Categories: translation, triumphs, trials
Date: 23 May 2008 16:39:24
A new client contacted me out of the blue at the beginning of the week. It transpired that he had an enormous contract to place and for some reason he had decided I would be the one to help him. I think he found me via a translators' website I am registered on. My entry outlines my career to date and so it includes the fact that I used to have a high and mighty-sounding title when working for an organisation which has some prestige in academic circles... at least, it does if your studies are funded by it.... still, reflected glory and all that. I think this chap thinks that I am some sort of guru in the world of education. I'm afraid he's sorely mistaken.
So, without so much as a test translation, I am asked to do this enormous contract. I was in a mild dilemma for a few minutes as I had planned to take a week's holiday in the middle of the period under discussion. I have now postponed it as I felt I could not turn down a month's guaranteed work when, as you know, my usual pattern is to lurch blindly from day to day.
The work is not particularly complex - but gentle readers - it is somewhat dull. And some of the text suffers from the same disease as outlined in my previous post - i.e. long pompous sentences which could be expressed in half the verbalisation. I wouldn't mind the long-windedness if it at least said something useful but I am already a bit sick of the repetition of such joys as "The Master's course in Finance and Economics aims to give students a good grounding in finance and economics". Well, whaddya know.
Anyway, in the absence of real-life colleagues, I feel compelled to share my progress with you, dear readers. So far, after slogging uphill through wet concrete for 2 and half days, I am on page 39 of 88. I aim to get to the end of page 44 by the end of today. I won't give you a page-by-page update, tempting though it is, but your virtual support will be deeply appreciated. This part has to be submitted by next Friday - so the pain will not last that long.