Poll: Do you do translations for free for friends and family? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you do translations for free for friends and family?".
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| | | neilmac Spain Local time: 03:28 Spanish to English + ... Yes, but it depends | Nov 20, 2014 |
I often have to go and help out my mechanic explaining things to his guiri customers. I don't mind as he does me the odd favour in return. I also do stuff like that for my landlord and sometimes accompany him on hospital visits and the like. In return, if I ever need, for example, a lift to the airport or whatever, he is only too willing to help out. Later this week he'll deliver me a load of firewood and I know he'll give me a good price. I wouldn't do it if I thought I was being t... See more I often have to go and help out my mechanic explaining things to his guiri customers. I don't mind as he does me the odd favour in return. I also do stuff like that for my landlord and sometimes accompany him on hospital visits and the like. In return, if I ever need, for example, a lift to the airport or whatever, he is only too willing to help out. Later this week he'll deliver me a load of firewood and I know he'll give me a good price. I wouldn't do it if I thought I was being taken advantage of, or for granted. PS: I translated the menu for a local restauarant I used to frequent a lot and they gave me a free lunch. They treat me like royalty now whenever I take people there, which I suppose is good PR.
[Edited at 2014-11-20 11:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | |
if the job prevent me from doing other paid jobs and most importantly if they ask how much it is... in that case I am more flexible and sometimes a coffee and a nice chat is enough. and as Neilmac said: never if i think they are taking it for granted. | | | A juggling act | Nov 20, 2014 |
Always a difficult one this one. It would feel awful to ask a family member to pay me for something like this, but what if I had to forego significant paid projects in order to help out? If it's not a large amount of work (and most definitely only if you are not feeling taken for granted) then fine. But watch out for those self-nominated friends, the friends of friends, the boyfriend of a friend of a friend etc etc. On a slightly different note, I love it when I can pr... See more Always a difficult one this one. It would feel awful to ask a family member to pay me for something like this, but what if I had to forego significant paid projects in order to help out? If it's not a large amount of work (and most definitely only if you are not feeling taken for granted) then fine. But watch out for those self-nominated friends, the friends of friends, the boyfriend of a friend of a friend etc etc. On a slightly different note, I love it when I can provide a service which someone really needs in return for something I get satisfaction from, either because I really need it (Neil's car mechanic sounds a deal I'd be interested in) or I really like it (the massive painting on my living room wall). ▲ Collapse | |
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Is that people with no friends or family? | | |
Let’s start by saying that I haven’t been asked often… Over the years I translated for free a few CVs for family members, a restaurant menu for a friend and occasionally my youngest daughter needs my help writing a letter. Some years ago I collaborated on a translation (mostly reviewing) with one of my nieces, who is a medical doctor, for a very, very special price… I’m also the first port of call for my only translator daughter (the middle one), sometimes sh... See more Let’s start by saying that I haven’t been asked often… Over the years I translated for free a few CVs for family members, a restaurant menu for a friend and occasionally my youngest daughter needs my help writing a letter. Some years ago I collaborated on a translation (mostly reviewing) with one of my nieces, who is a medical doctor, for a very, very special price… I’m also the first port of call for my only translator daughter (the middle one), sometimes she considers me as her private dictionary (not that I mind!)… ▲ Collapse | | | I rarely get asked | Nov 20, 2014 |
But tend to take on the small things that come. I only work for free for real close relatives or non-profit purposes. I have some lovely glass vases and a charming abstract 'creature' that I have been given as thanks for translations... | | | It depends, of course! | Nov 20, 2014 |
A couple of months ago, I have been asked to translate some Italian school documents for a very good friend of mine coming back to Argentina. Even if I appreciate her and her children a lot, it was a huge amount of pages and I was not able to do it for free. I had to tell her: that's my work, dear, and I CAN'T do it for free, even if I'd love to help you! (naturally, because if I take these free jobs, I am leaving aside some paid work). On the other side, if it's some kind of short documen... See more A couple of months ago, I have been asked to translate some Italian school documents for a very good friend of mine coming back to Argentina. Even if I appreciate her and her children a lot, it was a huge amount of pages and I was not able to do it for free. I had to tell her: that's my work, dear, and I CAN'T do it for free, even if I'd love to help you! (naturally, because if I take these free jobs, I am leaving aside some paid work). On the other side, if it's some kind of short document / letter, and it doesn't take much time, and I am able to do it without compromising other deliveries for my usual clients, I have no problem at all and I'm always happy to help. In short, in our profession... it's all a matter of time!!! ▲ Collapse | |
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Al Zaid United States English to Spanish + ... Sure, why not... | Nov 20, 2014 |
For friends and family, no problem at all... I have a lot of good acquaintances and buddies, but friends as such... it's a rather short list, but let's stay on-topic. Of course, they don't ask me to do long texts or anything. Just the occasional instructions for using a medication, excerpts from equipment manuals, etc... It's not very often though, and no, I don't expect anything in return. I'm just glad to help, as long as it doesn't become a regular hassle. Last week I helped out ... See more For friends and family, no problem at all... I have a lot of good acquaintances and buddies, but friends as such... it's a rather short list, but let's stay on-topic. Of course, they don't ask me to do long texts or anything. Just the occasional instructions for using a medication, excerpts from equipment manuals, etc... It's not very often though, and no, I don't expect anything in return. I'm just glad to help, as long as it doesn't become a regular hassle. Last week I helped out my best friend translate some bits of text that he needed to make a slide presentation for a conference on his field of specialization and I didn't even think about charging a dime to him, it would just not feel right; he's been there for me through good and bad. ▲ Collapse | | | Yaotl Altan Mexico Local time: 19:28 Member (2006) English to Spanish + ...
Yes, because they help me in their respective fields and, sometimes, they feed me. | | | Marjolein Snippe Netherlands Local time: 03:28 Member (2012) English to Dutch + ... That's what friends are for | Nov 20, 2014 |
Yaotl Altan wrote: Yes, because they help me in their respective fields and, sometimes, they feed me. Exactly. I also help them move house, babysit and offer them coffee. They wouldn't ask me to translate vast documents anyway. | | | Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 22:28 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... I've done many | Nov 22, 2014 |
But answering "yes" implies in a present perfect tense, which in turn implies in a regular activity, and that does not apply. | |
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Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 22:28 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ...
Chris S wrote: Is that people with no friends or family? ... means people who thought "yes", but it's not a regular thing I do to answer "yes". Yes means regularly, which is not the case, of course. | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do you do translations for free for friends and family? Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
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