Poll: When editing/proofreading, what kind of feedback do you generally provide to the client? Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When editing/proofreading, what kind of feedback do you generally provide to the client?".
This poll was originally submitted by Vladimir Kukharenko. View the poll results »
| | | | | I don't accept these jobs | Dec 14, 2014 |
This is not a kind of job I'd like to do.
And as far as I know, it is not quite rewarding.
| | | | Mary Worby 
Reino Unido
Local time: 11:49
alemán al inglés
+ ...
I do what I am asked by the customer, whether it is just a brief statement on overall translation quality or a full review. I have never been asked to produce a report on all my changes, though.
| | | | David Wright
Austria
Local time: 12:49
alemán al inglés
+ ...
| Just correct it | Dec 14, 2014 |
Because that's all my proofreading clients want me to do (these are not correction of other translators' work; they are academic articles written in English by non-natives). If my client wants to know why I've made a change, or wants to suggest another alternative, he phones.
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neilmac
España
Local time: 12:49
español al inglés
+ ...
Depends on the client and job. Most of the revision or post-editing work that I do consists of academic papers written in English by non-native authors, either individually or in groups, which may occasionally be multilingual. Most of the time I simply return the texts when I consider they are fit for publication. If any doubts or queries arise during the process, I send them an e-mail asking for clarification. Occasionally I will mention mistakes or possible improvements to the text, although i... See more Depends on the client and job. Most of the revision or post-editing work that I do consists of academic papers written in English by non-native authors, either individually or in groups, which may occasionally be multilingual. Most of the time I simply return the texts when I consider they are fit for publication. If any doubts or queries arise during the process, I send them an e-mail asking for clarification. Occasionally I will mention mistakes or possible improvements to the text, although in general the authors' level is usually quite good.
One exception to the rule is a series of text about henhouse ventilation, some of which I still have to deliver to the author. I'm going to have to have a word with him, as the quality of his text was so poor that even after extensive revision and post-editing it still leaves a lot to be desired, but as I say, this is an exceptional case.
PS: More often than not, I have to ask them to supply specific parts of the text in Spanish so that I can understand what they are saying ( I would have no trouble translating these texts from Spanish to English, but the authors or their departments cannot usually afford the fees). For example, I have just had to ask one author to send me the first sentence of his paper in Spanish, as I'm not sure exactly what he is trying to say in English. This happens quite a lot - the problem is not the complexity or recondite nature of the content, but the non-native nature of the English it is written in.
[Edited at 2014-12-14 10:52 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Alemania
Local time: 12:49
Miembro 2009
inglés al alemán
+ ...
If the quality of the translation is good or "pretty" good, or the client didn't leave any special instructions, then I only include a note in my email to my client.
If the translation is of excellent quality, I'm always happy to include a compliment for the translator in my email.
If required by the client, I add brief notes within the tags/track changes.
And last but not least, for one client I write a brief report.
| | | | | Technically, you are not even supposed to change anything as an editor | Dec 14, 2014 |
only suggest changes that the translator has to either accept or reject. The translator is the copy right holder--to his or hers translation. An editor is not really supposed to express any personal opinions about anything--just suggest the changes. Some unfortunately, sometimes not knowing what they have been doing-- start changing perfect sentences into nonsense to their likes, and thinking that the more they change the better they would appear as editors. The only criterion for changing anyth... See more only suggest changes that the translator has to either accept or reject. The translator is the copy right holder--to his or hers translation. An editor is not really supposed to express any personal opinions about anything--just suggest the changes. Some unfortunately, sometimes not knowing what they have been doing-- start changing perfect sentences into nonsense to their likes, and thinking that the more they change the better they would appear as editors. The only criterion for changing anything should be improving the quality of the text, not anything else, but it hardly ever is. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A combination | Dec 14, 2014 |
While this is not my favorite kind of work, I do sometimes accept articles or documents written by non-native speakers. I'm doing one right now which is a doozie.
If I find an error, I highlight my solution and query it in a comment balloon. I also use a comment balloon to call attention to a major change or to ask if my solution is correct when I'm in doubt. But I try to keep my comments and queries to a minimum. Clients usually don't want to be bothered, especially if the comments... See more While this is not my favorite kind of work, I do sometimes accept articles or documents written by non-native speakers. I'm doing one right now which is a doozie.
If I find an error, I highlight my solution and query it in a comment balloon. I also use a comment balloon to call attention to a major change or to ask if my solution is correct when I'm in doubt. But I try to keep my comments and queries to a minimum. Clients usually don't want to be bothered, especially if the comments make the author look incompetent.
I used to occasionally review translations. I would never comment on the quality of a colleague's work unless he/she was being considered for a permanent position and I was asked to do so. ▲ Collapse
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Whether the client wants a detailed report (they usually include a form for that) or just fix mistakes.
| | | | | Only comments where necessary | Dec 14, 2014 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
If I find an error, I highlight my solution and query it in a comment balloon. I also use a comment balloon to call attention to a major change or to ask if my solution is correct when I'm in doubt. But I try to keep my comments and queries to a minimum. Clients usually don't want to be bothered, especially if the comments make the author look incompetent.
That's what the client wants (at least that's what I have been asked to do, nothing more)
| | | | 564354352 (X)
Dinamarca
Local time: 12:49
danés al inglés
+ ...
| Corrections, but using track changes | Dec 14, 2014 |
David Wright wrote:
Just correct it
Because that's all my proofreading clients want me to do (these are not correction of other translators' work; they are academic articles written in English by non-natives). If my client wants to know why I've made a change, or wants to suggest another alternative, he phones.
This could be my line exactly. (I can practically hear the 'shock horror' from native English speakers now...)
The only difference is that I always deliver such texts with all changes visible, so that the author can go through them if he/she wants to. For direct clients, I would normally forward the text in two versions, i.e. one with changes tracked and any doubts or queries added in text bubbles, and another version with changes accepted, and only comments left in bubbles.
I don't undertake proofreading of other translators' work. I did enough of that when I was an in-house employee at a translation agency, and I loathed it. So when I went self-employed, I just decided that proofreading translations would not be one of the services I offer.
[Edited at 2014-12-14 16:00 GMT]
| | | | | General comments | Dec 14, 2014 |
I help fix a lot of video game texts, usually written by developers. My job is to make the English sound like English
If there was a translator involved, I try to find something positive to mention in my notes.
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| I don't make changes. | Dec 14, 2014 |
Like Lilian, I don't make any changes. I use Word's marginal "Comment" feature and suggest changes, often explaining why the change needs to be made. Then I leave it to the author (or client) to enter the changes they want.
The result is that my regular clients are learning! Their writing is improving.
Of course, I'll make changes (but always with "track changes") if that's what the client explicitly requests.
Jane
| | | | | I send ChangeTracker reports with the edited files | Dec 15, 2014 |
After editing, I compare the translated files with ChangeTracker (www.change-tracker.com), export the comparison results into Excel, and include it into the delivery package. It takes just a minute or two, but adds value for the customer. E.g. they can send the corrections report to the translator.
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