| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Job with insanely tight deadlines - feedback needed Thread poster: Whitney Maslak
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Allison Wright (X) 
Portugal
Local time: 11:53
| Insaely tight deadlines are just that: Insane | Jul 10, 2013 |
Nicole Schnell wrote:
The story looks a bit different as soon as you have to translate marketing, PR or speeches of CEOs or politicians, where each and every word has to be weighed carefully. All of the sudden, translation turns into a game of chess: "If I phrase this sentence like this, it might be interpreted negatively. Hm, I must rephrase that. Darn, this direct translation of this term has a negative connotation with the opposing party, I have to find an alternative, something that sounds more neutral and less opinionated...," etc.
This is where true translation starts.
Hear, hear!
That's why I like clients who realise that 48 hours for 800 words of a marketing brochure on a semi-specialised topic is a fair deadline.
It is the thought processes which occur between the first draft (accomplished at a moderate pace) and the final draft (done more slowly) which are crucial to the quality of the translation.
Those bright ideas one has in the shower, doing the laundry, doing another translation, or cooking dinner are the ones which make all the difference between a mediocre translation and one which is truly polished.
Of course, not every text requires such treatment. Assume each text does, however, and your stress levels will plummet. Oh, and the quality of your work will improve.
| | | | nrichy (X)
France
Local time: 12:53
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Short but not insanely | Jul 10, 2013 |
I think 8 hrs is only short, not insanely. It depends of the subject an degree of difficulty of course. If I want to survive, I have to translate 2,500 words each working day, so this is just a little bit more. No lunch.
I once had a query for the translation of a shareholder's meeting. The meeting would still be held and audio files would be available on Thursday 18 hrs. They should be translated directly from the audio file and delivered on Friday morning, so that the text could b... See more I think 8 hrs is only short, not insanely. It depends of the subject an degree of difficulty of course. If I want to survive, I have to translate 2,500 words each working day, so this is just a little bit more. No lunch.
I once had a query for the translation of a shareholder's meeting. The meeting would still be held and audio files would be available on Thursday 18 hrs. They should be translated directly from the audio file and delivered on Friday morning, so that the text could be sent to the press at noon. Client and I estimated the wordcount at 20,000. I refused, but the client argued that all interpreters do that without problems, which is at least partially true because I have seen miracles of this kind. After the meeting they just put earphones and then type the translation at an amazing speed. The only thing is that I am a translator, need my coffee and want to check everything
If you don't feel sure, then just tell your client that you are busy. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 12:53
French to English
| Alison and Nicole! | Jul 10, 2013 |
Allison Wright wrote: Nicole Schnell wrote:
The story looks a bit different as soon as you have to translate marketing, PR or speeches of CEOs or politicians, where each and every word has to be weighed carefully. All of the sudden, translation turns into a game of chess: "If I phrase this sentence like this, it might be interpreted negatively. Hm, I must rephrase that. Darn, this direct translation of this term has a negative connotation with the opposing party, I have to find an alternative, something that sounds more neutral and less opinionated...," etc.
This is where true translation starts. Hear, hear! That's why I like clients who realise that 48 hours for 800 words of a marketing brochure on a semi-specialised topic is a fair deadline. It is the thought processes which occur between the first draft (accomplished at a moderate pace) and the final draft (done more slowly) which are crucial to the quality of the translation. Those bright ideas one has in the shower, doing the laundry, doing another translation, or cooking dinner are the ones which make all the difference between a mediocre translation and one which is truly polished. Of course, not every text requires such treatment. Assume each text does, however, and your stress levels will plummet. Oh, and the quality of your work will improve.
This is my approach too!
I always try to negotiate a night's sleep between draft and polish.
I tell my clients that translating is like breadmaking. You can just leave the dough to rise while you do the washing up, but the bread is soooooooooo much better if you leave it to rise overnight in the fridge.
I do sometimes point out that I don't actually bill extra for my night's sleep!
I did once wake up in the middle of the night because a person in my dream used the word I had been ferreting around for the previous day. I had actually delivered the translation, having found a term that would more or less do, but spoke asap to the client come morning to say that I had found a more elegant term. It was not too late and the client was impressed with my perfectionism.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 12:53
French to English
| 3000 words in 8 hours | Jul 10, 2013 |
I would say that it is perfectly reasonable and for a straightforward text from a regular client I would not hesitate.
However, if it is a regular client they know that the 8 hours need to be spread over 2 or even better 3 days.
If a regular client asks for it within 8 hours without a break then it is probably a real emergency.
For a non-regular client, I will first mutter something about emergency rates to see just how urgent it is...
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Raffi Jamgocyan
Türkiye
Local time: 13:53
Member (2012)
English to Turkish
+ ...
| 12,000 words overnight | Aug 21, 2013 |
A job was posted today around 5 pm GMT+3 for translation of 12,200 words overnight to be delivered by tomorrow morning.
[Değişiklik saati 2013-08-21 17:15 GMT]
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