Categories: translation, triumphs
Date: 30 April 2008 23:46:19
I have said this before, but possibly not on this blog, that I think it must be wonderful to be a professional musician. You put in some hard work in rehearsals and then there is the performance. At the interval - and at the end - there comes a huge amount of appreciation. Applause, wild applause, shouts, calls, even a standing ovation. How glorious it must be to acknowledged!
On 22 April, I blogged about "Some trials of translation". Today, gentle reader, I heard some faint applause trickling its way down through cyberspace from far-flung translation agencies to the garret in which I toil.
I grumbled then that the translation about the road directions was a trifle underpaid. The project manager admitted today that she had made a mistake. (This particular agency has a very peculiar way of working out the fees they pay and, frankly, I don't think I will ever understand it, not being a financial wizard.) Yes, bung a zero on the end of that figure.. that should make you feel you are not working entirely in vain. Yee-ha!
I had also muttered darkly about how my wonderful play on words would be wasted on the uninitiated in the test translation I'd produced. I confess! I spoke too soon. The end-client liked my translation, awarded the contract to my client and they have made me their "preferred supplier" for this particular end-client. [Let's just hope they keep it nice and general and don't go asking for translations on undersea cable laying or the use of nuclear power on Mars - or hedge funds... does anybody understand hedge funds?].
Not quite a standing ovation - but possibly as close to appreciation as I've ever been in this game.
I'll take a bow now while I've got a chance - fifteen seconds of fame and all that.