| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | Poll: To me, translating is... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Jenn Mercer 
United States
Local time: 17:40
Member (2009)
French to English
To me, a "job" is something you do for someone else just to keep a roof over your head. A career is something that you own regardless of who you your skills may be benefiting at the time. If you advance in a "job," you have no room for improvement beyond the niche you have been assigned. There is no limit to the benefit I can gain from improving my skills in my career.
Translation is also, as Julian and others have mentioned, a profession. Translators need to be able to do more tha... See more To me, a "job" is something you do for someone else just to keep a roof over your head. A career is something that you own regardless of who you your skills may be benefiting at the time. If you advance in a "job," you have no room for improvement beyond the niche you have been assigned. There is no limit to the benefit I can gain from improving my skills in my career.
Translation is also, as Julian and others have mentioned, a profession. Translators need to be able to do more than just follow directions and have responsibilities beyond those of a wage-slave. ▲ Collapse
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Mario Chavez wrote:
@Giuseppina, I appreciate greatly that you put a face to the poll's author, and it's an interesting topic, since it touches on our professional identity and our self image, among other things.
Maybe you were tired of reading statements that read like superficial or empty platitudes, like things people don't really mean. Some words tend to be so overused that they lose their original meaning and impact.
If you think that translation is just a job, pray tell us more. After all, saying that "it's a job" may well be another superficial platitude...
To be honest, Mario, I believe that translating, as many other colleagues said, it is all of what I mentioned in my survey, but mainly a job, because most of the times it cannot be an art (I cannot find anything artistic in my technical manuals, although I have translated also art catalogues, and that was a real dream...), and furthermore it is a job/profession/career (meanings overlap here) because if I didn't need to pay my bills I'd definitely not be sitting in front of my computer and would be on the beach right now!
Yes, I was just tired of reading superficial comments like: "I LOOOOOVE translating, it is my PASSIOOON, please let me translate or I'll DIE, it's the ONLY thing I want to do in my life", etc.
I chose translation willfully many many years ago and I did not repent this choice, it is much better than many other jobs/professions/occupations, but still something I would not do if I didn't need to make a living!
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To me translation is certainly more than one thing: a job, a mission, an art, it's what I have always wanted to do, what I love most, and what I was born for.
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maryesl wrote:
Not everyone has the ability to convey the meaning of a text in another language. So, I'd say it is an art, and a difficult one.
Yes, indeed. 
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Translation is both art and science.
What word you choose when translating is an art, while how you understand the structure of source material and put that understanding in that of target language is a science called linguistics.
In return, such high level of endeavor should be called "profession". Word "job" could be too light for this demanding task.
On the other hand, any job is a good "occupation" as long as done with pride. In this sense translation is same. ... See more Translation is both art and science.
What word you choose when translating is an art, while how you understand the structure of source material and put that understanding in that of target language is a science called linguistics.
In return, such high level of endeavor should be called "profession". Word "job" could be too light for this demanding task.
On the other hand, any job is a good "occupation" as long as done with pride. In this sense translation is same. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 17:40
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Making a living | Dec 19, 2012 |
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote: Mario Chavez wrote:
@Giuseppina, I appreciate greatly that you put a face to the poll's author, and it's an interesting topic, since it touches on our professional identity and our self image, among other things.
Maybe you were tired of reading statements that read like superficial or empty platitudes, like things people don't really mean. Some words tend to be so overused that they lose their original meaning and impact.
If you think that translation is just a job, pray tell us more. After all, saying that "it's a job" may well be another superficial platitude... To be honest, Mario, I believe that translating, as many other colleagues said, it is all of what I mentioned in my survey, but mainly a job, because most of the times it cannot be an art (I cannot find anything artistic in my technical manuals, although I have translated also art catalogues, and that was a real dream...), and furthermore it is a job/profession/career (meanings overlap here) because if I didn't need to pay my bills I'd definitely not be sitting in front of my computer and would be on the beach right now! Yes, I was just tired of reading superficial comments like: "I LOOOOOVE translating, it is my PASSIOOON, please let me translate or I'll DIE, it's the ONLY thing I want to do in my life", etc. I chose translation willfully many many years ago and I did not repent this choice, it is much better than many other jobs/professions/occupations, but still something I would not do if I didn't need to make a living!
