Job Discussion Forums

[mejms]

Why not let ontoit respond? If someone is willing to chime in on a forum and throw some hefty validation of their professional, elite services, then that some person should be prepared to give some actual information and not just bold and unverifiable claims.

I'm not disagreeing or even doubting what this person said. But the post was out of nowhere and immediately defensive of the legitimacy of the services they offer. Don't get why the random post was even made. Ontoit, you there?

[AGoodStory]

[ontoit]

Translation is not one of life's general skills, like changing the oil in your car or a flat tire. It takes time, effort and a boatload of knowledge about the languages and cultures you are dealing with to render a translation that will express what the client wants to say in language that resonates both linguistically and culturally with the intended reader.

Over the years when clients have asked for discounts on big volume jobs claiming that the volume alone meant a lot of money for me, I told them that the job would take the same time and effort per word as any other job, and that dividing that "big money" into the several months the job would take would make it a pretty poor monthly income. When clients called looking for a cheap price because "The job didn't need to be perfect", I told them that if they didn't need it to be perfect, they could get a better deal asking some college kid studying the language. When friends ask, I might be inclined to cut them some slack if it's a slam-dunk quickie that I can knock out while I drink the beer they better have brought along with the request, but anything more I charge for because it will take me away from my paying customers.

In short, I don't work for free and I don't work for fun. Most of all, I don't sacrifice my time and energy for someone who is looking to make a profitable score off of a favor on my part.

Over the years, the number of clients who appreciate what I do has grown steadily, which keeps me busy and well paid.

Is it really so hard to believe?

[mejms]

[ontoit]

[Enchilada Potosina]

[mejms]

[amaranto]

My advice would be to take classes and try to find a specialty that you are already familiar with as a result of previous experience/classes and/or enjoy.

I agree with you that in-depth knowledge of the field in which you specialize is important. I specialize in legal/commercial translation. I studied Spanish liguistics for many years before beginning to translate, and I work at a law firm. I can't imagine how sloppy even a simple, boilerplate proxy letter would look if translated by someone with no knowledge of the legal field.

Also, check out the web pages of various translators organizations, such as the American Translators Association (ATA) and the Organizaci�n Mexicana de Traductores (OMT). They are full of information that is useful to newcomers to the field. The OMT offers its own courses and certificates.

I have taken and am currently taking classes in translation at New York University. I highly recommend their online certification program. Here is a link to the website:

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/foreign-languages/professional-certificates/translation.html

[Isla Guapa]

[mejms]

[Isla Guapa]

[Enchilada Potosina]

[mejms]

Thanks everyone. An opportunity in translating opens up a whole new world for me. It's refreshing, renewing, and exciting to find another niche that might work for you. It's like Guy just commented in the other thread, you've got to continually upgrade your own skills as a professional. Transitioning from Spanish-speaking English teacher in Mexico to Spanish-English, English-Spanish professional translator feels like the right challenge for me over the next many years. It's a whole horizon.

[amaranto]

Good luck!

[Isla Guapa]