Test translations, whereby a potential client, often a translation company, asks a translator to complete an “audition” translation for free before beginning work with the client, are a frequent subject of controversy in the industry. Translators wonder if they should complete unpaid translations, if they should set a limit on the length of test translations, [...]
Archive for April, 2008
A few thoughts on test translations
Posted in Freelancing, Translation quality on April 16, 2008 | 5 Comments »
OmegaT: a free and very useful TenT
Posted in Technology on April 11, 2008 | 23 Comments »
Translation environment tools (TenTs), also referred to as CAT tools or translation memory tools, are the subject of numerous passionate discussions among translators. Some people prefer a standalone tool, others a tool that works from within a program like Microsoft Office, some users are adamant that their tool has the best matching algorithm out there [...]
Home or away?
Posted in Freelancing on April 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In the past few months, I’ve spoken with a few translators who fall into a small but interesting group; people who hate working from home. One, who I’ll be profiling in an upcoming post, switched to an in-house job after a lengthy tenure as a freelancer and says he’s “never going back;” a couple of [...]
“How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator” in Denver on May 10
Posted in Announcements, Nubbin on April 7, 2008 | 1 Comment »
On Saturday, May 10 in Denver, my colleague Eve Bodeux and I will be presenting a half-day seminar on “How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator.” It is a nuts and bolts session that applies to any language combination and focuses on developing a marketing plan, finding and keeping well-paying translation clients, writing a translation-targeted [...]
You can say it in French…
Posted in Links, Translation quality, Translation technique on April 7, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Thanks to reader Polly-Vous Français (whose blog is my substitute for a trip to Paris these days!) for sending the link to FranceTerme, the official French government site for French terminology and neologisms. Their slogan, “Vous pouvez le dire en français” (You can say it in French) gives you an idea of the theme; for [...]
Translators and proofreading: a love/hate relationship
Posted in Freelancing, Translation quality on April 4, 2008 | 5 Comments »
Recently, the Colorado Translators Association held a great workshop with local editor and editing instructor Alice Levine. This session was really enlightening in a number of ways; Alice is a lively and engaging presenter and she seemed to enjoy speaking to a group of fellow “word geeks,” and it also made me realize that translators [...]
Keeping up your source language skills
Posted in Freelancing, Translation quality on April 1, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Many translators insist that talking to anyone (clients, potential clients, colleagues, beginning translators, etc.) is unnecessary and detracts from their true calling, which can only be fulfilled by spending at least 10 hours a day at the computer. While that’s somewhat of a joke, I think that many translators do feel that unlike interpreters, they [...]
My new twins
Posted in Technology on April 1, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Earlier this year I decided it was time to upgrade my primary computer setup. The idea centered around the installation of twin 20-inch LCD monitors (replacing the old twin 19-inch CRT monitors, which each took up about as much space as my late grandmother’s console television, only she had just one) and an operating system [...]
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If you enjoy Corinne’s blog, check out her book!
Corinne McKay is an ATA-certified French to English translator specializing in international development, law and non-fiction books. She launched Thoughts on Translation in February, 2008 as a way to connect and share ideas with freelance translators around the world.
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