Categories: translation, trials
Date: 29 November 2008 01:28:31
about editing I was reminded of the following:
A client contacted me late on Thursday evening to ask if I would translate a 700-word press release the next morning. In two hours; and as it was so super-dooper urgent, there wouldn't be time for it to be proofread by a third party.
I declined their kind offer. Why?
a) I had no idea of the subject matter.
b) I translate roughly 300 words an hour. It doesn't take a great mathematician to work out that 2 x 300 = 600 - so what happens to the final 100 words? When do they get done? And when I say I translate 300 words an hour this does not take into account time to proof my own work - there's barely time to check I've written comprehensible sentences.
c) What happens if I am confronted with an area of industry / commerce / technology that I am not familiar with? Do I have time to look up unfamiliar words? Quickly brief myself on ship building/ mountaineering techniques / brewing technology?
d) Will this particular client pay me a premium for this rush job which will leave me mentally exhausted for the rest of the day with the stress? Will they compensate me in any way for squeezing it into my day at such short notice? Will they come down on me like a ton of bricks if there are any mistakes? Will they expect me to do the same again next week and the week after?
I suppose they must have found somebody to do it. It might not have been 700 words in the end, it might only have been 300 and they might not have needed it in 2 hours, but three. They might have paid a rush fee (but I doubt it). The job might have led to lucrative assignments but I just didn't feel like risking my reputation (have I got one?!) for a shockingly low fee (which is based on the number of words - not the speed, accuracy, brilliance or importance of the piece to the client). I won't divulge how little - you might just weep.
But it's not all bad. Today Georg told me my proofreading was "super" and another client for whom I was doing a job involving plays on words told me I was a "genius" - so I guess the remuneration is never going to be enough, is it? ;-)