| 话题中的页数: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you proofread your work before delivering it? 论题张贴者: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you proofread your work before delivering it?".
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| | | | Tim Drayton 
塞浦路斯
Local time: 21:52
Turkish土耳其语译成English英语
+ ...
| series of loops | Feb 19, 2014 |
I think the reference here is to reviewing work for a wide range of errors and problems, including stylistic ones, as opposed to what is meant by proofreading in the strict sense. I would prefer to use the verb 'review' to describe this process.
My way of working incorporates reviewing in a series of loops. I first work on each sentence in a paragraph - and the kind of legal texts that I usually work with in my source language often have very long and complicated sentences, so that ... See more I think the reference here is to reviewing work for a wide range of errors and problems, including stylistic ones, as opposed to what is meant by proofreading in the strict sense. I would prefer to use the verb 'review' to describe this process.
My way of working incorporates reviewing in a series of loops. I first work on each sentence in a paragraph - and the kind of legal texts that I usually work with in my source language often have very long and complicated sentences, so that can be a task on its own - and after having completed the raw translation of the sentence, I keep reading through it and modifying it until it sounds absolutely right to me. I then stop at the end of each paragraph and again read through the whole paragraph and make any modifications that I feel to be necessary, and do not move on until I am absolutely satisfied. I repeat this procedure at the end of every section. Finally, when I have completed the text, ideally I will go for a walk for 45 minutes or so to freshen my mind and distance myself from the work, and then come back for a final check, which I nowadays find, having already gone through the procedure above, does not take very long and I usually do not come across any more errors at that stage.
So, for me, reviewing is incorporated into my work process rather than being an optional extra that is tagged on at the end. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
西班牙
Local time: 20:52
正式会员 (自2004)
Spanish西班牙语译成English英语
| Of course I do | Feb 19, 2014 |
Tim Drayton wrote:
I usually do not come across any more errors at that stage.
Same here, but I am so, so glad to catch those occasional howlers myself during that last proofreading stage rather than letting them slip through!
| | | | | Yes, several times! | Feb 19, 2014 |
If it's a short text (5 pages max.) I proofread it myself. First against the source, a second time after making all corrections needed, a third time reading aloud: you may hear a problem (a faulty verb ending or a missing word) that you haven't been able to see.
For longer texts, I have an arrangement with a colleague where we provide each other with mutual assistance and cooperation: a new set of eyes may immediately spot errors that you've overlooked.
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| How could you not? | Feb 19, 2014 |
We're translators, not interpreters
| | | | | I should hope so!!!!! | Feb 19, 2014 |
I always go over it at least twice: first, a review a for content, and then a final proofreading.
A wise printer once told me that these processes must always be done separately. If you're paying attention to content, you miss typos, and if you're looking for typos you lose your critical eye for content. (This is one of many reasons why I dislike the rampant use of the term 'proofreading' by agencies and PMs.)
IMO, anything less that two re-readings is unprofessional.
| | | | | Several times | Feb 19, 2014 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
IMO, anything less that two re-readings is unprofessional.
I agree with all the comments I read
| | | | Kay Denney
法国
Local time: 20:52
French法语译成English英语
| doesn't it go without saying? | Feb 19, 2014 |
I do a rough draft, without bothering to look anything up, which amounts really to an initial read-through.
Then I go through it again, doing all the research, checking that everything is there and brushing things up if they strike me as being poorly expressed. This I consider to be the main phase of real translation work.
Then I do my first first proofread, checking against the source to make sure I have left nothing out and added nothing in, that all shades of mean... See more I do a rough draft, without bothering to look anything up, which amounts really to an initial read-through.
Then I go through it again, doing all the research, checking that everything is there and brushing things up if they strike me as being poorly expressed. This I consider to be the main phase of real translation work.
Then I do my first first proofread, checking against the source to make sure I have left nothing out and added nothing in, that all shades of meaning have been taken into account, that I am saying what the author intends to say.
