, and in the end it took me longer, and cost me more, than if I had done it myself in the first place. I learned my lesson the hard way.
The reality is that revision is very taxing, especially if one is res... See more With international organizations, it's a violation of contract, so I don't do that.
The few occasions when I have, the biggest problem I found was that my colleagues left things out - words, phrases, whole sentences. They were relying on me to catch that kind of thing, and in the end it took me longer, and cost me more, than if I had done it myself in the first place. I learned my lesson the hard way.
The reality is that revision is very taxing, especially if one is responsible for the entire job. I have stopped accepting "proofreading" assignments because the work is demanding and underpaid.
A tailor once said: "I would rather make a suit from scratch than do alterations." I feel the same way about translation. ▲ Collapse
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