from London Greens = od Londyńskich Zielonów?!?

by admin on November 23rd, 2007

As some of you may know, 21st October 2007 was the day of Polish parliamentary elections. The queue to my polling station in London was extremely long, and, believe it or not, it took me about 4 hours to cast a vote! Feeling the national spirit, I obediently queued with hundreds of other voters. As we were getting closer and closer to the entrance door, I noticed a man holding a sign that made me laugh out loud. Here is what it said: “Polish voters welcome to London from London Greens.” And right next to it was a sign with the translation that read: “Polscy wyborcy witają do Londynu od Londyńskich Zielonów.” (apologies that only speakers of Polish can appreciate this.) You have to admit it sounds quite amusing! Especially, the “Zielonów” bit, which I still keep wondering about, as to what it can possibly mean.

This is a classic example of “how not to translate”, or that checking words in a dictionary and just writing them down as they stand cannot result in a good quality translation, which in this case should say “Londyńska Partia Zielonych wita polskich wyborców w Londynie”. I just wonder how many more words, phrases, sentences, texts etc. translated in such a manner circulate somewhere out there?

myLingua.pl selected best website!

by admin on October 13th, 2007

In the October issue of the Translation Journal, myLingua.pl was ranked as second best translators’ website.
Me and my husband (lots of credit actually goes to him) are really pleased with this recognition by a professional journal and are motivated to further improve the site to make it even more informative and user friendly.
Full ranking can be found at http://accurapid.com/journal/42sites.htm.

Quick update

by admin on October 13th, 2007

After a long holiday, I am finally back to my “normal” work routine. Those of you who visit my website regularly have probably noticed that my surname is now different. This is due to the fact that recently I exchanged vows with my husband!
Originally, the name is spelt Źróbecka, however, as English does not have the two letters that have diacritical marks, Zrobecka is what I have to stick with.
In terms of pronunciation, we agreed with my English-speaking friends that something along the lines of /Schoo-roo-betska/ should suffice, as Źróbecka is a real tongue twister!

Polish sworn translator in the UK

by admin on July 10th, 2007

Due to the number of enquiries regarding sworn translations in the UK, I would like to demystify a popular belief that prevails amongst Polish people. In the UK, the institution of a sworn translator is non-existent, which means that this country does not issue translators with seals which are then used to authenticate a translation. We may, of course, still find in the UK sworn translators of other countries (e.g. Poland, Germany and France), but their stamp is often unnecessary for a translation to be recognised by a certain authority. Depending on the purpose of the translation, there are three other types of certified translations.

The most common type of certification is a clause written by a translator or a translation company, which states that the document is a true and accurate reflection of the original presented. This type of certification is accepted by majority of authorities and educational establishments in the UK.

With the second type of certified translations, an affidavit is sworn by a translator in the presence of a notary public or a solicitor to confirm that the translation has been executed to the best of the translator’s knowledge and ability. This is normally required for court proceedings, such as divorces.

The last type of certification is when the translation is apostilled by a government department to prove that the document is a genuine and true reflection of the original so that it can be used abroad.

To sum up, before deciding on a given type of certification, it is best to clarify with a particular organisation or authority what type of translation they require. It is also important to note that that an affidavit and apostil can only be obtained for an extra fee paid by a commissioning party.

Free English to Polish translation

by admin on May 14th, 2007

Just to let you know that on 13th May 2007 myLingua.pl has launched a forum More

Continuing professional development

by admin on April 4th, 2007

PSG

Recognising the importance of continuing professional development, I am currently taking part in the Peer Support Group (PSG), organised by the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting). The main idea behind the PSG is to provide training and guidance with various translation-related issues and developments. It also offers excellent networking opportunities and is a great platform for discussions.

Overview

This online course lasts 5 months and although it is not a full-time commitment, tasks we are required to complete do take time. Everyday there are many dynamic discussions taking place and some of them really open our eyes to things we would never consider (e.g. time zones in translation business).