Then I put the source text away, and do a final proofread, only looking at the target text. This may involve ripping the entire thing apart and putting it all together in a different order, chopping things up and re-writing until it no longer looks like the original at all, depending of course on the type of text. But whatever sort of text it is, I don't leave it alone until it rings true and sounds like it was written in the target language in the first place.
I do like another person to go through the last two stages as well, then discuss all changes that third party might suggest, but of course the budget doesn't always stretch to that. In which case I usually require a night's sleep in between either stages 2 and 3 or 3 and 4.
I'm amazed that others simply go for a walk to refresh their brain. Mine must be that much more sluggish, or perhaps the type of work I do is that much more demanding in terms of sounding authentic (mostly marketing and creative stuff)? ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
德国
Local time: 20:52
正式会员 (自2009)
English英语译成German德语
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I mean, who wouldn't/doesn't?
[Edited at 2014-02-19 12:20 GMT]
| | | | | Yes, I always do-- a few times-- at least three | Feb 19, 2014 |
preferably at least 24 hours after the translation was completed--the final check. This produces the best results based on my personal experience and research done by some universities.
This does not mean, however, that the companies-- the outsourcers, or the publishers, should not go through it again--it is absolutely essential that all texts, especially for publication, be proofread by a third party, since you cannot see all of your own mistakes-- this has also been proven throu... See more preferably at least 24 hours after the translation was completed--the final check. This produces the best results based on my personal experience and research done by some universities.
This does not mean, however, that the companies-- the outsourcers, or the publishers, should not go through it again--it is absolutely essential that all texts, especially for publication, be proofread by a third party, since you cannot see all of your own mistakes-- this has also been proven through some research. There are also various rules related to style that may be internal-- specific for the particular publisher or company.
[Edited at 2014-02-19 12:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Part of my part of the process | Feb 19, 2014 |
Yes, I do (can I say of course?). But that doesn't mean that I say that the text has been proofread when I deliver it - I expect the client to engage someone to do that, or the agency to take care of it. If they ask me to translate and proofread I say that I only do the former.
Of course, many clients jump the last step, but I will not be held responsible for it not having been done.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
葡萄牙
Local time: 19:52
| Several times | Feb 19, 2014 |
Like Tim, it is hard to tell how many times I check content and read and correct as I go along.
Two read-throughs once I believe I am finished the translation is standard for me. These normally catch most typos. Depending on the nature of the typos (and the text itself) I may read it aloud. I proofread a third time. If I find any typo at this stage, however small, I will read it again, this time "backwards" paragraph by paragraph. By now, I am such a nervous wreck, I need a cup of coffee. ... See more Like Tim, it is hard to tell how many times I check content and read and correct as I go along.
Two read-throughs once I believe I am finished the translation is standard for me. These normally catch most typos. Depending on the nature of the typos (and the text itself) I may read it aloud. I proofread a third time. If I find any typo at this stage, however small, I will read it again, this time "backwards" paragraph by paragraph. By now, I am such a nervous wreck, I need a cup of coffee. Once I have my mug in my hand, I will go through the text one last time before delivering the translation.
I went through a phase at the end of last year where I was not seeing my typos. I hope that is now over. One can never be 100% sure, though. ▲ Collapse
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Sanmar
英国
Local time: 19:52
Dutch荷兰语译成English英语
Difficult to believe some people replied 'sometimes or never'!
| | | | | This depends | Feb 19, 2014 |
My choice mostly depends on the client's requirements. Sometimes it is not required and not a very effective time consumption. Some clients have proofreaders for this purpose
| | | | nrichy (X)
法国
Local time: 20:52
French法语译成Dutch荷兰语
+ ...
| I even think that these statistics are biaised | Feb 19, 2014 |
Sanmar wrote:
Difficult to believe some people replied 'sometimes or never'!
I worked inhouse in an agency, and I was astonished about how many people submitted their first draft, without any proofreading (90%), and even with holes in it and leaving the client choose between three options. Next time we worked with the remaining 10%, but after a while they often showed the same behaviour. The argument was that this was the agency's work.
We found the same people at the end of the month on the doormat, quering for full payment. My boss always paid people, but there were instances where the bookkeeper was not ready and they became so angry that we even had to call the police.
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