Test translations, whereby a potential client, often a translation company, asks a translator to complete an "audition" translation for free before beginning work with the client, are a frequent subject of controversy in the industry. Translators wonder if they should complete unpaid translations, … [Read more...] about A few thoughts on test translations
Translation quality
You can say it in French…
Thanks to reader Polly-Vous Français (whose blog is my substitute for a trip to Paris these days!) for sending the link to FranceTerme, the official French government site for French terminology and neologisms. Their slogan, "Vous pouvez le dire en français" (You can say it in French) … [Read more...] about You can say it in French…
Translators and proofreading: a love/hate relationship
Recently, the Colorado Translators Association held a great workshop with local editor and editing instructor Alice Levine. This session was really enlightening in a number of ways; Alice is a lively and engaging presenter and she seemed to enjoy speaking to a group of fellow "word geeks," and it … [Read more...] about Translators and proofreading: a love/hate relationship
Keeping up your source language skills
Many translators insist that talking to anyone (clients, potential clients, colleagues, beginning translators, etc.) is unnecessary and detracts from their true calling, which can only be fulfilled by spending at least 10 hours a day at the computer. While that's somewhat of a joke, I think that … [Read more...] about Keeping up your source language skills
The first step in translation quality: a qualified translator
Last week, I was visiting the website of a certain country's embassy in the U.S. (yes, I'm deliberately protecting their identity because they've promised that the issue is being rectified!) and just out of curiosity, checked to see if they had any information about translation, since this country's … [Read more...] about The first step in translation quality: a qualified translator