Poll: Do media reports of inaccurate translations help or hurt translators? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do media reports of inaccurate translations help or hurt translators?".
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Other (I don't know) | Nov 11, 2016 |
I haven’t seen many media reports of inaccurate translations… | | |
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John Cutler Spain Local time: 15:18 Spanish to English + ...
Obviously we care about these things, because it's our passion and livelihood. However, I don't think most people care one bit about translation related issues. They're much more interested in reading about Trump's latest antics or Brangelina's divorce. | |
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Thayenga Germany Local time: 15:18 Member (2009) English to German + ...
When the media reports about bad (amateur) translations, they usually don't just fall back on the one who didn't do a job but on the entire profession. And... because of negligent translations political or private wars have been started. | | |
Mario Chavez (X) Local time: 10:18 English to Spanish + ...
Bad translations reported in the media are a form of entertainment. I see little informational value in them. I'm more concerned about the defiant ignorance of companies and government agencies that post job listings asking for a translator when they mean an interpreter. This willful stupidity extends not just to job listings but also company policies affecting translators and interpreters in the workplace. This coffee-fueled rant has been brought to you by Pergal... See more Bad translations reported in the media are a form of entertainment. I see little informational value in them. I'm more concerned about the defiant ignorance of companies and government agencies that post job listings asking for a translator when they mean an interpreter. This willful stupidity extends not just to job listings but also company policies affecting translators and interpreters in the workplace. This coffee-fueled rant has been brought to you by Pergale truffles, the original Belgian truffles! ▲ Collapse | | |
Michael Harris Germany Local time: 15:18 Member (2006) German to English
Teresa Borges wrote: I haven’t seen many media reports of inaccurate translations… and also do not have the time to deal with such stuff | | |
I find these reports painful and unnecessary | Nov 11, 2016 |
The famous one about Jimmy Carter "lusting after" the country he was visiting probably went unnoticed by the people he was speaking to. Some supercilious person decided to make a big deal out of it and the story made headlines, to the lifelong embarrassment of the interpreter. | |
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Nigel Greenwood (X) Spain Local time: 15:18 Spanish to English + ... I am of the same opinion as JOhn... | Nov 11, 2016 |
John Cutler wrote: Obviously we care about these things, because it's our passion and livelihood. However, I don't think most people care one bit about translation related issues. They're much more interested in reading about Trump's latest antics or Brangelina's divorce. AT the most, media reports about bad translations make us go that little bit more to make sure our work is perfect. Nigel. | | |
Does anyone (other than translators) really notice or care about inaccurate translations? | Nov 11, 2016 |
I've seen more uproar about misinterpreted statements by simultaneous interpreters. I have the impression that most inaccurate translations just get filed along with all the rest. There doesn't seem to be much about them in the press at any rate. | | |
I have often thought about it | Nov 11, 2016 |
Bad press reflects badly on the entire profession, but we hardly ever get good press because a good translation will never be noticeable. | | |
It might actually help | Nov 11, 2016 |
The attitude is common that "anyone can translate" and that it is an easy thing to do. That means that clients can underestimate the value and complexity of our work, and the degree of knowledge and skill that goes into it, and it also means that people jump in as "instant translators" creating quite a mess. | |
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Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 11:18 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... Good help (long term) | Nov 11, 2016 |
I think they help, as very well mentioned by José Henrique below. Our market is full of adventurers and non-qualified "translators" accepting peanuts to deliver zero-quality jobs. We can hardly do anything about this market-destroying trend, so these reports may be one factor in our favor, even though it's not so significant or efficient for that purpose. But anything helps when you are feeling helpless. And I feel helpless with all the very cheap offers all around and the hundreds of pseudo-pr... See more I think they help, as very well mentioned by José Henrique below. Our market is full of adventurers and non-qualified "translators" accepting peanuts to deliver zero-quality jobs. We can hardly do anything about this market-destroying trend, so these reports may be one factor in our favor, even though it's not so significant or efficient for that purpose. But anything helps when you are feeling helpless. And I feel helpless with all the very cheap offers all around and the hundreds of pseudo-professionals accpeting them. ▲ Collapse | | |