| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever bought a product after translating about it? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:29
Spanish to English
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I have a vague recollection of perhaps having done so once, but I don't recall what it was or when...
| | | | Vera Schoen 
Sweden
Local time: 12:29
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
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No, but I have attended one exhibition on ancient Egypt and one horse show after having translated the accompanying material (catalogue, speaker's text, etc.).
| | | | | Yes many times but not directly | Nov 6, 2016 |
I translated all the patents related to anti-cancer drugs that some years later my father had to take
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Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 19:29
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
I don't know how I would use an industrial robot other than programming it to translate while I'm soaking in the bath and sipping my favourite champers. 
| | | | | It would have to be needed | Nov 6, 2016 |
I have never needed a robotic device that takes measurements in industrial applications, wouldn't want and couldn't afford a used luxury jumbo jet, and living on the middle floor would have no use for solar paneling.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 06:29
English to Spanish
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| I almost bought some iron manhole covers | Nov 6, 2016 |
…simply because I was so satisfied with the translation of the corresponding brochures.
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Not only have I bought products after translating about them, it’s very likely that you, fellow Proziens, have bought them too.
In the 1980s and 90s I was the in-house technical translator, and later head of the technical publications service, at the European Broadcasting Union which coordinated the development of a whole range of new broadcasting systems, as digital technology started to take over from analogue systems. These new technologies included those for use by the... See more Not only have I bought products after translating about them, it’s very likely that you, fellow Proziens, have bought them too.
In the 1980s and 90s I was the in-house technical translator, and later head of the technical publications service, at the European Broadcasting Union which coordinated the development of a whole range of new broadcasting systems, as digital technology started to take over from analogue systems. These new technologies included those for use by the broadcasters themselves (from studios to transmitters and satellite systems), and by the viewing/listening public.
The millions (literally!) of words I translated, mostly from French to English but also the occasional item from Spanish or Italian, covered confidential "blue skies" research papers, learned articles in the academic and professional press (including the "EBU Technical Review", of which I was Chief Editor for 10 years), a never-ending stream of reports of meetings held world-wide in the attempt to agree global standards, support materials for the first public demonstrations of the new systems, international and European technical standards (later published by organizations such as the ITU, CEN/CENELEC and ETSI) and information aimed at the more general reader.
As both an engineer (who at one time had worked on wireless transmitters built in the 1930s) and as a translator/editor, I found this work especially interesting. This was new territory, and there were significant linguistic and terminological challenges. We had to compile our multi-lingual dictionaries and glossaries "on the fly", constantly watching out for conflicts between terms adopted by numerous independent research teams, many of them working at their laboratories in French, German, Italian or Japanese, whose English was, let's say, shaky. Some of those teams were traditional (i.e. analogue) broadcast system specialists, and they tended to re-use steam wireless terms for familiar concepts. Others were moving into this field from the IT domain, as part of the drive towards "convergence" (that same convergence which, today, gives you HDTV on your smartphone). The IT boffins brought their own terminology with them, and this had to be converged just as much as the actual technologies did. It was interesting, too, because I was able to participate in numerous meetings, conferences and other events (read: travel to the US, Japan and numerous countries in Europe), and had personal first-name contact with many of the authors whose work I was translating.
Amongst the products and systems derived from this work, and now in use by broadcasters and in homes worldwide, there are several that will be familiar to many colleagues here on Proz. The most prominent is no doubt DVB which, in one form or another, is the basis for terrestrial and satellite broadcasting in most countries, worldwide.
Hands up all those who have never bought a flat-screen TV set or satellite dish!
[Edited at 2016-11-06 12:14 GMT]
[Edited at 2016-11-06 13:43 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Over the years, I have translated a few texts about standard consumer products, though this is not my preferred genre. As I said before (another very similar poll), I had been a very happy consumer of a well-known Japanese cosmetics brand when an agency asked me to translate for them. Some years ago, I also translated all the packaging for a well-known Belgian chocolate brand and… I’m kind of a chocoholic. I have been translating for an online sportswear platform, but I’m not a very sporty... See more Over the years, I have translated a few texts about standard consumer products, though this is not my preferred genre. As I said before (another very similar poll), I had been a very happy consumer of a well-known Japanese cosmetics brand when an agency asked me to translate for them. Some years ago, I also translated all the packaging for a well-known Belgian chocolate brand and… I’m kind of a chocoholic. I have been translating for an online sportswear platform, but I’m not a very sporty person. I also translated menus for several restaurants and one of them, besides paying me, generously offered a lunch there. I do hope I never have to use some of the medical devices I have been translating for an American specialty interventional therapies company as they address neuro and peripheral vascular conditions. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Travel and museums | Nov 6, 2016 |
I don't think I've ever bought something because I'd done a translation about it but I have visited some of the places, museums and galleries I've heard about as a result of my work, and well worthwhile they were.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 12:29
Member (2006)
German to English
but only because I cannot afford the 40 tonnes lorries and 1 km long printing lines, not to mention the one or two space shuttles☺
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 12:29
Member (2006)
German to English
Mario Chavez wrote: …simply because I was so satisfied with the translation of the corresponding brochures.
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In more than 40 years I don't think I've ever done a translation about a product other than a drug or a prosthesis. Most of my work has been about diseases - and I certainly don't intend to buy any of them!
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 06:29
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Modestia aparte | Nov 6, 2016 |
Michael Harris wrote: Mario Chavez wrote: …simply because I was so satisfied with the translation of the corresponding brochures.
That's Spanish for “aside from being modest.” Guilty as charged. I can't deny the feeling of satisfaction when I'm really content with the results: words, images, all dancing together on a well-defined page or brochure.
Translations can be beautiful and I can't be modest when I paint one.
| | | | inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 12:29
French to German
+ ...
I opened an account with an online bank that was mentioned in a questionnaire I translated, a very good choice as it turned out.
[Edited at 2016-11-06 16:03 GMT]
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