Giuseppina,
Somehow hearing that you chose translation as a job mainly as a mean to make a living makes me sad. Somehow it reminds me of my high school principal, who was an accountant by choice. During one class, however, he publicly admitted that he didn't consider his job his avocation.
Maybe there's something else, an undercurrent of skepticism in your jaded comments. Let's say that you don't need to make a living, what would you do with your time?
Whether you call it a job or something else, do you love what you do? Do you enjoy it? If "No" is your answer, then, what would you love doing?
| | | | Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 14:40
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
+ ...
| Translating is ... | Dec 19, 2012 |
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:
Yes, I was just tired of reading superficial comments like: "I LOOOOOVE translating, it is my PASSIOOON, please let me translate or I'll DIE, it's the ONLY thing I want to do in my life", etc.
There is a part of me that wonders if such sentiments are connected to a willingness to accept low rates.
[Edited at 2012-12-19 18:09 GMT]
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 15:40
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Now where was that choice? I consider translation to be my vocation; that is, it is what I was born to do, and I was lucky enough to discover it. It suits me in every way. What more can I say?
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Michele Fauble wrote: Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:
Yes, I was just tired of reading superficial comments like: "I LOOOOOVE translating, it is my PASSIOOON, please let me translate or I'll DIE, it's the ONLY thing I want to do in my life", etc.
There is a part of me that wonders if such sentiments are connected to a willingness to accept low rates. [Edited at 2012-12-19 18:09 GMT]
This is exactly what I wanted to imply... Some people would do it for free. And this is exactly what I meant when I say that translation is a "job" for me, i.e. I would not do it for free (unless it is for a good cause, and I have done it), and not even for cheap rates.
Mario, sorry you misunderstood my words, I am not jaded, but after 20 years I can be a little "tired", I think. I still enjoy translating, but that does not exclude the fact that it is a very demanding profession.
What I would like doing is a lot of other things and I don't have time right now, maybe in the future it will be possible..
[Modificato alle 2012-12-19 20:17 GMT]
| | | | Alison Sparks (X)
Local time: 23:40
French to English
+ ...
| In a nutshell | Dec 19, 2012 |
Allison Wright's comments. I love doing translations, but won't do them for peanuts. The manipulation of words even in your mother tongue is an art. The research, if need be, to find the context is a science. Doing what suits you, with your own deadlines, your own ambience and no boss ........ Who could ask for more?
| | | | | A love/hate relationship? | Dec 19, 2012 |
Lovely when you are in the groove, with something you really understand - for me a technical manual or a contract perhaps, rocking on in Word or Trados, smiling and making the sparks fly - or perhaps researching and learning to understand an entirely new topic which you find fascinating and absorbing - or even translating a poem perhaps, delighting in finding ways to express the emotions and wit of the author in your own language.
Terrible when you are painstakingly picking your way... See more Lovely when you are in the groove, with something you really understand - for me a technical manual or a contract perhaps, rocking on in Word or Trados, smiling and making the sparks fly - or perhaps researching and learning to understand an entirely new topic which you find fascinating and absorbing - or even translating a poem perhaps, delighting in finding ways to express the emotions and wit of the author in your own language.
Terrible when you are painstakingly picking your way through somebody's garbage bin of illegible, tedious faxes in PDF, liberally sprinkled with handwriting, wondering why you are working for an hourly rate rather less than that of a chicken plucker.
But it has its moments. And it beats working... smiles
Steve K. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gina W
United States
Local time: 17:40
Member (2003)
French to English
| Other: a passion | Dec 19, 2012 |
I love it!
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule | | Off topic: We definitely need a LIKE button here! | Dec 20, 2012 |
Like Claire, I think we should have a "Like" or maybe "Agree" button here.
I would have supported Henry Hinds, by the way. Translation is my inborn talent and my vocation
Cheers!
| | | | | a part time activity | Dec 20, 2012 |
sometimes - quite often, to my regret - I feel burned out. patients, their endless complaints, a need to be positive, etc, bla_bla_bla....
and translation gives me a safety room. where I can hide.
for a while.
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