Frequently asked questions about translating

A recent ProZ forum thread discussed sticky topics to answer questions asked time and again—often by newcomers who aren't aware that countless past discussions and advice on their query can be accessed by searching the forums. (I discuss this specific one here but of course it occurs in virtually every internet forum, discussion group, bulletin board, etc.)

The example cited was "How do I convert a PDF to Word/How do I translate a PDF with Trados/How do I count the words in a PDF?"

It started me thinking: what questions are in this category? IMO:

1. How can I work with PDF files?
2. How can I get translation (or interpretation) jobs?
3. How much should I charge? How can I get paid?
4. What about TRADOS?
5. Can you believe how little they're offering for translation job XXX?

#1 as above.

#2 is often asked by recent graduates in the field who find that their theoretical preparation assumes the text. For the first time, they're faced with the step that precedes it; namely the search for the text and the need for it to be translated. Also sometimes asked by those with different backgrounds who, having been asked to do one translation, discover that translation is such a good fit for them that they would like to do more. Another category, which can intersect with either of the above, is those who would like to translate a book and wonder how to market the translation to a publisher.

Some variants of #3 include those who are setting up their business, those who've been asked to do a task which varies significantly from what they have done in the past, and those who find themselves asked to translate or interpret for the first time. Payment issues break down into two broad categories; forms of payment (especially international methods of transferring funds), and extracting payment due from a reluctant payer.

#4 includes those who wonder what a CAT tool is and what it's good for, those who have an idea but wonder whether it's worthwhile for them, and those who've just been faced with their first request for a discount for repetitions or a client-provided memory. And of course asking the question in that form presupposes that TRADOS is the only CAT tool (which it isn't, only the most hyped one).

#5, unlike the questions that precede it, is rhetorical, and asked more often by veterans, who know what a proper rate of payment is.

Como convertirte en cliente consentido

1. Encargarme traducciones de textos interesantes, de temas interesantes, sean ésas:
   
   
   
   • de textos bien escritos, o bien
     
   • de textos mal escritos de manera que mejorarlos constituye un reto interesante y divertido.
     
   
   
2. Tener sexto sentido para mandarme trabajos voluminosos cuando me falta trabajo, y pequeños (o ninguno) cuando me encuentro ya muy atareada.
   
3. Felicitarme por la calidad de mis traducciones (sin dejar de llamarme la atención en caso de un posible error). ¡Gracias! Ya sabes quien eres, no hace falta especificar el nombre (ya que ésta es una bitácora anónima).
   
4. Remitir el pago en un plazo que se cuenta en ¡minutos! (Sí, no es una exageración. El acontecimiento que me motivó a redactar esta nota fue un pago que acabo de recibir en un plazo de 64 minutos después de la entrega del texto.) Si se trata de horas, eso no me cae mal tampoco. Acepto días, también. Semanas, si es que son pocas. Cuando ya se trata de meses, el trabajo afuerzas tiene que contar con otras cualidades muy favorables para compensar.
   
5. Recomendarme con otros amigos y conocidos como tú.
   

Would you trust a barefoot shoemaker?

This discussion at ProZ is about how to regard an agency whose own website isn't, shall we say, a good advertisement for their own language services. It's not hard to find examples. As Dave Barry would say, "I am not making this up."

One agency is a little shaky in punctuation, prepositions and tenses:

Why we are the best?

In XXXX, we specialized in the following languages:
[It may not be clear from this isolated sentence, but the context shows that this was meant to express, "At XXXX, we specialize in the following languages:"]

Another agency has basically correct, though workmanlike English, but an unfortunately chosen preposition leaps out at the reader:

We will pay special attention on the following:

A third agency has correct, fairly native-sounding English throughout their website, except for the first paragraph on the introduction page. Ouch!

Established in 19--, XXX Traductores in time becomes one of the largest full service translation companies in the Americas; in 19--, it establishes in [city in USA], XXX Translation Center, today xxx.com.

This agency's blurb is a lovely example of "third language" or "translationese." It's correct, or almost correct English, but the manner of expression, the sentence structure, vocabulary choice, and even the overall decision of what to say to the reader are entirely Spanish:

What identifies this corporation is its seriousness and professionalism, as well as its complete confidentiality, personalized treatment and the excellent service that we offer, which have allowed us to achieve an outstanding performance.

For the fulfillment of our main objective, which consists of providing a quality and specialized service, the translators, interpreters and the staff that collaborate with this corporation is integrated by highly qualified professionals, mainly experts certified by the Superior Court of Justice and acknowledged by different Embassies both in [our country] and abroad.

But this one wins my "Barefoot Shoemaker" prize:

The background of our Company starts in the year 19--, as XXX. This company turns into YYY a couple of years alter and finally in 19--, it consolidated into the Company we are today: ZZZ, which Board of Directors is chaired by Lic. ABC.

Some of the attributes that make us different are: excellent quality in translation and interpretation, selection of the ideal interpreters for each topic, equipment in perfect operating conditions, trained and responsible technical personnel, excellent customer service, timeliness in delivering our services and we are willing and able to make your event a success regardless of its magnitude or where it is held in the world.

Our history includes, amongst a large number of clients, internationally renown universities such as: [list of "renown" universities], and also world renown international companies and organizations such as: [list of "renown" companies and organizations] amongst other.