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Poll: How do you describe yourself to clients?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 26, 2014

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you describe yourself to clients?".

This poll was originally submitted by Gitte Hovedskov, MCIL. View the poll results »



 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 14:33
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
Other Jul 26, 2014

Professional translator, which I am. Surprised this is not on the list

 
564354352 (X)
564354352 (X)  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 06:33
Danish to English
+ ...
Limited no. of options Jul 26, 2014

Julian Holmes wrote:

Professional translator, which I am. Surprised this is not on the list


You can only enter eight options... I very quickly got to the last option and had to include 'Other'...


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 22:33
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Professional translator Jul 26, 2014

Like Julian. Sometimes I add or substitute "Linguistic Consultant," as I sometimes do linguistic research projects that combine translation, and I also (used to) publish articles on linguistics and translation theory.

 
inkweaver
inkweaver  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 06:33
French to German
+ ...
Translator Jul 26, 2014

No need to say more, IMHO.

I'm fairly sick of the term "professional" so I try to avoid it whenever possible. I would always assume that someone who works in a certain field is a "professional" whatever. Could you imagine someone describing themselves as a "professional dentist" or "professional lawyer"?


[Edited at 2014-07-26 08:45 GMT]

[Edited at 2014-07-26 08:47 GMT]


 
Madeleine Chevassus
Madeleine Chevassus  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 06:33
Member (2010)
English to French
SITE LOCALIZER
other: Engineer, Product Manager Jul 26, 2014

Hi

When I quote for a technical job, I explain my long career as an IT engineer in a bilingual context, then speak of 4 years of professional freelance translations.

have a nice week-end

Madeleine

[Edited at 2014-07-26 08:55 GMT]


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 05:33
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Professional translator Jul 26, 2014

Like Julian and Muriel I'm surprised this is not on the list...

 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 14:33
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
'Professional' helps Jul 26, 2014

inkweaver wrote:

No need to say more, IMHO.
I'm fairly sick of the term "professional" so I try to avoid it whenever possible.


Adding the 'professional' part saves time and unnecessary pre-amble. I find customers/clients tend to skip the chit-chat, cut to the chase and ask more pointed and pertinent questions, which is good for both of us since this helps them get a better idea of my skills and expertise and how these can be applied to their specific requirements.

So, on the surface 'professional' may seem superfluous but it comes in handy. It's a useful ice-breaker.


 
Platon Danilov
Platon Danilov  Identity Verified
Ukraine
Local time: 07:33
English to Russian
+ ...
"freelance" vs. "independent" Jul 26, 2014

Hi,
I've got used to present myself as a "freelance translator", as a majority has voted here, but now I'm considering "independent translator" may sound better to client's mind.

What's your opinion about it and what's your attitude to these terms?


 
Nigel Greenwood (X)
Nigel Greenwood (X)  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 06:33
Spanish to English
+ ...
Interpreter? Jul 26, 2014

I used to present myself as a translator, but for about a year now, I present myself as an Interpreter. Over the past 8 years, the majority of my income has come from my work as an interpreter. So, I am now an Interpreter / Translator.

Regards,

Nigel


 
Erzsébet Czopyk
Erzsébet Czopyk  Identity Verified
Hungary
Local time: 06:33
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
other Jul 26, 2014

linguist, teacher, sworn translator
or certified translator which equals to Dipl.-Übersetzerin


 
564354352 (X)
564354352 (X)  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 06:33
Danish to English
+ ...
A different kettle of fish Jul 26, 2014

Nigel Greenwood wrote:

I used to present myself as a translator, but for about a year now, I present myself as an Interpreter. Over the past 8 years, the majority of my income has come from my work as an interpreter. So, I am now an Interpreter / Translator.

Regards,

Nigel



My question was edited slightly by ProZ.com - I had actually phrased the question as 'Translator: How do you describe...", because I knew there would be a group of people here who were working mainly or entirely as interpreters, and my curiosity was more about how people see themselves as translators. Sorry if this seems a bit exclusive.

I realised after Julian's initial comment about 'Professional Translator' that I had based my question mainly on how people see themselves in terms of their business setup, not in terms of their qualifications. There are a whole range of other options if our various backgrounds are drawn into this, too, e.g. Qualified Translator, Sworn Translator, State-authorised Translator, Certified Translator, Licensed Translator etc. etc.

I apologise for my one-track mind.

[Edited at 2014-07-26 12:31 GMT]


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 06:33
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
A very good question Jul 26, 2014

I used to like freelancer, but apparently some people think it has an aura of superficiality and 'Jack of all trades' about it, while others think of journalists.

I generally call myself a translator and prepare to ward off the questions about books!

I have toyed with language consultant, but I always come back to translator because that is most easily understood in the UK. Here in Denmark people may only have hazy ideas of what translators REALLY do, but they are well
... See more
I used to like freelancer, but apparently some people think it has an aura of superficiality and 'Jack of all trades' about it, while others think of journalists.

I generally call myself a translator and prepare to ward off the questions about books!

I have toyed with language consultant, but I always come back to translator because that is most easily understood in the UK. Here in Denmark people may only have hazy ideas of what translators REALLY do, but they are well aware that we exist, linking Danish industry to the rest of the world.

Apart from that, I am a fairly single-minded translator - I do not interpret or teach, and I am very picky these days about who I proofread for.
Collapse


 
Kitty Brussaard
Kitty Brussaard  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 06:33
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Depends on type of client Jul 26, 2014

In other words, it all depends on whether I'm dealing with an end client (in which case I often act as an outsourcer and always present myself by using my company name or "we") or with an LSP (in which case I usually act as a freelance translator trading under the same company name I'm using for my activities as an outsourcer).

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:33
English to Spanish
+ ...
I agree, professional is a bit of an overreach Jul 26, 2014

inkweaver wrote:

No need to say more, IMHO.

I'm fairly sick of the term "professional" so I try to avoid it whenever possible. I would always assume that someone who works in a certain field is a "professional" whatever. Could you imagine someone describing themselves as a "professional dentist" or "professional lawyer"?


[Edited at 2014-07-26 08:45 GMT]

[Edited at 2014-07-26 08:47 GMT]


I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for your perspective.


 
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Poll: How do you describe yourself to clients?






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