Yes to the 'learning something every day'. Most definitely... this after a series of articles on avalanches that got me researching like crazy. Interesting things, avalanches *g*.
However, and after a somewhat alcohol-fuelled conversation with another translator recently, the downside is the whole 'jack of all trades and master of none' thing I often feel about what I do. Maybe you feel this less as you seem to concentrate such a lot on all things related to space.
Even then, though, space is a very broad 'topic', just as 'crime' or 'sport' are for me. The avalanches are linked to skiing. Skiing is a sport. I'm supposed to 'do' sport... although here I could have used a post-grad degree in several areas from geography, geology, climatology, environmental protection, etc.
I certainly don't agree with translators translating any old stuff, and do believe you should concentrate on areas where you have a certain degree of knowledge (and/or have the time to do the research *well* and *thoroughly* before attacking anything new). The problem, I find, is that I *like* new fields because they stimulate me, yet unless I take the time and effort to do my homework the result isn't going to be good. And the time and effort aren't always possible so I have to turn things down when I'd love to delve into them.
It helps, of course, if a client has enough knowledge of the languages and subject to know whether you did a good job and can step in to correct terminology if necessary. Obviously that isn't always the case, and what's more you don't always *know* if that's the case so you need to be as sure as possible you've got it right.
And then people think translators are expensive *sigh*. They think that the word count = what they pay for. Even when you think you know a subject, there are very few jobs where you don't have to find out something else, check facts, terminology, etc. etc. Which takes TIME.
Sorry, ranting again *g*. I'm about to embark on some technical stuff about football (soccer to you). So, I'm about to mosey on down to the FIFA site as I don't know *enough* about different types of pitch, even after working in sports administration before translating full time.
I suppose my point (she has one? Wow!) is that to be a translator you need a massive thirst for knowledge, plus the ability to juggle deadlines with the research, plus the actual ability to actually translate, i.e. getting the style, grammar, etc. right.
Amazing people, aren't we? Heheheheh.
Hmmm. You got me thinking, as usual. So did a thread posted to the 'interlingual' community about 'trashlators', of which there are way too many, IMHO.
no subject
However, and after a somewhat alcohol-fuelled conversation with another translator recently, the downside is the whole 'jack of all trades and master of none' thing I often feel about what I do. Maybe you feel this less as you seem to concentrate such a lot on all things related to space.
Even then, though, space is a very broad 'topic', just as 'crime' or 'sport' are for me. The avalanches are linked to skiing. Skiing is a sport. I'm supposed to 'do' sport... although here I could have used a post-grad degree in several areas from geography, geology, climatology, environmental protection, etc.
I certainly don't agree with translators translating any old stuff, and do believe you should concentrate on areas where you have a certain degree of knowledge (and/or have the time to do the research *well* and *thoroughly* before attacking anything new). The problem, I find, is that I *like* new fields because they stimulate me, yet unless I take the time and effort to do my homework the result isn't going to be good. And the time and effort aren't always possible so I have to turn things down when I'd love to delve into them.
It helps, of course, if a client has enough knowledge of the languages and subject to know whether you did a good job and can step in to correct terminology if necessary. Obviously that isn't always the case, and what's more you don't always *know* if that's the case so you need to be as sure as possible you've got it right.
And then people think translators are expensive *sigh*. They think that the word count = what they pay for. Even when you think you know a subject, there are very few jobs where you don't have to find out something else, check facts, terminology, etc. etc. Which takes TIME.
Sorry, ranting again *g*. I'm about to embark on some technical stuff about football (soccer to you). So, I'm about to mosey on down to the FIFA site as I don't know *enough* about different types of pitch, even after working in sports administration before translating full time.
I suppose my point (she has one? Wow!) is that to be a translator you need a massive thirst for knowledge, plus the ability to juggle deadlines with the research, plus the actual ability to actually translate, i.e. getting the style, grammar, etc. right.
Amazing people, aren't we? Heheheheh.
Hmmm. You got me thinking, as usual. So did a thread posted to the 'interlingual' community about 'trashlators', of which there are way too many, IMHO.
Take care :