| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | Poll: Have you ever worked on a translation with a child / family pet on your lap? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| right now no | Jun 30, 2009 |
a few years ago i used to look after a neighbor's dog when she was out for long periods or on vacation....he was a great dog, a very large bloodhound. Mostly he just lay there while i worked or follow me from room to room...sometimes he'd put his huge shnozz in the keyboard with drool hanging or climb up on my lap for attention (he weighed 120 lbs) and his huge paw would descend on the keyboard....oooF! and suddenly it looked like i was writing in Inuktitut...i miss that dog! I wish i could have... See more a few years ago i used to look after a neighbor's dog when she was out for long periods or on vacation....he was a great dog, a very large bloodhound. Mostly he just lay there while i worked or follow me from room to room...sometimes he'd put his huge shnozz in the keyboard with drool hanging or climb up on my lap for attention (he weighed 120 lbs) and his huge paw would descend on the keyboard....oooF! and suddenly it looked like i was writing in Inuktitut...i miss that dog! I wish i could have a dog here...the building i live in doesn't allow them. Next time! and probably a smaller, less drooly dog. ▲ Collapse
| | | | heikeb 
English to German
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| Pets at the office | Jun 30, 2009 |
There are some offices where they allow their employees to bring their dogs to work.
No cats, though, and particularly no cats and dogs at the same office!
As a cat person, I think that's discrimination. Cats would be much quieter than dogs!
My cat is not a lap kitty, and she has learned not to bother me when I'm at the computer. But once in a while she just needs attention and won't take No for an an... See more There are some offices where they allow their employees to bring their dogs to work.
No cats, though, and particularly no cats and dogs at the same office!
As a cat person, I think that's discrimination. Cats would be much quieter than dogs!
My cat is not a lap kitty, and she has learned not to bother me when I'm at the computer. But once in a while she just needs attention and won't take No for an answer. Well, time for a break anyways! 
And once in a while she also decides that the clutter on my desk needs to be cleaned up. The way down from the desk leads her straight across my keyboard, of course.
My best "helper", though, is my parakeet. He has to pipe in ever so often when I'm working in the living room - using speech recognition! He seems to be a rather ego-centric being, because all he ever says/dictates is: ich, ich, ich! (At least that's what the German speech recognition understands; in English this would be: "me, me, me!").
On those occasions, I run an extra safety check of unnecessary "ich"s in my text afterwards.
This bird doesn't talk. It would have been fun to see the speech recognition with my previous birds, though, who were excellent talkers (German, English, Gibberish and, what I believe was Chinese). ▲ Collapse
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Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, especially about children! The poll question is something I always think about (whether it will be possible or not), and I'm always hoping that when the time comes I'll be able to work and keep the baby by my side! I'm glad to see people actually find it possible!
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Theo Bernards wrote:
Besides, a child on your lap deserves your fullest attention and how can you give that attention when breaking your head over a translation issue?
That's what I would be preoccupied with as well. Unless it is a sleeping baby of no more than six months. Normal sized cats and dogs (only the head in the latter case) are okay, I guess. But your kid needs your attention as much as you need to finish that translation. Translating and caring for your family - I don't think you can do both at the same time. If your kid needs your attention, time to take a break from work.
What would some of us do if they worked in-house? Take the baby with them to work?
I have a cat who never sits on my lap - he's that kind of shy cat that only likes to sit near you, not on you. I am quite happy with this arrangement. I know some people can function well with a cat on their lap, but I wouldn't for the life of me be able to translate in that position.
Heike Behl wrote:
My cat is not a lap kitty, and she has learned not to bother me when I'm at the computer. But once in a while she just needs attention and won't take No for an answer. Well, time for a break anyways!
And once in a while she also decides that the clutter on my desk needs to be cleaned up. The way down from the desk leads her straight across my keyboard, of course.
My best "helper", though, is my parakeet. He has to pipe in ever so often when I'm working in the living room - using speech recognition! He seems to be a rather ego-centric being, because all he ever says/dictates is: ich, ich, ich! (At least that's what the German speech recognition understands; in English this would be: "me, me, me!").
On those occasions, I run an extra safety check of unnecessary "ich"s in my text afterwards.
Thanks for the lovely anecdotes!
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I remember it as the happiest time in my life: typing with one hand while my daughter was sleeping in the sling on my shoulder. Now, when she's older, it's impossible, of course But I think it's great when you can both "be there" for your child or pet and do the work you have to do.
