GREAT post by Kristen Fischer over at Freelance Switch addressing something no freelance translator really likes to own up to… making mistakes and more importantly, dealing with clients who drop you as a result. (Incidently, I have a feeling that this may not be such an issue for our inhouse brethren, given that extra layer of comfort between client and translator i.e. employer, but I’d be happy to be proved wrong on this…)
I especially like the acknowledgement that, regardless of ability and talent, real life is not always ideal and clients *do* have a role to play in ensuring their freelancers produce the best possible job.
…I’ve also noticed that on my big projects when I’m working with a client who gives me ample time to complete a project, and comes in with a positive vibe, there are no typos. Not so for this other client. Because of all the work they slam on me and the tight deadlines—coupled with a bad attitude—mistakes happen…
Aaaah yes. I’m afraid I too have learnt the hard way that I am only human and that clients can’t have it all. Have a look at the post and the comments that follow – I reckon they contain valuable advice for freelance translators at all stages of their career.
What you said about stepping away and revising with a fresh eye is necessary for me with any sort of writing, even my blog posts, which are in English, my native language.
What you said about stepping away and revising with a fresh eye is necessary for me with any sort of writing, even my blog posts, which are in English, my native language.
Hi Dewey, thanks for the post!
I don’t find it happens to me like you describe but then I only translate into my mother tongue so mistakes don’t tend to creep in that way. I guess the things that crop up under less than ideal circumstances such as those described in the Freelance Switch article are things like typos, spelling mistakes in English, awkward or clumsy rending in English, inconsistent use of terminology, etc… (That’s not to say I never get things plain wrong of course, but I wouldn’t have very much paid translation work if that happened too often 😉 )
Life would be so much easier if being fluent in a second language was all you needed to be a good translator!
But generally I find working with the written word (translating=written,
interpreting=spoken) suits my working style as it gives me time to chew things over and be certain I’ve chosen le mot juste.
I do experience Aha! moments, but usually when I’ve made a deliberate decision to step away from a text and do something else for a bit to give my brain a chance to chew over how best to render a particularly tricky concept or turn of phrase, for example. It’s a great feeling when it hits, and is part of what I like best about translating!
But like most writers, I imagine, I’ve learnt from experience that I produce my best work when I’ve had a chance to sleep on it, and then revise with a fresh eye. Of course in the real world, translations need to be done by yesterday and this is often where problems creep in. But saying all that, I do believe translators themselves have a role to play in ensuring they negotiate reasonable deadlines and not take on work unless they’re capable of doing a good job… I just especially liked this particular article as it was one of the few I’ve read that even hinted that actually yes, factors outside of freelancer competence do affect the quality of work produced. Food for thought for work providers, hopefully, and a bit of welcome guilt relief for hard-working freelancers!
Sarah
Hi Dewey, thanks for the post!
I don’t find it happens to me like you describe but then I only translate into my mother tongue so mistakes don’t tend to creep in that way. I guess the things that crop up under less than ideal circumstances such as those described in the Freelance Switch article are things like typos, spelling mistakes in English, awkward or clumsy rending in English, inconsistent use of terminology, etc… (That’s not to say I never get things plain wrong of course, but I wouldn’t have very much paid translation work if that happened too often 😉 )
Life would be so much easier if being fluent in a second language was all you needed to be a good translator!
But generally I find working with the written word (translating=written,
interpreting=spoken) suits my working style as it gives me time to chew things over and be certain I’ve chosen le mot juste.
I do experience Aha! moments, but usually when I’ve made a deliberate decision to step away from a text and do something else for a bit to give my brain a chance to chew over how best to render a particularly tricky concept or turn of phrase, for example. It’s a great feeling when it hits, and is part of what I like best about translating!
But like most writers, I imagine, I’ve learnt from experience that I produce my best work when I’ve had a chance to sleep on it, and then revise with a fresh eye. Of course in the real world, translations need to be done by yesterday and this is often where problems creep in. But saying all that, I do believe translators themselves have a role to play in ensuring they negotiate reasonable deadlines and not take on work unless they’re capable of doing a good job… I just especially liked this particular article as it was one of the few I’ve read that even hinted that actually yes, factors outside of freelancer competence do affect the quality of work produced. Food for thought for work providers, hopefully, and a bit of welcome guilt relief for hard-working freelancers!
Sarah
I’m not a translator, but I’m bilingual, and I notice that I often make a verbal mistake in my second language (French) and then realize it later. Does that happen in your translating work? Do you wake up in the night thinking OH NO and realize you made a mistake?
I’m not a translator, but I’m bilingual, and I notice that I often make a verbal mistake in my second language (French) and then realize it later. Does that happen in your translating work? Do you wake up in the night thinking OH NO and realize you made a mistake?