Poll: Do you accept jobs that are out of your expertise if they are not too technical? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you accept jobs that are out of your expertise if they are not too technical?".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:42
Spanish to English
+ ...
Probably yes, because I'm not sure how to define "out of my expertise" or "too technical". I am by no means an expert in the core content of many of the texts I translate or revise, but that doesn't stop me having a bash at it if the author or some similarly authoritative and proactive person is willing to help with that side.
| | | | Simon Bruni 
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:42
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
Usually, if the intended reader is not an expert, then the translator doesn't have to be.
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 02:42
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
I used to years back when I first started out because I didn't have an "expertise" as such.
Fast forward 30 years and I am a little bit longer in the tooth with - ahem - a few translations under my belt. And, lo and behold, I'm a technical translator, too! So, I accept only technical stuff. HOWEVER, as a technical translator I don't accept all work since there is just soooooo much to learn and know. Even engineers have limited expertise and don't know everything. If yo... See more I used to years back when I first started out because I didn't have an "expertise" as such.
Fast forward 30 years and I am a little bit longer in the tooth with - ahem - a few translations under my belt. And, lo and behold, I'm a technical translator, too! So, I accept only technical stuff. HOWEVER, as a technical translator I don't accept all work since there is just soooooo much to learn and know. Even engineers have limited expertise and don't know everything. If you learn a couple of technologies, there is overlap with other fields of industry and you can apply those skills to other subsets and learn/research, which eventually expands your "area of expertise" anyway.
Nevertheless, there is still a huge limit  as to what I can and am willing to do.
HTH  ▲ Collapse
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| Yes (meaning probably) | Sep 21, 2012 |
If, after reading the document (or at least looking at it), I feel that I am able to translate it, with some terminological research. A big part of what I love about translation is the continuous learning curve and this is how one learns, is it not? Anyway, I translate in areas ranging from medicine, law, economics and education to EU affairs, journalism, audiovisual products, marine engines, earthmoving equipment, to name just a few...
| | | | | Depends on workload | Sep 21, 2012 |
If they're "not too technical" the only reason not to do them is that they will probably take a bit longer and so pay less well
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I am a generalist, and I take on a wide range of jobs.
You could discuss whether I am really an expert at anything at all. Sometimes I specialise in language itself - tone, register, finding the most apt expression.
I spend a lot of time comparing with texts in the same genre and register, checking the terminology and getting the 'tone of voice' right.
Having said that, I always check carefuly through a text to make sure I understand it before agreeing to t... See more I am a generalist, and I take on a wide range of jobs.
You could discuss whether I am really an expert at anything at all. Sometimes I specialise in language itself - tone, register, finding the most apt expression.
I spend a lot of time comparing with texts in the same genre and register, checking the terminology and getting the 'tone of voice' right.
Having said that, I always check carefuly through a text to make sure I understand it before agreeing to translate it. I do occasionally end up with texts that I think I understand, but find fiendishly difficult to express in good or correct English. My last KudoZ question ended with 'no satisfactory answer', to my surprise. The rest of the text was clear enough.
Luckily I have to turn down some offers of work because I don't have time, and I can always turn down jobs that I am not confident of doing to the client's satisfaction. There are usually real experts in other fields who can take them on.
But a lot of useful experience can be gained by taking a few chances, and getting help when needed with the jobs where the reader need not be an expert.
[Edited at 2012-09-21 11:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 20:42
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Sometimes ... | Sep 21, 2012 |
Yes, if having read the text I am sure the knowledge I already have is transferrable to that particular text in that particular field and that I can do a good job. I am primarily a technical translator. I am not necessarily put off by the 'technical'.
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 13:42
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Define "too technical" | Sep 21, 2012 |
I answered other, because I translate tech stuff. I do not touch marketing or business. Is that "too technical"? Or simply too far out of my fields.
I actually turned down a project due to the business teminology, and the PM tried to get me to take it, using the "it's not too technical" argument. When I pointed out that it was the "too business" that I was objecting to, he sent me a nice project on a piping system.
[Edited at 2012-09-21 13:18 GMT]
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 18:42
| I have a wide range of interests | Sep 21, 2012 |
Rebecca Garber wrote:
I actually turned down a project due to the business teminology, and the PM tried to get me to take it, using the "it's not too technical" argument. When I pointed out that it was the "too business" that I was objecting to, he sent me a nice project on a piping system.
[Edited at 2012-09-21 13:18 GMT]
I love it!
There are some areas of expertise where I have no intention of learning enough to translate intelligently. These include pharmaceuticals, aeronautical and automotive engineering, medicine, and legislation (as opposed to paralegal things such as contracts, general terms and conditions, etc.) - and, Rebecca will be happy to know, piping systems.
There are so many other translators who do a much better job in these areas than I will ever be capable of.
I do like broadening my general knowledge through my translations though. If answers can be had online for aspects in a translation which are unfamiliar to me, then I am likely to accept something marginally outside of my comfort zone, but never when it carries and "urgent" label.
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 19:42
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
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SITE LOCALIZER | joined to Christine | Sep 21, 2012 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
I am a generalist, and I take on a wide range of jobs.
Having said that, I always check carefuly through a text to make sure I understand it before agreeing to translate it. [Edited at 2012-09-21 11:08 GMT]
"I always check carefully through a text to make sure I understand it before agreeing to translate it."
Could not agree more with you...
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 19:42
Member (2006)
German to English
at least not any more as I have noticed that I take too much time for subject that I am not familiar with and, touch wood, I have enough work to do in my own specialist fields
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