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My cat (Josefa) likes to supervise my translations and when "she" is tired, "she" uses the keyboard of my laptop as a pillow...
| | | | Louise Souter (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:32
Spanish to English
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| My cat watches... | Jul 1, 2009 |
while I work and occasionally runs around my feet. It is easier to work like this than when she's asleep in the same room; she snores!
| | | | Sara Senft
United States
Local time: 20:32
Spanish to English
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| To Valeria, about your cat | Jul 1, 2009 |
He is handsome!
He looks very content in that picture.
Valeria Fuma wrote:
... but my cat Tato is my best workmate.
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Anne Goff
United States
Local time: 17:32
French to English
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| Professionalism | Jul 1, 2009 |
I am a little surprised at the negative reactions to having children/pets on your lap while you work. I agree wholeheartedly that it is unprofessional to hold your crying child while on a business call and that if your child "needs attention" then they deserve better than the little you can give them while translating. However, there are times when your child does not need or want your full attention and simply knowing that you are there is enough. Would it be better at these times to banish you... See more I am a little surprised at the negative reactions to having children/pets on your lap while you work. I agree wholeheartedly that it is unprofessional to hold your crying child while on a business call and that if your child "needs attention" then they deserve better than the little you can give them while translating. However, there are times when your child does not need or want your full attention and simply knowing that you are there is enough. Would it be better at these times to banish your child from your lap if you can work perfectly well with him or her there?
I see nothing unprofessional about having a cat or infant on your lap while translating. Perhaps this is not what you would do if you worked in an office, but isn't this a large part of why we don't work in offices? I'm sure many of us have spent many hours translating in our pajamas; should we stop this practice as well because we "wouldn't do it at the office?" ▲ Collapse
| | | | | unprofessional... | Jul 1, 2009 |
anne i think the gist is that it's only really unprofessional if it gets in the way or impedes your work in some way...like people who bring their bratty kids to the office and expect everyone to look after them...that kind of thing.
we've all translated in our sweats and jammies...but we wouldn't go into the office like that! I hope.....
has anyone ever started a poll 'what do you wear when you're working?'
lol....
| | | | Jocelyne S
France
Local time: 02:32
French to English
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Like Theo, I have neither children nor house pets.
Good for others if they can remain professional tending to babies and translations at once. Personally, I wouldn't have the patience or concentration to do so.
My neighbour's cat occasionally prances through my office window in the summer. I found it cute at first, but then it started jumping up onto my desk for attention. Needless to say, it is now felinus non grata.
Best,
Jocelyne
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 02:32
Spanish to English
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| Unprofessionalism | Jul 1, 2009 |
I think the point about professionalism is that no line has been drawn by the translator between their professional and private life, which implies that the translator is trying to muddle through. They may even be trying to fit as many words into day as they did prior to having the baby. The other point is that a baby can be unpredictable and that the sleeping baby may suddenly wake up and turn into a crying baby, a situation for which the translator may not have made any provision. When I becom... See more I think the point about professionalism is that no line has been drawn by the translator between their professional and private life, which implies that the translator is trying to muddle through. They may even be trying to fit as many words into day as they did prior to having the baby. The other point is that a baby can be unpredictable and that the sleeping baby may suddenly wake up and turn into a crying baby, a situation for which the translator may not have made any provision. When I become a mother, I don't intend to mix work and childcare, as I am sure that the quality of my work would suffer.
As for pets, you can shove them off you if need be.
[Editado a las 2009-07-01 08:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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my cat Buffy is on my lap, shoulders, neck, desk, occasionally keyboard, more often sitting on my mouse))) and trying to read what is on my screen. I could not work without her
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 02:32
Spanish to English
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I'm afraid I agree with WC "Never work with animals or children" Fields in this respect.
There is a time and place for everything. I used to share a home with a cat who liked nothing more to climb onto anyone's lap who would let him, but I could never seriously work that way.
As for babies, maybe it's possible for a mum or mummish person but I must admit babies scare me - I'm always afraid I might drop them or something...
Multi-tasking is for octopussies (or is it octopi?)...
| | | | Alvaro Aliaga
Australia
Local time: 11:32
English to Spanish
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I used to have my Fox Terrier, Akia, sleeping on my lap especially when I had to stay up all night working. Since she doesn't live with me anymore I'll see if my new pet rat, Diego, is going to get used to stay on my lap tonight
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