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Poll: In your opinion, which of these is the most valuable for a translator to have?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:35
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other Jul 5, 2016

With lots of clients, but poor soft-/hardware and no education...the number of clients matters little. The answer is: a combination.

 
Berna Bleeke (X)
Berna Bleeke (X)
Local time: 16:35
English to Dutch
I don't know if it's the *most* valuable, but... Jul 5, 2016

Another good thing to have is a kind of modesty. It's very easy, when coming across an obscure word, to assume that it must have been a typo in the source, especially if the word you think it's a misspelling of would sort of fit in the context. Look it up anyway, you might be surprised! And the same goes for sentences. If your translation doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, then re-read the source again. Maybe a word you thought you knew has several meanings, or maybe a pronoun you thought refe... See more
Another good thing to have is a kind of modesty. It's very easy, when coming across an obscure word, to assume that it must have been a typo in the source, especially if the word you think it's a misspelling of would sort of fit in the context. Look it up anyway, you might be surprised! And the same goes for sentences. If your translation doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, then re-read the source again. Maybe a word you thought you knew has several meanings, or maybe a pronoun you thought referred to one thing, actually refers to another, or something like that.Collapse


 
Ilan Rubin (X)
Ilan Rubin (X)  Identity Verified
Russian Federation
Local time: 18:35
Russian to English
Source language Jul 5, 2016

For me what's key is excellent command of the source language, at least in my pair (Ru>native En). That's very hard work and takes years and years to achieve. The rest will come (esp. clients) once you have this.

 
Anthony Baldwin
Anthony Baldwin  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:35
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Marketing skills? Jul 5, 2016

Without these, there will be no clients, of course.
And how about tech skills, too?
Also necessary if one is to drive top computers and software, no?
And how about specialized knowledge/experience/education in one or more non-linguistic fields?

Seems to me this survey was not well thought-out.


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:35
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Good contacts = lots of clients Jul 5, 2016

Lots of clients seems to be the most popular choice. However, there are two aspects to be considered here. "Lots of" may not be the best expression here. Quality is way more valuable than quantity in this case. In addition, good contacts are mostly a prerequirement for lots of clients.

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:35
English to Spanish
+ ...
Easily forgotten Jul 5, 2016

Sonja Kroll wrote:

The evergreen of underrated skills.


Command of both languages as demonstrated in excellent writing skills.


 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:35
English to Spanish
+ ...
Sophie's choice Jul 5, 2016

Actually, none of the above is the most valuable, but a combination of several of them.

Humanity has had translators and interpreters since civilization began and since writing began. There were no computers, no software, no so-called marketing skills (what I call “how to lie” skills).

How often we forget to distill down to the essentials.


 
Yaotl Altan
Yaotl Altan  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 09:35
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Good clients Jul 5, 2016

A pool of clients means that our work is being considered as valuable and important. That's why they come back to us again.

 
Paulo Caldeira
Paulo Caldeira  Identity Verified
Portugal
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In Portugal you need to have "good contacts" Jul 5, 2016

Well, I must say this.
In Portugal you do need to have "good contacts".
In my opinion, just in like other professions isn't your graduation who gives you authority at all.
It is your real experience, and speaking for myself I have seen so many errors done on my Master fields by academical translators that I only can say: In Portugal, as for portuguese language, you need "good contacts".
The internal rates at agencies, the real work being published online...nothing of that
... See more
Well, I must say this.
In Portugal you do need to have "good contacts".
In my opinion, just in like other professions isn't your graduation who gives you authority at all.
It is your real experience, and speaking for myself I have seen so many errors done on my Master fields by academical translators that I only can say: In Portugal, as for portuguese language, you need "good contacts".
The internal rates at agencies, the real work being published online...nothing of that matters.
Only you need is..."good contacts".
Even if you want to be a moderator.

[Editado em 2016-07-05 17:12 GMT]
Collapse


 
Parrot
Parrot  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 16:35
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jul 5, 2016

Whatever happened to "vocation"?

I'm talking staying power...


 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:35
French to English
Hear, hear! Jul 5, 2016

Sonja Kroll wrote:

The evergreen of underrated skills.


 
Hege Jakobsen Lepri
Hege Jakobsen Lepri  Identity Verified
Norway
Local time: 16:35
Member (2002)
English to Norwegian
+ ...
Command of mother tongue and excellent understanding of source language(s) Jul 5, 2016

Sonja Kroll wrote:

The evergreen of underrated skills.


No software or client list or dictionary or formal/informal training can trump that.


 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 00:35
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
I wish Jul 6, 2016

'Teflon coating' was one of the options.

You have to be thick-skinned and endure a lot of ridiculous c**p from some stupid customers.


 
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Poll: In your opinion, which of these is the most valuable for a translator to have?






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