| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Off topic: How not to introduce yourself. Thread poster: Anne Lee
|
|---|
Anne Lee 
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:37
Member (2003)
Dutch to English
+ ...
All too often, I receive introduction letters from translation companies marketing their services in very poor English. It does not inspire a great deal of confidence if a company or translator cannot get its first letter right. This morning's letter came from 'Germanica' in Poland. It included the immortal phrase:
"Our capital are our professional translators who have been hunted up and
selected." A scary thought.
| | | | sylvie malich (X)
Germany
Local time: 19:37
German to English
| Gabriela Tenenbaum (X)
Uruguay
Local time: 14:37
English to Spanish
+ ...
Next time I see somebody with a dictionary on one hand and a net in the other....
I'll run away!!!
Gaby.
| | | | PAS
Local time: 19:37
Polish to English
+ ...
| Judging by the name... | Dec 16, 2003 |
lucky my language is English... so they didn't hunt me down. I mean up.
| | |
|
|
|
Anne Lee
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:37
Member (2003)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Other extracts from the same letter | Dec 16, 2003 |
Quote:
"These persons represent practically all types of branches and, at
the same time, are fluent in foreign languages." Unquote
(just as well, really)
Quote:
"Our prices vary from 0,6 Euro to 0,8
Euro for one line (55 type-signs, black and white). It means that the
combination with the Polish language is cheaper than the translation from
German into English for example." Unquote
(Message: choose P... See more Quote:
"These persons represent practically all types of branches and, at
the same time, are fluent in foreign languages." Unquote
(just as well, really)
Quote:
"Our prices vary from 0,6 Euro to 0,8
Euro for one line (55 type-signs, black and white). It means that the
combination with the Polish language is cheaper than the translation from
German into English for example." Unquote
(Message: choose Polish as target language and you pay less! Who needs translations into English anyway?)
[Edited at 2003-12-16 10:42] ▲ Collapse
| | | | sylvie malich (X)
Germany
Local time: 19:37
German to English
| Is it maybe cheaper to get it in other colours too? | Dec 16, 2003 |
[quote]
Quote:
"Our prices vary from 0,6 Euro to 0,8
Euro for one line (55 type-signs, black and white).
[quote]
[Edited at 2003-12-17 14:43]
| | | | Yamato (X)
Bulgaria
Local time: 20:37
Russian to Spanish
+ ...
| Unbelievable | Dec 20, 2003 |
That reminds me of the translation test they did to freelance wannabes in the translation company where I used to work.
I suspect many people did those test with one hand and looked through the window instead of looking at the screen.
And then they don't understand the origin of big crazes like "All your base are belong to us"
| | | | aivars
Argentina
Local time: 14:37
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Besides laughing at them, let them know | Dec 20, 2003 |
You may get some work, they seem to be in need of a native English proofer.
Don't complain, if everybody could write in perfect English your job wouldn't have any value.
| | |
|
|
|
Anne Lee
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:37
Member (2003)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Offering to correct the letter | Dec 20, 2003 |
When I used to receive this sort of letter in the past, Aivars, I used to reply by pointing out very gently the sort of impression their letter gave. On three occasions, I was asked to point out the mistakes which I duly did, rewriting the letter for them for free, because it is not worth quoting and invoicing for. But it can be time-consuming getting involved like this and they usually already have their cheap labour in place for other jobs. I will write to this particular agency, though, beca... See more When I used to receive this sort of letter in the past, Aivars, I used to reply by pointing out very gently the sort of impression their letter gave. On three occasions, I was asked to point out the mistakes which I duly did, rewriting the letter for them for free, because it is not worth quoting and invoicing for. But it can be time-consuming getting involved like this and they usually already have their cheap labour in place for other jobs. I will write to this particular agency, though, because I remember how discouraging it is starting out and not getting a tremendous response to my first mailing. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | you are right...tenes razon !!! | Jan 6, 2004 |
English is a very harsh language to learn and master. Estamos de acuerdo
aivars wrote:
You may get some work, they seem to be in need of a native English proofer.
Don't complain, if everybody could write in perfect English your job wouldn't have any value.
| | | | | You are very nice ! | Jan 6, 2004 |
I agree with you that the presentation of a person or entity needs to be done in a professional manner and it has certain etiquette. English is a very harsh language to learn and master. Grammar gets easier with time but talking is an all different story. I have been in the US now since 1981 and constantly trying to improve, it is a non ending job. For us that speak spanish as a native tongue, it gets harder being in a country where you do not use your language all the time. You have to kee... See more I agree with you that the presentation of a person or entity needs to be done in a professional manner and it has certain etiquette. English is a very harsh language to learn and master. Grammar gets easier with time but talking is an all different story. I have been in the US now since 1981 and constantly trying to improve, it is a non ending job. For us that speak spanish as a native tongue, it gets harder being in a country where you do not use your language all the time. You have to keep on reading the right materials and talking with the right people, in order to keep in shape. I have seen translations from other translators and I think: what were they thinking? Some of them does not make any sense at all, it looks like a rough MT. But I still love this profession...:) live and learn !!!!
Anne Lee wrote:
When I used to receive this sort of letter in the past, Aivars, I used to reply by pointing out very gently the sort of impression their letter gave. On three occasions, I was asked to point out the mistakes which I duly did, rewriting the letter for them for free, because it is not worth quoting and invoicing for. But it can be time-consuming getting involved like this and they usually already have their cheap labour in place for other jobs. I will write to this particular agency, though, because I remember how discouraging it is starting out and not getting a tremendous response to my first mailing. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anne Lee
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:37
Member (2003)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
... for the compliment, Julio.
How to keep up to date with your native tongue is an interesting subject in itself, actually.
| | |
|
|
|
Textklick
Local time: 18:37
German to English
+ ...
In memoriam | Keeping up with the Windsors | Jan 10, 2004 |
I highly commend the BBC World Service on net radio, a station I can't receive on my normal radio in the U.K.
Only feasible with DSL/broadband though; having said which, many countries in the world are better-served than we are in that respect.
| | | | Anne Lee
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:37
Member (2003)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | The importance of cartoon strips | Jan 10, 2004 |
I am sent magazines and read the newspaper online. On my last visit to Belgium, I picked up a copy of the local Dutch 'Good Food' magazine in the hope of keeping up with the Belgian kitchen, as well. Imagine my surprise when I found it full of recipes by Jamie Oliver and Ken Hom, translated into Dutch. An invaluable source of information are cartoon strips (e.g. Suske and Wiske), because some of them contain satirical side-swipes at social developments, often introducing new concepts which I had... See more I am sent magazines and read the newspaper online. On my last visit to Belgium, I picked up a copy of the local Dutch 'Good Food' magazine in the hope of keeping up with the Belgian kitchen, as well. Imagine my surprise when I found it full of recipes by Jamie Oliver and Ken Hom, translated into Dutch. An invaluable source of information are cartoon strips (e.g. Suske and Wiske), because some of them contain satirical side-swipes at social developments, often introducing new concepts which I hadn't heard of, like 'onthaasting', a fashionable trend to try and live life at a slower pace, similar to downsizing. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
While I'm interested in your comments, and especially in the usefulness of cartoon strips, I just wanted to say that I don't think that is what "downsizing" means! Downsizing is what a company does when they cut headcount, i.e. laying people off. It just means reducing the number of people that work in a company. I'm not sure what the word is for the trend you describe but I'd be interested in suggestions!
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » How not to introduce yourself. | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
