| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Proofreading a very "liberal" translation: advice needed Thread poster: Wendy Cummings
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Wendy Cummings 
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:42
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Monolingual proofreading | Sep 4, 2015 |
Sheila Wilson wrote:
It sounds to me as though you should tell the agency that you'll perform monolingual proofreading on this file. Inform them that you're 'throwing away' the source text; you won't be referring to it at all. You'll simply be reading the target text, correcting any typos, spelling and punctuation errors, and tidying it up so that it's grammatical and flows well.
This is essentially what I have resorted to!
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jyuan_us wrote:
Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales wrote:
I'd correct for grammar and style, then mark anything not in the original with a comment saying "not in original text", just as I would insert (minor) missing text and then mark it with a comment saying "original text missing from translation".
This way, you inform the client of the differences between the source and target texts while allowing him the option to retain or remove them.
Isn't it your job to delete any information that is not found in the source text and add information that is missing in the target language text? When you delete or add anything the client will be able to see it with Track changes markings. Why do you even need to put a comment?
It's a compromise between what the client requested when contacted (to leave it all in) and what I would do as an editor with the original (delete it). I would absolutely not be comfortable with leaving in something not in the original. Of course, track changes would allow the client to confirm or reject any deletions, but I would prefer to comply with the client and leave the text in as requested.
Had nothing been discussed, I would simply delete/insert text as needed.
| | | | | If you resort to monolingual proofreading you should notify the agency | Sep 4, 2015 |
*Edit*:After re-reading your post, I've realized you may have told the agency that you'll only be performing monolingual proofreading, and if so then Cheers and Nothing To See Here!
Of all the options, the only one that is clearly not acceptable is changing to monolingual proofreading only without notifying the agency of this change. The end client likely has you reading this not to correct additions by the translator (we know this as the agency told you not to correct them), but ra... See more *Edit*:After re-reading your post, I've realized you may have told the agency that you'll only be performing monolingual proofreading, and if so then Cheers and Nothing To See Here!
Of all the options, the only one that is clearly not acceptable is changing to monolingual proofreading only without notifying the agency of this change. The end client likely has you reading this not to correct additions by the translator (we know this as the agency told you not to correct them), but rather to correct any glaring mistakes.
Conducting monolingual proofreading only without notifying the agency could lead to serious problems for the end client. Even expert doctors occasionally switch 'right' and 'left' on medical forms, and it seems to me that you've been brought in to catch exactly this sort of thing.
At the very least you should be sure that you've compared the original text and the source text enough to ensure there are no clear mistakes (left vs. right, kidney vs. liver, etc.). Ideally, I think the idea of flagging all additions with comments is an excellent one as well.
[Edited at 2015-09-04 21:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Ask the agency | Sep 4, 2015 |
I'd discuss that with the agency and ask them how they want you to proceed.
If what they'll ask you for will take much more time than you thought before ask for a better rate (even if before you agreed to a fixed per word rate).
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jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 07:42
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
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| "delete/insert text as needed" is always the right approach | Sep 4, 2015 |
Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales wrote:
It's a compromise between what the client requested when contacted (to leave it all in) and what I would do as an editor with the original (delete it). I would absolutely not be comfortable with leaving in something not in the original. Of course, track changes would allow the client to confirm or reject any deletions, but I would prefer to comply with the client and leave the text in as requested.
Had nothing been discussed, I would simply delete/insert text as needed.
I think you are right in your attempt to delete the extra words and phrases. The client didn't know what he was saying when he said "leaving it all in", or the client didn't understand your concern at all.
Adding or omitting something in the target text could make the translation critically wrong.
| | | | | Not in this instance | Sep 5, 2015 |
jyuan_us wrote:
Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales wrote:
It's a compromise between what the client requested when contacted (to leave it all in) and what I would do as an editor with the original (delete it). I would absolutely not be comfortable with leaving in something not in the original. Of course, track changes would allow the client to confirm or reject any deletions, but I would prefer to comply with the client and leave the text in as requested.
Had nothing been discussed, I would simply delete/insert text as needed.
I think you are right in your attempt to delete the extra words and phrases. The client didn't know what he was saying when he said "leaving it all in", or the client didn't understand your concern at all.
Adding or omitting something in the target text could make the translation critically wrong.
Usually I would agree, but the agency has already said that additions should be left in. For all we know the translator was hired by the end client directly because of their expertise, and the agency's only role is to provide an edit of obvious mistakes.
| | | | | Touch with client | Oct 7, 2015 |
I think the key to have performed duties that you are asked to do and the organization or the client can then work further. Before translating the original piece into another, you better get in touch with your client. You are hired for proofreading, and that is what you will be paid for. Being a proofreader, you are not expected to make any changes in the content. It is just the gram... See more I think the key to have performed duties that you are asked to do and the organization or the client can then work further. Before translating the original piece into another, you better get in touch with your client. You are hired for proofreading, and that is what you will be paid for. Being a proofreader, you are not expected to make any changes in the content. It is just the grammatical or spelling mistakes that you come across that need to be corrected. Even while doing so, make sure you do not change the meaning to the sentence. ▲ Collapse
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