| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you try to favor companies or commodities you've translated for/about? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you try to favor companies or commodities you've translated for/about?".
This poll was originally submitted by TAKAKO CN6YR. View the poll results »
| | | | DianeGM 
Local time: 23:54
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
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| Not really ... | Feb 28, 2013 |
That's not really relevant to most of the things I translate.
Anyway, at the moment generally I employ a 'BUY GREEK' policy wherever possible, doing my bit to support the local economy, but I have very few Greek clients, agencies and direct clients alike.
Occassionally I guess I do, for example, last week I did buy the specific car magazine which I translate articles for, rather than any other car magazine, for someone I went to visit in hospital.
| | | | | Are you sure that "try" is the right word? | Feb 28, 2013 |
The phrase "try to favor" really puzzles me, so I've chosen "Other". One can try to favor one's boss, for example, but can you say that about people you are not related to that closely? The situations could be different for interpreters, though.
I favor some companies I've translated for and commodities I translated about, just because I happen to like them. For example, I use one medicinal product on a regular basis because it's really helpful and unique to a certain degree. I have to adm... See more The phrase "try to favor" really puzzles me, so I've chosen "Other". One can try to favor one's boss, for example, but can you say that about people you are not related to that closely? The situations could be different for interpreters, though.
I favor some companies I've translated for and commodities I translated about, just because I happen to like them. For example, I use one medicinal product on a regular basis because it's really helpful and unique to a certain degree. I have to admit I tried it for the first time because I translated some related materials . ▲ Collapse
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 05:54
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| My interpretation | Feb 28, 2013 |
of this question is
"Do you tend to favor ..."
I do not make any conscious effort to indisciminately favor a particular company or type of product. And, believe me, in my close on 30 years of translating solely for industry, I have translated lots of products for lots of Japanese manufacturers.
If a company or product is worthy of my attention or respect, they will get it.  ... See more of this question is
"Do you tend to favor ..."
I do not make any conscious effort to indisciminately favor a particular company or type of product. And, believe me, in my close on 30 years of translating solely for industry, I have translated lots of products for lots of Japanese manufacturers.
If a company or product is worthy of my attention or respect, they will get it.  ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:54
Spanish to English
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Not sure if I understand the notion of "favour" in the question. If I'm happy working with a company (or any person) and think they are good at what they do, I will obviously recommend them to other people when necessary. I will also tend to accept work from them rather than newcomers or potential clients.
The opposite also holds true, so if I am unhappy with a company I will take every available opportunity to slag them off to anybody willing to listen.
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Not relevant to most of the stuff I have translated these last few years: user and service manuals for a wide range of medical devices, outboard engines, earthmoving equipment. If I ever need any of these products, I am all set…
PS The phrase "try to favor" also puzzles me: I favor something or not!
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 22:54
French to English
For those of my clients working in sustainable development, organic produce, alternative energy, etc. yes definitely I tend to favour their stuff.
I was already a client for some high street brands before translating their catalogue, and I enjoy picking out stuff I like. Although I have stopped shopping for some of them, having seen something of what goes on behind the scenes (in particular the translation of a description of worker conditions in Asia).
As for the high... See more For those of my clients working in sustainable development, organic produce, alternative energy, etc. yes definitely I tend to favour their stuff.
I was already a client for some high street brands before translating their catalogue, and I enjoy picking out stuff I like. Although I have stopped shopping for some of them, having seen something of what goes on behind the scenes (in particular the translation of a description of worker conditions in Asia).
As for the high-end, luxury products, even if they pay better than the hippies they are still way above my price range. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Never thought about it | Feb 28, 2013 |
That said, I did buy a certain brand of perfume for my mum on her birthday because I had done translation for that particular product and I happened to like the fragrance...
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| strange situation in my case | Feb 28, 2013 |
I have to explain: It is difficult for me to favor companies I have translated for/about, simply because I translate mainly patents, and it is quite difficult to favor these companies.
Indirectly I did "favor" some of them, although it is not funny. My father had a cancer, and all the patents related to the drugs he used had been translated by me.
On the other side, I can say that in my position I can try NOT to favor some companies I translated for/about. Since I have information ab... See more I have to explain: It is difficult for me to favor companies I have translated for/about, simply because I translate mainly patents, and it is quite difficult to favor these companies.
Indirectly I did "favor" some of them, although it is not funny. My father had a cancer, and all the patents related to the drugs he used had been translated by me.
On the other side, I can say that in my position I can try NOT to favor some companies I translated for/about. Since I have information about their "conduct/mission", well some of them do not deserve my money. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:54
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| There are far more important reasons | Feb 28, 2013 |
It doesn't seem logical to me to favour a company's products simply because I've translated texts for them. Particularly when the translation has come via an agency. Of course, you might only come to hear of them through translating for them, and that might lead you to become a customer. But that would be because you liked what you saw, not what you translated, surely?
OTOH, all those companies do have an added interest for me - that's only human. It's the same with teaching: when w... See more It doesn't seem logical to me to favour a company's products simply because I've translated texts for them. Particularly when the translation has come via an agency. Of course, you might only come to hear of them through translating for them, and that might lead you to become a customer. But that would be because you liked what you saw, not what you translated, surely?
OTOH, all those companies do have an added interest for me - that's only human. It's the same with teaching: when we lived in France, on our trips into Montpellier I'd bore my husband with "I've taught there... and there... and...". ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mónica Algazi
Uruguay
Local time: 17:54
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
I do not deliberately TRY to favour the companies I work for or the products I translate about. However, it happened to me once that a translation assignment gave me the chance to e-meet an inventor, discover her invention and fall in love with the product she had created and was trying to commercialize abroad. And I am sure I will purchase this product some day.
| | | | | Not consciously | Feb 28, 2013 |
I have translated for a lot of companies whose products I do not use.
I read a lot of catalogues and marketing information from many sources similar to the texts I translate, for terminology and general background. Over the years I can't always remember whether I have actually translated them!
So I try to make a decision based on my tastes and what I know about the company, but not necessarily because I have translated anything for them.
I do sometimes buy... See more I have translated for a lot of companies whose products I do not use.
I read a lot of catalogues and marketing information from many sources similar to the texts I translate, for terminology and general background. Over the years I can't always remember whether I have actually translated them!
So I try to make a decision based on my tastes and what I know about the company, but not necessarily because I have translated anything for them.
I do sometimes buy products as presents from non-profit organisations that I know about - glass or fair-trade for instance, and sometimes I have learnt about them through translation, but not necessarily.
I always choose primarily on the basis of whether I think the product will serve my purpose, or the recipient will like the gift. ▲ Collapse
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 16:54
English to Spanish
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| Favor companies or commodities? | Feb 28, 2013 |
What is the purpose of this poll? To see how many translators buy a brand toothpaste or a generic one?
What about medical devices? If I have a Medtronic pacemaker in my chest, does that mean I should have second thoughts about translating for St. Joseph or Boston Scientific devices (Medtronic's main competitors)?
Are we expected somehow to be translator activists now?
| | | | Evans (X)
Local time: 21:54
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I wish I could afford them... | Feb 28, 2013 |
I work for a lot of luxury and high-end companies, whose products (perfumes, champagnes, luxury goods, haute couture) are out of the reach of the humble translator... and nearly everyone else.
But I do visit many of the museums and arts venues I work for, favouring them with my occasional presence!
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 14:54
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I would say no. | Feb 28, 2013 |
My link to translation is not related to my choices when buying. This is, if the product is good, I buy it whether I have bought appliances for that firm or not.
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