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Can you translate a complete novel in 5 days?
Thread poster: Tom in London
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:34
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Nov 14, 2019

Other colleagues may have received this absurd invitation:

"We are excited to offer you a long-term collaboration as we are currently working on a potential translation project from Italian to English (US), in which you might be of interest, and below you can find more details" (yes, that's the way they write English in California - apparently):

- Specialization : Book/Novel.
- Service : Translation.
- CAT tool is not required.
- Word count : 100k word
... See more
Other colleagues may have received this absurd invitation:

"We are excited to offer you a long-term collaboration as we are currently working on a potential translation project from Italian to English (US), in which you might be of interest, and below you can find more details" (yes, that's the way they write English in California - apparently):

- Specialization : Book/Novel.
- Service : Translation.
- CAT tool is not required.
- Word count : 100k words.
- Deadline : 5 calendar days form the confirmation

I can't imagine what kind of novel it is, but simply reading it, grasping its style and plot, characters, settings, etc., would probably take me most of the 5 days. Translating it would require at least a month and probably more.

I don't know why they're excited about it. I'm not.

[Edited at 2019-11-14 15:34 GMT]
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B D Finch
Baran Keki
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
philgoddard
Philip Lees
P.L.F. Persio
Joe France
 
Ali Sharifi
Ali Sharifi  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:34
English to Persian (Farsi)
+ ...
It is possible. Nov 14, 2019

If you have a team of translators you can divide the book and finish it in five days.

 
Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:34
Danish to English
+ ...
Sounds like a scam Nov 14, 2019

It's so ludicrous that it makes me think it's a scam. Also, the 'Californian style', which I relate more to 'scammer English' than American English, isn't what you'd usually expect from a publisher – even an American one. Doesn't sound like something I'd touch with a bargepole.

Tom in London
B D Finch
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
P.L.F. Persio
neilmac
 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:34
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
I'm in it ! Nov 14, 2019

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

It's so ludicrous that it makes me think it's a scam. Also, the 'Californian style', which I relate more to 'scammer English' than American English, isn't what you'd usually expect from a publisher – even an American one. Doesn't sound like something I'd touch with a bargepole.


Yes- and apparently I myself may be able to play an interesting role in the novel (even though I assume it has already been written).

("a potential translation project in which you might be of interest")


philgoddard
P.L.F. Persio
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:34
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
How time flies! Nov 14, 2019

Tom in London wrote:
"We are excited to offer you a long-term collaboration

- Deadline : 5 calendar days form the confirmation

I know things move fast nowadays, but how long a term is five days?


MollyRose
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
philgoddard
Philip Lees
P.L.F. Persio
Christine Andersen
María Paula Gorgone
 
Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:34
Danish to English
+ ...
Indeed, I noticed; how exciting Nov 14, 2019

What's the title? Uncle Tom's Collins Strikes Again?

Let us know when the film has been made and we can see you on the silver screen.

[Edited at 2019-11-14 16:31 GMT]

[Edited at 2019-11-14 16:32 GMT]


P.L.F. Persio
 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:34
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Premeer Nov 14, 2019

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

What's the title? Uncle Tom's Collins strikes again?

Let us know when the film has been made and we can see you on the silver screen.


You and Sheila can be at the première (premeer, as the Americans say).


Thomas T. Frost
P.L.F. Persio
 
Jean Dimitriadis
Jean Dimitriadis  Identity Verified
English to French
+ ...
It's not a sprint... Nov 14, 2019

Slightly out of topic, but, as this Website's author says: Why is everyone in such a rush?

In lieu of "Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours", he takes the long view: "Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years".

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon…

Of course, a scammer's business thrives on having the would-be victim too busy to apply critical thinking, due diligence, or any other such "luxury".
... See more
Slightly out of topic, but, as this Website's author says: Why is everyone in such a rush?

In lieu of "Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours", he takes the long view: "Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years".

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon…

Of course, a scammer's business thrives on having the would-be victim too busy to apply critical thinking, due diligence, or any other such "luxury".

Hence: "Translate 100K words in 5 days." Or else.

I’d rather actually take that time off to read the damn thing (if it’s any good to be translated, a novel should at least be worth the read, no need to compound the ineptitude).

[Edited at 2019-11-14 16:30 GMT]
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Tom in London
Jocelin Meunier
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Helen Shiner
P.L.F. Persio
 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:34
French to English
Specialisation Nov 14, 2019

Book.

If I were not in doubt before, I was by the time I saw this. Translating books is a specialisation.

