| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Are you proud of your profession? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you proud of your profession?".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:24
Spanish to English
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Although it's never a good thing to become complacent, I'm basically happy with my job and usually quite pleased with the results of my work, although not always.
I do think some translations could be better, more polished, if the clients were in less of a hurry and the deadlines weren't so tight.
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I am proud of what I do, I work hard and I DO know that (most of ) my clients appreciate what I do!
| | | | Simon Bruni 
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:24
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
| Our invisibility keeps us humble | Apr 6, 2013 |
Which is not a bad thing I guess. But it would be nice to receive a little more credit.
I read an article in a national newspaper on pre-eminent literary translator Tim Parks the other day, and predictably he was introduced as a writer and essayist, with no mention of his capacity as a translator, like it's some kind of dirty secret.
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Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:24
Portuguese to English
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| Not particularly | Apr 6, 2013 |
I am not proud of what we've allowed our profession to become. We are not mentioned on book covers, in most countries we don't even have a professional status, we allow Beninattos to speak for us and spread their propaganda. We work for free and proudly display the thousands of words we've donated to organisations headed by Beninattos. We get Crados shoved down our throats and we like it. Fuzzies? Sure! Discounts? But of course!
| | | | David_M (X)
Local time: 06:24
Thai to German
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I'm not proud of my profession as such but I'm proud that I managed to get into it (attending and passing language classes, studying grammar, practicing, dealing with difficulties and disappointments, etc).
Anyway, to me happiness is at least 1000 times more important than feeling proud and I can definitely say that I am extremely happy with my job.
| | | | | Somewhere between "yes, somewhat" and "not particularly". | Apr 6, 2013 |
There are lots of people out there, invisible as has already been said, who do some outstanding work, improving on poor originals, and providing a truly professional quality service to clients who need it. There are also a good number of people doing fine professional translations, doing the profession proud. However, there are also a significant number of people providing shoddy, poor even appalling linguistic services to clients who probably don't realize the harm their "professional" transla... See more There are lots of people out there, invisible as has already been said, who do some outstanding work, improving on poor originals, and providing a truly professional quality service to clients who need it. There are also a good number of people doing fine professional translations, doing the profession proud. However, there are also a significant number of people providing shoddy, poor even appalling linguistic services to clients who probably don't realize the harm their "professional" translator is doing to their reputation. For the latter, no, I am not proud to be associated with such people in any way as they are regrettably significant in number. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:24
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
| History and Harry Potter | Apr 6, 2013 |
Diana Coada, BA ACIL wrote:
I am not proud of what we've allowed our profession to become.
I suppose at least we have a more-or-less recognised job of "translator" now. Since ancient times and until very recently it has always been considered little more than a sideline for people whose main activity was something else. The appalling treatment of Harry Potter's translators around the world epitomises the general attitude towards our profession, but there are organisations out there attempting to raise the status of translators and some progress has been made.
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samah A. fattah
Egypt
Local time: 07:24
Member (2009)
English to Arabic
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My job makes my life better
I am very proud of my translation career
Hope the best for you too
[Edited at 2013-04-06 15:14 GMT]
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 00:24
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Recognition comes with risk taking | Apr 6, 2013 |
The question of whether I am proud of my work is supremely silly. However, the answers are more instructive.
Simon Bruni says that our invisibility keeps us humble but that he could use a little recognition. What's wrong with a lot of recognition?
If we are invisible is because we accept the status quo. We may claim that agencies don't let us put our name in our work because it's a work for hire, but that's just their reason, not ours. And it's not exactly a law.
... See more The question of whether I am proud of my work is supremely silly. However, the answers are more instructive.
Simon Bruni says that our invisibility keeps us humble but that he could use a little recognition. What's wrong with a lot of recognition?
If we are invisible is because we accept the status quo. We may claim that agencies don't let us put our name in our work because it's a work for hire, but that's just their reason, not ours. And it's not exactly a law.
In the ATA forum in LinkedIn we are currently discussing this particular topic. What does it take for an agency to use translators willing to sign their names and stand behind their work as a differentiator against competitors? ▲ Collapse
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I've seen our work on the news, I've seen it in documentaries, I've seen it published, I've seen it save lives, and I've seen it effect the lives of people all over the world. What's there not to be proud of?
| | | | Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:24
Portuguese to English
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Simon Bruni wrote:
Our invisibility keeps us humble
I disagree. I think it only damages our profession.
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Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 05:24
| Pride is a loaded word | Apr 6, 2013 |
This is far too general a question for a simple yes or no answer.
I am, however, honoured to have the same label - translator - as many others here at ProZ and elsewhere who are diligent perfectionists making an honest living from a talent and skill which they consistently develop in pursuit of precision and excellence. Who wouldn't be?
| | | | Rob Lunn
Spain
Local time: 06:24
Spanish to English
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| I'm not really | Apr 6, 2013 |
It's sold short too often.
| | | | | There is a lot to be proud about in our profession | Apr 6, 2013 |
Allison Wright wrote:
This is far too general a question for a simple yes or no answer.
I am, however, honoured to have the same label - translator - as many others here at ProZ and elsewhere who are diligent perfectionists making an honest living from a talent and skill which they consistently develop in pursuit of precision and excellence. Who wouldn't be?
I agree with Allison.
There might not be a simple yes or no answer, but I am proud to have been able to enter this complex global world of translation with no help from anybody and to be making an honest and decent living doing what I like, and to have the freedom to be my own boss, to work on my terms and when I decide to do so.
Edited for a typo
[Edited at 2013-04-06 19:50 GMT]
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