The course is divided into 9 modules, including CV writing techniques, marketing, invoicing and CAT tools. To date, we have completed modules 1 and 2 and are awaiting feedback on our quantifying exercise.

Mantees and mentors

In the group, there are 25 participants. We all come from different backgrounds with varying years of experience within the translation business (some of us have been freelancing for over 20 years!) With such a versatile group, we can learn from each other’s valuable experiences and skills.

Our tutors include prominent translators and interpreters, as well as people who run translation companies. It is very interesting to see how translators are perceived by the latter, and what is quantified when choosing a translator for a particular job.

Further information

I really recommend this course to everyone who understands the importance of ongoing development and reflection. If you would like to acquire more information, please refer to the ITI website .

Proofreading and editing- an option or a must?

by admin on March 7th, 2007

Proofreading and editing

Proofreading and editing done by an independent translator is often considered an option and therefore is frequently disregarded by both clients and translation agencies due to higher cost. Yet there are texts, which due to their nature and purpose should be checked by another translator who will make sure that a given document is a true and flawless reflection of the source text.

Recent experience

Recently, I have been asked to proofread quite a lengthy text of a commercial nature that was to be published by one company. I was only asked to proofread it (check grammar and spelling), however, the translation was of a poor quality and thorough editing was required.

The first problem I noted was the layout and the formatting of the text (mainly font choice and size). To avoid this problem, it is probably best to “save as” the original text and just overwrite it with the Polish (or any other language) translation.

Another reappearing issue were calques- words just copied from English to Polish which either did not exist in Polish or where used in a different context. In translation, nothing should be taken for granted and it is probably best to double-check even the most obvious of words (e.g. “call at”)

The greatest problem, however, was the comprehension of the source text, which contributed to most accuracy issues. The produced result was quite amusing, but I do not think the client would appreciate the translator’s sense of humour in this case. Reflecting upon it now, I think that time might have been a problem here, as the text seemed to have been translated in a rush. It is important never agree to deadlines which we cannot meet.

Conclusion

To sum up, for long texts and documents that have been translated by more than one person, proofreading and editing is not an option but a definite necessity. And to comment on this particular job: another success in preventing a bad Polish translation from being published. Hurray!

Mentoring in translation

by admin on February 26th, 2007

This text has been inspired by a recent discussion on the ProZ.com Polish forum which concerned being a mentor to people new in the translation business.

Definition

The word mentor comes from Latin. In Greek mythology Mentor (with a capital m) was a friend of Odysseus responsible for educating Odysseus’ son Telemachus. Dictionary definition of the word reads “a trusted counsellor or guide” and “tutor, coach” (Webster on-line). In translation, a mentor is a person who gives you guidance, answers translation-related questions and, most importantly, gives you tips on how to start out as a translator. Those who have or had a mentor are probably very appreciative of all guidance they have received, as there is nothing more valuable then reliable advice when lost or in doubt.

What your mentor is and isn’t?

The feel for translation is something you just have to have, as your mentor will not teach you how to translate. What he/she can do, however, is guide you in the process of developing a good style of writing, so that your translations conform to the standards of the target language. Also, if your mentor has some more free time, you can also hope that he/she will help you solve some of your genuine translation problems, provided you have some real work coming. If you are lucky, your mentor can also act as a proof-reader of short excerpts of translations you do. It should not be a problem if you ask what specific online resources or dictionaries he/she uses, as tools are one thing and craftsmanship another.

As far as it goes for the business side of the translation industry, your mentor can also give you advice on how to look for work, how to market your skills, how to improve your CV and how to write a dynamic and interesting cover letter. Another thing you can hope to find out are names of unreliable agencies or direct customers you should avoid- something really worth knowing!

What you cannot and should not hope your mentor to give you is 24/7 linguistic or marketing support. He/she is busy enough without you adding to the list so be selective in what you ask or how you ask it. Remember, translators spend hours staring at our computer screens so format your emails properly so that your specific questions are easy to spot. Never ask your mentor for suggestions of names of clients, or worse for his/her client database! It took them some time to compile what they have and there is no reason why you should not follow the same route they did. Another thing that shall never be mentioned are their personal glossaries, TMs or self-compiled mini-dictionaries. Again this is something they have worked hard for, first translating all the complex and complicated texts and then laboriously putting all the terms in the right format.