[Edited at 2019-11-14 18:54 GMT]


P.L.F. Persio
neilmac
 
Laurent Mercky
Laurent Mercky
France
Local time: 13:34
Chinese to French
+ ...
only by team Nov 14, 2019

20,000 wors/day is IMPOSSIBLE alone.
Only a team of several translators is able to complete such challenge.


 
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
That's funny, Tom... Nov 14, 2019

I actually came online to tell everyone about this job, which I was also offered today, but you've beaten me to it.

They are willing to pay 3c a word.

My guess is that the end customer is very proud of their self-published novel, but horrified at the cost of having it translated. I say this because I've encountered people like this many times before.

Eventually they find a company willing to do a junk translation for peanuts, but because they're not a na
... See more
I actually came online to tell everyone about this job, which I was also offered today, but you've beaten me to it.

They are willing to pay 3c a word.

My guess is that the end customer is very proud of their self-published novel, but horrified at the cost of having it translated. I say this because I've encountered people like this many times before.

Eventually they find a company willing to do a junk translation for peanuts, but because they're not a native speaker of English, they don't know that it's unusable. They've been conned out of several thousand dollars by an unscrupulous company.

[Edited at 2019-11-14 20:20 GMT]

[Edited at 2019-11-14 20:21 GMT]
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Helen Shiner
Tom in London
P.L.F. Persio
 
Gina Centanni
Gina Centanni  Identity Verified
United States
Member (2008)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Fairly obvious that it's a scam Nov 14, 2019

That a seasoned translator would even entertain the thought that an “offer” such as the one described could be anything other than a scam is rather surprising to me. I get them all the time and they go straight into the recycle bin.

What’s not at all surprising but is more than a little irritating is the unabashed disdain repeatedly expressed by some on this forum for all things (and people) American or, more specifically, North American or, more specifically, from the US (�
... See more
That a seasoned translator would even entertain the thought that an “offer” such as the one described could be anything other than a scam is rather surprising to me. I get them all the time and they go straight into the recycle bin.

What’s not at all surprising but is more than a little irritating is the unabashed disdain repeatedly expressed by some on this forum for all things (and people) American or, more specifically, North American or, more specifically, from the US (“that’s the way they write English in California – apparently”; “isn't what you'd usually expect from a publisher – even an American one”). As an American, I find it offensive.
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Jorge Payan
ael
 
Bhaswar Lochan
Bhaswar Lochan
India
Local time: 18:04
English to Hindi
+ ...
I can do it in a single day Nov 15, 2019

Hello Everyone,
I am capable to translate the complete novel (without bothering word counts, style,bla, bla) in a single day (in few hours), but with following conditions:

1. Client will not ask, how I did it (Long live Google!!).
2. Client will not cross-check quality.
3. Client will not ask for revision.
4. Client will deposit word-count X 0.25 USD with the start of work in my Paypal account.
Other *T&C applied.

I think you can also f
... See more
Hello Everyone,
I am capable to translate the complete novel (without bothering word counts, style,bla, bla) in a single day (in few hours), but with following conditions:

1. Client will not ask, how I did it (Long live Google!!).
2. Client will not cross-check quality.
3. Client will not ask for revision.
4. Client will deposit word-count X 0.25 USD with the start of work in my Paypal account.
Other *T&C applied.

I think you can also follow me for such type of crap works and become rich!!!

Thanks.
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Sheila Wilson
P.L.F. Persio
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 14:34
Greek to English
Not long enough Nov 15, 2019

Jean Dimitriadis wrote:

Slightly out of topic, but, as this Website's author says: Why is everyone in such a rush?

In lieu of "Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours", he takes the long view: "Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years".


For some things, even ten years isn't long enough.

Learn Greek in 25 Years

NOTE: I have no connection with this book or its author. For amusement only.


Tom in London
P.L.F. Persio
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:34
Spanish to English
+ ...
Well spotted Nov 15, 2019

Tom in London wrote:

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

It's so ludicrous that it makes me think it's a scam. Also, the 'Californian style', which I relate more to 'scammer English' than American English, isn't what you'd usually expect from a publisher – even an American one. Doesn't sound like something I'd touch with a bargepole.


Yes- and apparently I myself may be able to play an interesting role in the novel (even though I assume it has already been written).

("a potential translation project in which you might be of interest")


When reading the sentence at first, I assumed they meant that you, as a potential translator, might be of interest to them, the agency/outsourcer. However, I now see that as a bit of a stretch, and what they probably meant was that the project might be of interest to you. Whatever the case, I can lend you my bargepole if necessary…


 
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