| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Poll: With your education and experience, could you earn more doing something other than translation? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Bill Greendyk 
United States
Local time: 12:31
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Let's not generalize, please! | Aug 24, 2006 |
Williamson wrote:
When one is known "out there": Is there a difference between US-based translators and the rest of the world.
Some years ago a US-based translator told me that "American have no notion of what translation is or do not know anything about prices. So they just quote a price. At times, they even uppen the price.
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Language combination
EnglishSpanish : Try to get 0.20 eurocents p.w. in Spain?
Whether specialized or not : The Spanish and Italian markets are not directly the most favourable with regard to rates and payment terms. 0.05 is the normal going rate and 0.07 already a lot.
I find this to be a very condescending post bordering on offensive , Williamson, and one that does not reflect the facts in my case whatsoever. You are entitled to your opinion, but facts are facts.
First of all, when I wrote about becoming "known out there," I meant establishing a professional reputation in a specific field, to the extent that clients call me saying "XX Publishing Co. recommended you for children's literature." I didn't realize I had to use such concrete terminology to get my point across. When a representative calls me from Disney in Burbank, California and asks me to translate a series of books based on a popular character, I consider that as having gotten my name (and reputation) "out there." Need I be more specific for you to grasp what I meant?
I happen to have clients "out there" in Spain, U.K., the Netherlands, and even Colombia who pay me more than USD 0.15 per word. As far as your challenge to try to get 0.20 p.w. in Spain, I have done so, although in USD and not eurocents, and I've been successful. Of course it involved the translation of a 200-year old document into English, but the client was in Spain and did pay me my price. I have *outsourced* to translators in Spain for up to 0.25/word.
Please don't make generalizations about certain nationalities, especially if you have nothing positive to say. I began my translating career, by the way, in Bolivia, and it was there I began to get my name out there. Only ten years later did I move to the States. Try being a tad more positive in your outlook...it might take you places you never dreamed of.
Have a good day!
Bill
[Edited at 2006-08-24 15:31]
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 11:31
English to Russian
+ ...
The Fox and the Grapes
A FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them.
At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying:
"The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."
| | | | Bill Greendyk
United States
Local time: 12:31
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I thought it but didn't dare say it, Irene! | Aug 24, 2006 |
IreneN wrote:
The Fox and the Grapes
A FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them.
At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying:
"The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."
| | | | | proof of the pudding is in the eating | Aug 25, 2006 |
I was offered a job where I would earn about 3 times as much as I *can* earn as a translator recently - I turned it down...
I like the freedom, I like being able to decide what I want to do and when I want to do it. I like having hectic weeks and quiet weeks and I like being able to take off whenever I see fit and go on holiday or to stay with friends/family.
The more I saw of the corporate 9-5 world the less I wanted to be part of it and I am happy to see my business... See more I was offered a job where I would earn about 3 times as much as I *can* earn as a translator recently - I turned it down...
I like the freedom, I like being able to decide what I want to do and when I want to do it. I like having hectic weeks and quiet weeks and I like being able to take off whenever I see fit and go on holiday or to stay with friends/family.
The more I saw of the corporate 9-5 world the less I wanted to be part of it and I am happy to see my business growing and know that it's my achievement. ▲ Collapse
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Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:31
Flemish to English
+ ...
| I did it my way | Aug 27, 2006 |
Well, if I find a moment, I'll update my profile next month and I intend to walk the translation path my way: "5 squared" and "getting by with a little help from my friends". Use Proz for info and leave these endless discussions and commandments, like "thou shalt not translate into any other language but thy mother tongue" and "thou shalt give reductions for the use of CAT-tools" and "thou shalt work for a meager rate and long hours " for what they are. I prefer Frank Sinatra's song : I did it ... See more Well, if I find a moment, I'll update my profile next month and I intend to walk the translation path my way: "5 squared" and "getting by with a little help from my friends". Use Proz for info and leave these endless discussions and commandments, like "thou shalt not translate into any other language but thy mother tongue" and "thou shalt give reductions for the use of CAT-tools" and "thou shalt work for a meager rate and long hours " for what they are. I prefer Frank Sinatra's song : I did it my way. Not what others see as so-called being "professional" or "unprofessional" or try to impose as "ethical" or "unethical".
[Edited at 2006-08-27 11:56] ▲ Collapse
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