| Pagine: < [1 2] | Poll: Have you ever translated a whole book by yourself? Iniziatore argomento: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| Over the past quarter-century, 15 plus my own | Mar 3, 2012 |
I don't do it so often, at least if compared to the maybe 800 videos I've translated so far, for dubbing or subtitling. Of course, I'm limiting the count to strictly books, like those found on bookstore shelves, not including countless manuals of all kinds.
The list of strictly books I translated is pretty short, while t... See more I don't do it so often, at least if compared to the maybe 800 videos I've translated so far, for dubbing or subtitling. Of course, I'm limiting the count to strictly books, like those found on bookstore shelves, not including countless manuals of all kinds.
The list of strictly books I translated is pretty short, while the partial list of videos I translated for ONE client shows the (dis)proportion I'm talking about.
I used to enjoy a lot the DTP part of the books, when it was requested with the translation. Now I have video editing and DVD authoring to replace that. I like to watch not only my translation process in itself, but the finished product blossoming before my eyes. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Oksana Weiss 
Germania
Local time: 14:40
Membro (2011)
Da Tedesco a Inglese
+ ...
| Yes, it was tough! | Mar 3, 2012 |
I have translated two books so far: Successful Snooker by Steve Davis and Snooker Masterclass by Jimmy White as well as the series of articles by Therry Griffits.
Translating books in my language pairs is not profitable at all, as the publishing houses pay only a fraction of usual rates. This was the private order, however, and to fulfill it I had to watch innumerable snooker matches, listen to the comments and read through all sorts of materials on the topic, including specific jargon dic... See more I have translated two books so far: Successful Snooker by Steve Davis and Snooker Masterclass by Jimmy White as well as the series of articles by Therry Griffits.
Translating books in my language pairs is not profitable at all, as the publishing houses pay only a fraction of usual rates. This was the private order, however, and to fulfill it I had to watch innumerable snooker matches, listen to the comments and read through all sorts of materials on the topic, including specific jargon dictionaries. I even mastered a game in my mind, in order to be able to translate some technics and strokes correctly. It was fascinating and sorry that it is over now. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Darío Giménez
Spagna
Local time: 14:40
Da Inglese a Spagnolo
+ ...
| "A whole" book? | Mar 3, 2012 |
Fabio Said wrote:
Seeing a question like this is so sad. It's as if someone would ask, "Have you ever translated a whole contract by yourself?", or "Have you ever translated a whole financial statement by yourself?"
People, book translation is *****something you do for a living*****, just like any other kind of translation.
No wonder book translation is underpaid.
As long as there are people who think that book translations are vanity projects - something you do for the pleasure of doing it, or to show your name on the credit page - publishers will always take advantage of this and will pay nothing but peanuts.
I was just about to write almost exactly these words, Fabio. Some of us do translate books for a living, not for vanity or as a hobby, as suggested by the anonymous asker. I've been translating books for 20 years and I plan to keep on doing so. I have no idea of how many, maybe 60 or 70 books so far. So what? Does that make me a special translator or a better one? Not at all, I don't think so. Am I a good translator? I am indeed. There will always be good translators and bad ones, be them book translators or Android apps translators or patents translators or whatever else.
[Editado a las 2012-03-03 12:56 GMT]
| | | | Lifeng Yang (X)
Cina
Local time: 20:40
Da Inglese a Cinese
+ ...
It was back in 2004.
Author is an American Journalist.
I translated that into Simplified Chinese.
After the translated version got published, I got good reviews on Amazon.cn website.
[Edited at 2012-03-03 13:39 GMT]
| | |
|
|
|
Amy Duncan (X)
Brasile
Local time: 09:40
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
I have translated numerous books for FEB (Federação Espírita Brasileira). It's my most enjoyable translation work. The only other job I've done that was that much fun was a script by Andrucha Waddington.
| | | |
A series of children's handicraft books, not literature but great fun.
I've also done large parts of a couple of books on economics. Some of the chapters I translated completely, others were written in English by Italian speakers and had to be revised. I then had to set out the whole text as a "camera ready copy" because the publishers do the least possible work...
Now working on a textbook on neck surgery, I collaborated in the translation of a previous edition. This o... See more A series of children's handicraft books, not literature but great fun.
I've also done large parts of a couple of books on economics. Some of the chapters I translated completely, others were written in English by Italian speakers and had to be revised. I then had to set out the whole text as a "camera ready copy" because the publishers do the least possible work...
Now working on a textbook on neck surgery, I collaborated in the translation of a previous edition. This one is mine alone and it's taking a while, I have to double-check all the terminology. ▲ Collapse
| | | | carmaj
Francia
Local time: 14:40
Membro (2009)
Da Inglese a Francese
+ ...
In 1988 I did translate a novel from English into French, written by Irish writer Christy Nolan, it was his autobiography, in a highly poetical style, called "Under the Eye of the Clock". I would be happy to translate other novels.
[Edited at 2012-03-03 17:17 GMT]
| | | | | Misunderstanding? | Mar 3, 2012 |
Darío wrote: Fabio Said wrote:
Seeing a question like this is so sad. It's as if someone would ask, "Have you ever translated a whole contract by yourself?",
(...)
As long as there are people who think that book translations are vanity projects - (...) I was just about to write almost exactly these words, Fabio. Some of us do translate books for a living, not for vanity or as a hobby, as suggested by the anonymous asker.
Rather worryingly (as you both claim to translate out of English), you appear to have misunderstood the meaning of "by yourself", I fear. It's not = "for yourself", and neither is there any implication whatsoever that money does not change hands. If you translate a book "by yourself", it just means as a solo project, not working with anyone else, alone (as it were).