How to find a mentor?

It is never easy to find a person who is willing to help you in their free time and, more importantly, totally for free. Difficult, however, does not mean it is impossible! Probably the easiest way is to ask your university tutor after you complete the course whether he/she would agree to support you for a defined period of time. In my case, my mentor has also been my university lecturer and I cannot tell you how many times her advice has proved to be absolutely invaluable.

It can be more difficult if you do know any academics nor experienced translators personally, but where there is a will, there is a way. Possibly, the easiest way is to look on the Internet. Visit translation websites (easily found via google) and select a few experienced translators of your language pair. In the e-mail you send to them, write about your education, so far experience and skills. Remember that no one will take on a student who does not sound promising or is unable to demonstrate that they are worth the time. Also, by participating in powwows organized by members of the ProZ.com website, you can actually get to know some of the translator in real life.

One other option is to enquire with associations such as IoL or ITI whether they offer support programmes. I know that the latter - ITI - runs a programme called Peer Support Group, which I am about to test myself. It is a three-month on-line course, but I do not know any more details as yet.

Conclusion

To sum up, having a mentor can definitely help you start out as a translator; it builds your confidence and develops your overall skills, however, if you do not commit yourself fully, even the greatest of all mentors will not be able to help you establish your career in this ever competitive industry.

Technical translations

by admin on February 12th, 2007

Technical translations are a part of specialised translations and, among others, include medical, mechanical engineering and financial texts. The reason we call them technical is due to its frequent use of field-specific terminology, which, in its spoken form, is commonly referred to as jargon.
One of my professors once told me that, in fact, technical translations were easier to do then any other type of writing and this was because their register was very formal and the content precisely structured. Her opinion could be justified by over 20 years of experience as a technical translator. Yet to my mind, technical translations can pose the most difficulty, probably due to the very subject-specific terminology they employ.

Can every translator go technical?

I would say that every good translator can translate a technical text. Another thing is that not every good translator would want to sing up for it. Why? Because the task itself involves much more responsibility then any other type of translation. Instructions on how to administer a particular drug or how to operate a fork lift can pose danger to the target language user if translated inaccurately. This inaccuracy would generally stem from lack of expert knowledge in a given subject matter and simple carelessness.
Saying that, I have to emphasise that I am not in agreement with a belief that only a medical doctor can translate medical texts or an engineer a manual for the operation of a fork lift. They definitely have the right resources (i.e. their knowledge) but not necessarily the linguistic skills.
Of course, there are translators who successfully combine these two features but more often then not, it is either the specialist knowledge or the aptitude for translating.

So, how to tackle a technical text?

There are two main things a translator has to remember about. One is to research the subject as thoroughly as possible and the other not to take anything for granted. What I mean by the latter is that a technical text can be very tricky at times so even when we think we know a particular term because, say, we translated it 20 time before, it is best to look it up yet again and check whether it definitely fits the required context.

As for doing research, I realise that our deadlines can be very tight sometimes but hastiness should not accompany any translation whatsoever as the consequences could be much more serious then if we were to miss the deadline by a few hours.

An ideal situation would be to have an expert at hand so that we could consult him or her when in doubt. Think about your family and friends as quite a few of them will have expertise in just what you need.
If the project is really big and the financial incentive is very promising, we could consider hiring a specialist who could verify our technical vocabulary. Make sure, however, that you first agree on a price that will satisfy both parties.

Remember who your target readers are as you do not want to produce a mobile phone manual that is too technical and therefore little user-friendly. When, however, translating some guidelines for medical personnel, source language “injections” should definitely read “iniekcje” and not “zastrzyki”. Once again, it is absolutely vital to know who you are translating for.

On a more optimistic note, let us hope that clients will supply you with a glossary that will ease you technical quandary.