Poll: Have you changed your vision of translation over the years? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you changed your vision of translation over the years?".
This poll was originally submitted by Natalia Pedrosa. View the poll results »
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 20:30
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
While I admit that I don't really understand the question, the focus on source and target also largely depends on the type of source.
Technical specs of a new computer or printer? The source is king, since it is only there to inform with hard facts.
Story-driven video game adventure? The story itself needs to be preserved, but dialogues must be localized.
Marketing brochure? Way more focus on the target, since German audiences appear to be less ... excitable? than their America... See more While I admit that I don't really understand the question, the focus on source and target also largely depends on the type of source.
Technical specs of a new computer or printer? The source is king, since it is only there to inform with hard facts.
Story-driven video game adventure? The story itself needs to be preserved, but dialogues must be localized.
Marketing brochure? Way more focus on the target, since German audiences appear to be less ... excitable? than their American counterparts. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Other/not really | Dec 6, 2023 |
I’ve always given the same attention to the source and target texts, but my eyesight has deteriorated slightly over the years …
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I've come to realise that translation quality matters far less in the real world than I thought it did.
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Lingua 5B 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 20:30
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
I keep translating literally implies that I used to translate literally?
Very poorly worded multiple choice options, without much sense. Therefore, not sure what to answer.
I noticed that when a client uses a proofreader/editor, the editors prefer literal translations, even if it means the translation is wrong. In order to get rid of their endless requests for explanations on proofreaders' comments, a few times I turned them into literal translations (because i know the... See more I keep translating literally implies that I used to translate literally?
Very poorly worded multiple choice options, without much sense. Therefore, not sure what to answer.
I noticed that when a client uses a proofreader/editor, the editors prefer literal translations, even if it means the translation is wrong. In order to get rid of their endless requests for explanations on proofreaders' comments, a few times I turned them into literal translations (because i know the proofreader's logic) and then I was left alone and paid. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Liena Vijupe
Latvia
Local time: 21:30
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
Lingua 5B wrote:
I noticed that when a client uses a proofreader/editor, the editors prefer literal translations, even if it means the translation is wrong. In order to get rid of their endless requests for explanations on proofreaders' comments, a few times I turned them into literal translations (because i know the proofreader's logic) and then I was left alone and paid.
I have failed several tests because of "mistranslations" and have been fighting with reviewers about it so much that I also sometimes just go for the most obvious version to avoid wasting time on arguing. It is easier than constantly having to explain how marketing/languages work and telling clients that they don't need me because Google does literal translations for free.
[Edited at 2023-12-06 12:37 GMT]
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Alex Lichanow wrote:
While I admit that I don't really understand the question...
It seems that the asker is not a native English speaker. Although her profile says otherwise.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:30
French to English
Lingua 5B wrote:
I noticed that when a client uses a proofreader/editor, the editors prefer literal translations, even if it means the translation is wrong. In order to get rid of their endless requests for explanations on proofreaders' comments, a few times I turned them into literal translations (because i know the proofreader's logic) and then I was left alone and paid.
I sympathise! At the agency I used to translate corporate slogans. This was not billed per word, there was a flat rate.
I had to provide three different translations of the slogan. It seemed like every time, there was a fairly literal translation, a truly creative translation where I took the idea and expressed in a way that native English speakers could relate to, but that didn't resemble the source in any way, and another that was maybe closer to the source but with a little creative input. I would write a little pitch for each translation, explaining how I arrived at it and giving my reasons for using each term.
It was a complete waste of time because clients always chose the most literal one, the one that had required the least skill and creative flair.
My solution was to then cut it down to only two translations, and I purposely didn't include the most literal translation. Funnily enough the slogans stopped coming after that.
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