Worthy of a question, I think, if only because of the volume of words such a project would entail, for one person, working alone, individually and in isolation, or, in other word "by himself" (or herself, natch).
| | |
|
|
|
Darío Giménez
Spagna
Local time: 14:40
Da Inglese a Spagnolo
+ ...
| No need to worry | Mar 3, 2012 |
Charlie Bavington wrote:
Rather worryingly (as you both claim to translate out of English), you appear to have misunderstood the meaning of "by yourself", I fear. It's not = "for yourself", and neither is there any implication whatsoever that money does not change hands. If you translate a book "by yourself", it just means as a solo project, not working with anyone else, alone (as it were).
Worthy of a question, I think, if only because of the volume of words such a project would entail, for one person, working alone, individually and in isolation, or, in other word "by himself" (or herself, natch).
There was no misunderstanding at all, Charlie. I got the meaning perfectly well. 
I do translate books by myself, working at my studio at home, with my two hands, my brain and the help of a computer. (I can't believe I am explaining this here in a professional forum.)
[Editado a las 2012-03-03 22:58 GMT]
[Editado a las 2012-03-03 22:59 GMT]
| | | | Haytham Abulela
Canada
Local time: 05:40
Membro (2008)
Da Arabo a Inglese
+ ...
| Translated some that were not for publishing | Mar 4, 2012 |
The first book was The merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, it was before starting my career in translation and for the purpose of practice. Then I translated part of a book titled Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill, the subject was interesting, but I became busy later and almost abandoned it. After two years I was disappointed to find a published translation in book stores and for abandoning it as well. I also translated two bo... See more The first book was The merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, it was before starting my career in translation and for the purpose of practice. Then I translated part of a book titled Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill, the subject was interesting, but I became busy later and almost abandoned it. After two years I was disappointed to find a published translation in book stores and for abandoning it as well. I also translated two books for an individual client who was about to sit for stock-broker exams at Securities and Commodities Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, the titles were Securities and Operational Risk. These were as study aids rather than for publishing. Currently I am translating an Arabic manuscript into English that was written around the 10th or 11th century CE by an Arabic alchemist named Muhammed ibn Umail at-Tamîmî. This book is about the Philosophers' Stone and methods of obtaining it as well as other chemical substances and compounds. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Yes, I've translated several books and enjoyed doing so. In all cases, I charged (and was paid) my usual per word rate. The most interesting, perhaps, were a book on the life and works of Rembrandt with copious illustrations, a copiously illustrated book on Birds of the World, 100 Natural Disasters and, most recently, a book from Cuban Spanish about Dr Bach's homeopathic flower-essence therapy system. For the latter, fortunately, I was able to liaise with the author.
All required a lot of ... See more Yes, I've translated several books and enjoyed doing so. In all cases, I charged (and was paid) my usual per word rate. The most interesting, perhaps, were a book on the life and works of Rembrandt with copious illustrations, a copiously illustrated book on Birds of the World, 100 Natural Disasters and, most recently, a book from Cuban Spanish about Dr Bach's homeopathic flower-essence therapy system. For the latter, fortunately, I was able to liaise with the author.
All required a lot of research, but I enjoyed that.
Jenny ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 08:40
Membro (2005)
Da Tedesco a Inglese
+ ...
| A "whole" book | Mar 4, 2012 |
Actually, I have done both of the translations implied in the question.
I have translated an entire book (Before Rome's Judges, due out from UCalifornia Press this year) and also 3 chapters/articles for an academic collection on Hildegard of Bingen (Brill, next year). I am also the copy editor for the latter.
Because my book translations are related to academia, I didn't find the question surprising.
However, comparing a book (96K) to a contract (1-2K)? G... See more Actually, I have done both of the translations implied in the question.
I have translated an entire book (Before Rome's Judges, due out from UCalifornia Press this year) and also 3 chapters/articles for an academic collection on Hildegard of Bingen (Brill, next year). I am also the copy editor for the latter.
Because my book translations are related to academia, I didn't find the question surprising.
However, comparing a book (96K) to a contract (1-2K)? Get off your high horse for a minute and think.
I assumed the asker either worked in academic translations, or did mostly short work him/herself. The question is more about the nature of extremely long/large translations. In the technical world, large translations are often broken up. The sub-question is whether books would also be treated like this.
There are also questions of scheduling. How do book translators plan their time, how do you stay on track, etc.
Also, remember always that the questions are run through an editor who simplifies them and asigns the radio buttons. My questions never looked quite the way I imagined them.
And, btw, I'm rather proud to have been involved in the book translation projects I worked on. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
S E (X)
Italia
Local time: 14:40
Da Italiano a Inglese
| many and always more to come | Mar 6, 2012 |
My first translation project was in fact a book, a scholarly volume on fifteenth-century Italian political language. I completed it after finishing my PhD in Italian Art. Since then, I have translated a number of others in the fields of art and art history. I don't accept book projects outside my specialist areas: for the kind of material I work with, the quality of the translation depends on my ability to write professionally about the subject. And I prefer making direct use of my academic trai... See more My first translation project was in fact a book, a scholarly volume on fifteenth-century Italian political language. I completed it after finishing my PhD in Italian Art. Since then, I have translated a number of others in the fields of art and art history. I don't accept book projects outside my specialist areas: for the kind of material I work with, the quality of the translation depends on my ability to write professionally about the subject. And I prefer making direct use of my academic training and experience in my work as a translator. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pagine: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Have you ever translated a whole book by yourself? | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
| | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
