| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: How far do you generally read a text before you start translating it? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 00:19
Member (2009)
English to German
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| Even shorter/quicker | Dec 8, 2014 |
Julian Holmes wrote: Thayenga wrote:
If it's a text from a known client, then I usually start to translate right away since the document almost always follows the same terminology as the previous texts .... If you get regular work from the same client, they'll give you the right info when they make the initial inquiry, such as "A sequel to the previous stuff you did" or "A version of such-and-such manual for salesmen or repairmen." So, no pre-read is required. Works both ways - quick OK back to the client and quick order, and quick immersion in the new job by the translator. Win-win. No mysteries, unfortunately. 
They just write something down the line of..."here's another XXX project". That's it, a 2-liner email. Sometimes even without a delivery deadline, cause they know it'll be done asap. If not, well, then my reply will say so.
Julian Holmes wrote: No mysteries, unfortunately.
Oh, no worries, there's plenty of "mystery" left. Especially in the creative projects.
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It greatly depends on the text's lenght and the time I have as well, and also on its difficulty, I would say.
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One or two pages and I might read it whole first. But otherwise rates are typically too low to get into that sort of premium mode where you'd first read everything slowly, in hard copy, while sipping a coffee, looking into the sky and then at ducks swimming in the lake at the park, where you're sitting on a bench... Eh, time to quit dreaming. I wish I could work like that, and I technically could, but the sort of 'best rates' mood prevalent in the so called 'industry' doesn't leave room for anyt... See more One or two pages and I might read it whole first. But otherwise rates are typically too low to get into that sort of premium mode where you'd first read everything slowly, in hard copy, while sipping a coffee, looking into the sky and then at ducks swimming in the lake at the park, where you're sitting on a bench... Eh, time to quit dreaming. I wish I could work like that, and I technically could, but the sort of 'best rates' mood prevalent in the so called 'industry' doesn't leave room for anything close to that. ▲ Collapse
| | | | janen
Local time: 10:19
Spanish to English
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Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I will skim part of the text before I accept the job, but once it has been assigned to me, I just plunge in. I have found that the mysteries unravel as I go along. For me, pinpointing them in advance isn't much help.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 18:19
English to Spanish
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| So many pages, so little time | Dec 9, 2014 |
In college, we were told to read the entire original before translating. That might work in an alternate universe, not in this one. At least, not with projects longer than 1500 words/4 pages.
Like many colleagues here, I peruse the text to get an initial impression of the text, layout, graphics that might need localization, etc. Then I plunge in.
I used to spend time building a glossary of project-specific terms. That was before I became proficient enough in TEnT and CA... See more In college, we were told to read the entire original before translating. That might work in an alternate universe, not in this one. At least, not with projects longer than 1500 words/4 pages.
Like many colleagues here, I peruse the text to get an initial impression of the text, layout, graphics that might need localization, etc. Then I plunge in.
I used to spend time building a glossary of project-specific terms. That was before I became proficient enough in TEnT and CAT tools (Deja Vu X2/3 allows you to build a terminology database on the fly).
Some paragraphs I can read real fast and get the gist. Other paragraphs require me to read much more slowly. I recently finished a legal document —a certificate of incorporation— with knotty paragraphs found throughout, which required careful unraveling (like a ball of yarn) before I could attempt to reconstruct the meanings in the target language.
But I was pleased with the results. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gudrun Maydorn (X)
Germany
Local time: 00:19
English to German
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| Depends on the type of text | Dec 9, 2014 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
I read the whole of many medical texts - before I even accept the job.
If there is any special terminology or other issues I ask the client, or reject the job if it is more than I can cope with.
After all the patient's next treatment may depend on the correct translation of his previous medical reports.
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