| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you have your translation(s) proofread by a colleague when working for a direct client? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you have your translation(s) proofread by a colleague when working for a direct client?".
This poll was originally submitted by Bin Tiede. View the poll results »
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it may happen that I found the translation particularly difficult and I need a second opinion, or simply I have no time.
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 19:08
Member (2006)
German to English
Gianluca Marras wrote:
it may happen that I found the translation particularly difficult and I need a second opinion, or simply I have no time.
Or when certain passages of texts have been sneaked in-between that are not my speciality.
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Not that I am very knowledgeable about end clients, but I did a few jobs for some.
I include proofreading in my price and if they say it's too expensive and I can't make them change their minds, I offer a lower price, letting them know that a layer of quality control will be missing without proofreading.
I usually strongly encourage them to pay for the full service for highly visible material.
In fact I just include the services that agencies I work with include in thei... See more Not that I am very knowledgeable about end clients, but I did a few jobs for some.
I include proofreading in my price and if they say it's too expensive and I can't make them change their minds, I offer a lower price, letting them know that a layer of quality control will be missing without proofreading.
I usually strongly encourage them to pay for the full service for highly visible material.
In fact I just include the services that agencies I work with include in theirs to meet their customers' needs.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
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Susanna Martoni
Italy
Local time: 19:08
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
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Should I be asked to translate into Spanish, and should the text need some mothertongue opinions, then I have my translation proofread by a colleague.
On the other hand, when I translate into Italian it hardly ever happens.
| | | | Jana Kinská
Czech Republic
Local time: 19:08
English to Czech
+ ...
| Sometimes... | Oct 19, 2010 |
- when translating into a non-native language. I cooperate with a native proofreader, who polishes my translation.
| | | | | I can't afford the luxury, time- or money-wise | Oct 19, 2010 |
I rarely finish with sufficient extra time to enlist a colleague, nor can afford to spend the money.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:08
Spanish to English
+ ...
But not usually, or often. I value and appreciate my direct clients and always try to give them the best of service, and by now am well versed in the pitfalls that can crop up in their areas. I might occasionally ask a colleague/friend's opinion about a turn of phrase or the correct term for something, but never to revise a whole text, as I'd have to pay for that, which would affect my rates, which I try to keep as competitive and fair as possible). I've never had any complaints.
... See more But not usually, or often. I value and appreciate my direct clients and always try to give them the best of service, and by now am well versed in the pitfalls that can crop up in their areas. I might occasionally ask a colleague/friend's opinion about a turn of phrase or the correct term for something, but never to revise a whole text, as I'd have to pay for that, which would affect my rates, which I try to keep as competitive and fair as possible). I've never had any complaints.
I rarely translate into languages other than my L1, UK English. Any occasional jobs that I do into Spanish or even US English are checked by a native colleague, usually a working translator. ▲ Collapse
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 10:08
English to German
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In memoriam
What else? Who is supposed to review your text, their secretary? That's why we charge thrice as much to direct clients - as a translator for direct clients you are supposed to provide full service, like an agency. This includes ready-to-print quality and hiring a second pair of eyes. I consider charging higher rates while omitting quality control fraudulent and unprofessional.
| | | | Sebastian Witte
Germany
Local time: 19:08
Member (2004)
English to German
+ ...
| The problem is whether the direct client can actually be talked into paying 30-45% more than with | Oct 19, 2010 |
no 2nd proofreader
I strongly doubt it.
Any ideas on how to fix this issue?
| | | | m_temmer
Local time: 11:08
English to Dutch
+ ...
| educate your clients | Oct 19, 2010 |
Sebastian Witte wrote:
Any ideas on how to fix this issue?
It's easier said than done of course, but translators should educate their clients. Every translation that goes to the end client should have been proofread, we all know that. Even the best translators make mistakes, nobody's perfect.
If translators would foresee proofreading when quoting for a job (from a direct client), our clients wouldn't even have to make the choice. The problem is that there will always be translators who skip proofreading and charge a little bit less to get the job. Such translators don't care as much about quality as they do about money (for whatever reason).
There are so many misunderstandings about translation and our profession is largely undervalued (to a large extent it's our own fault). Translators working for direct customers should take the time to explain and motivate their rate. Unfortunately, many translators even seem to think that "high rates" (at least for the eye of a non-translator) are immoral (?!).
Translations are sold these days as goods, and that can't be good for the profession. Translations aren't goods. In an industrial setting, the cost of the production of an extra item may be low, but whenever we have to translate an extra sentence, it takes as much time as translating any other sentence. Every word that has to be translated, takes time. And proofreading those translations also takes time. The translation process may be sped up by CAT tools, but even perfect matches need careful checking. Compare it to a plumber: you get a price quote, but while working the plumber notices that the situation is a lot worse than he had anticipated and he will have to spend a lot of extra time to get the job done. At least here in Belgium, you will pay for the extra time and used material, even though it wasn't included in the price quote. How come we don't do the same in translation business? How come we are afraid of asking more if a certain text is so much more difficult than originally thought (because of bad quality or for whatever other reason)? How come we are afraid of charging more for proofreading, knowing that it is necessary?
I don't have a solution for this. The translation market slowly but steadily turned into what it has become, and it is our own fault (and of the agencies that sell translations as if they are produced by factories/machines (the translators)).
Translators seem to be afraid of their customers and I think we're about the only profession out there having that problem...
[Edited at 2010-10-19 17:06 GMT]
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Requested edition not made. |
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Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 11:08
English to Spanish
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In memoriam
I produce finished work always.
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 19:08
Spanish to English
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| My thoughts exactly | Oct 20, 2010 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I rarely finish with sufficient extra time to enlist a colleague, nor can afford to spend the money.
My addendum would be that, in my own experience, not just anyone can be a proofreader. Anybody who is a decent proofreader is probably too busy to take on another urgent job.
| | | | Femke Hubers-Meulepas (X)
Local time: 19:08
French to Dutch
+ ...
Michaël Temmerman wrote:
Translations are sold these days as goods, and that can't be good for the profession.
Translators seem to be afraid of their customers and I think we're about the only profession out there having that problem...
[Edited at 2010-10-19 17:06 GMT]
I think Michaël is right, we feel too threatened by any competitors who charge lower rates by providing a lower quality with no proofreading included, that this has become standard... when we all know better than that, don't we? How come everybody says there's simply "no time", when it should be an integral part of our working procedure (and thus word rate)?
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