14:52 Nov 6, 2012 |
English to Swedish translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / probably off topic... | |||||
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3 +1 | Use a translation agency that guarantees quality |
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3 | hmm... |
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Check the translator's qualifications |
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help hmm... Explanation: If you outsource translations in languages you don't understand to people you don't know, this is the risk you take, isn't it? Also this was a "test document", and it seems the translator failed the test. Isn't that the point of testing? If you cannot trust the reviewer, what's the point of hiring him/her? Are you promoting a book to be translated using excerpts translated by someone else than the final translator? It should be a simple enough matter to find working professional translators with book credits in relevant subjects to their name. But perhaps they're not on Proz... |
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Notes to answerer
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help Use a translation agency that guarantees quality Explanation: It takes time to find and single out good service providers in any area. Reputable translation agencies with several years on the market already have gone through this process (supposedly) and _should_ (if they've done their job well) have good, long-tested translators in their database and _also_ be able to provide some guarantee for the quality of the final product. If you prefer to work directly with your translators/proofreaders, you should, as myrwad says, select persons based on competence rather than price. Useful indicators are e.g. amount of experience, professional associations, university degrees, references. Be aware of that there is always an issue of differences of style that may create problems: the translator has his (or her) style, the proofreader another. Result: the translator may do his or best - and do it well - but the proofreader will still disagree. This may be particularly so in the case of literature and fiction. So, in general, you need to ensure that you work with the right people, and it is perfectly natural that this will take some trial and error. |
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Notes to answerer
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14 mins peer agreement (net): +4 |
Reference: Check the translator's qualifications Reference information: At several occasions it has happened to me when I have proofread translations made by other translators, that it is impossible to do anything else than rewrite the translation completely. Therefore I don't accept proofreading against a fixed rate (if I don't know it has been done be a qualified translator), but against an hourly rate. Anything else is like offering a job to a random rate. To avoid this scenario you should not choose the translator with the lowest rate to make the translation, choose a translator who is a member of SFÖ (the Swedish Association of Professional Translators), otherwise your translation may be done by a totally unqualified person. I have no better advise to give you. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-06 16:02:06 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- I forgot to mention the website address: www.sfoe.se, where you also can search for freelancers. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 hrs (2012-11-07 05:15:10 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- For membership in SFÖ you need at least five years experience as a professional translator and also references to verify it. You have to agree to follow the ethical code of the association, and the member has to undergo the associations' scrutiny. Also the buyer has the possibility of direct contact with the translator himself/herself, which normally is not the case if the translation is bought through a translation agency. To assign a member in an association is no absolute guarantee for quality, but the odds for a successful cooperation are much higher. Not all qualified translators are members of a translators' association, but most unqualified translators are not, and it is apparent that many of the unqualified are not aware of their inferior skills in the translation area. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 days18 mins (2012-11-08 15:10:38 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- I am sorry, I can only refer to my added note above. By assigning a translator with membership in a translators organisation you eliminate obviously unqualified (and hopefully also unethical) translators... |
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Note to reference poster
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