| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: If you were hiring a freelance translator/interpreter, would age (60/65+) influence your decision? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you were hiring a freelance translator/interpreter, would age (60/65+) influence your decision?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | I'd prefer to hire aged translators | May 20, 2025 |
I'd prefer to hire aged (60+) translator because of their experience
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Why only age (60/65+)? Why not, for example, age (20/25-)?
| | | | Lingua 5B 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 07:42
English to French
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No, in MTPE, age is irrelevant. AI is ageless.
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| I'd prefer an older person (unless the younger one is brilliant) | May 20, 2025 |
They can be expected to use language better because books were a big part of their lives as kids. The degree of language deterioration I've noticed in the younger generation can't be disregarded: what they write in translations sometimes sounds so lame that my first impression can be, "How can anyone ever write such a thing? Maybe the translator is not native in Russian?" Exceptions happen, but the trend is there, I must be totally delusional if I'm wrong about it. We've been hiring older folks ... See more They can be expected to use language better because books were a big part of their lives as kids. The degree of language deterioration I've noticed in the younger generation can't be disregarded: what they write in translations sometimes sounds so lame that my first impression can be, "How can anyone ever write such a thing? Maybe the translator is not native in Russian?" Exceptions happen, but the trend is there, I must be totally delusional if I'm wrong about it. We've been hiring older folks lately. Not quite 60/65+, but I wouldn't mind working with someone of that age if they can do the job ▲ Collapse
| | | | IrinaN (X)
United States
Local time: 00:42
English to Russian
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| I have a sneaking suspicion | May 20, 2025 |
That a toddler who came up with this question believes that "old" folks are backward and stupid, and those horrific 60/65+ numbers by itself are clear signs of senility, dementia and regression by definition .
Sweetie, I, for one, swam with the sharks near Cape Town at 67, just got back from a long and intense trip to my beloved St. Petersburg, where I walked 15-18 thousand steps every day, and at nearly 69 work lon... See more That a toddler who came up with this question believes that "old" folks are backward and stupid, and those horrific 60/65+ numbers by itself are clear signs of senility, dementia and regression by definition.
Sweetie, I, for one, swam with the sharks near Cape Town at 67, just got back from a long and intense trip to my beloved St. Petersburg, where I walked 15-18 thousand steps every day, and at nearly 69 work long and tedious day or night shifts providing simo interpretation support from the Mission Control Center during real-time space walks and other ISS mission ops.
Here, have an ice cream, it's on grandma.
PS - enjoy my confession: I wouldn't mind to be 60 years young again, maybe 50 but not 20 even if you pay me. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 07:42
English to German
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| never been asked | May 20, 2025 |
Throughout my now medium-to-long career, I've never been asked my age (in some countries, this is also not permitted).
In terms of quality alone, unless I don't encounter a young genius, I'd choose someone who is more experienced, and therefore more reliable and efficient. (Language deterioration as mentioned by Denis is also a fact in my native languages.)
[Bearbeitet am 2025-05-20 07:32 GMT]
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Why not ask in a more direct way? Are you ageist? People of all ages have something to offer. The "generation divide" (a media construct) has crept in. Some of the best contributors on Proz.com passed away and we are no longer able to draw on their fount of wisdom.
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Experience is an asset and quite often goes hand in hand with age. I’ve never been asked my age, but I have a sneaky suspicion that my long-standing clients have an idea… Anyway, I’m a fit oldie…
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 07:42
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
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Age wouldn't be a factor as such, years of experience would. The development (for the better) a serious translator goes through through the years is immense.
| | | | | Yes, but to the translator's advantage | May 20, 2025 |
My experience tells me that you need a certain age to be a good translator.
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... if you want your piano play good
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule | | No expiration date on talent, skill, or value | May 20, 2025 |
As long as the person can do the work to the required standard, their age should be irrelevant. What matters is the quality and reliability of their work.
It's sure that a translator can often be more skilled with age, given their years of exposure and linguistic nuance.
Is there a specific age for everything in our lives? The answer is no, there's no expiration date on talent, skill, or value.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 07:42
English to French
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| Yes, there is | May 20, 2025 |
expressisverbis wrote:
Is there a specific age for everything in our lives? The answer is no, there's no expiration date on talent, skill, or value.
In many areas, there is. Not an expiration, just a requirement. For instance, in acting and voice acting, you are always asked to be a specific age for the role. Your acting age range may be somewhat wider than your biological age, but still there will be an age limit.
I don’t mind it at all, and don’t understand the heated reactions. My ego is still under control, and my mind can understand requirements and specifications, including those age related.
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