| A témához tartozó oldalak: [1 2] > | Poll: Should a linguist stick to quality or deadline? Téma indítója: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Should a linguist stick to quality or deadline?".
View the poll results »
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Letting the customer know that quality will suffer from insufficient lead time.
A customer who wants printed material for an event no longer needs it after the event. Either they knowingly order a sub-standard translation, or they do without the translation.
I fail to see the point of delivering a quality translation that is of no use to the customer.
Philippe
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... of course. Ideally, one shouldn't accept a tight deadline if it means the quality will suffer. I know that these days "urgency" seems to be increasing but there are limits to what one person can do.
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A translator should not accept a job, if he is not able to deliver a good quality wihin the agreed delivery date...
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inkweaver 
Németország
Local time: 19:48
francia - német
+ ...
First of all, never bite off more than you can chew.
If a deadline seems unreasonable to start with, tell the customer and let them decide if speed is more important than quality. After all, they may just need a draft for whatever reason. On the other hand they may not have realised that the given deadline is to short and might be able to extend it. In any case, it's a good idea to sort that out before accepting a job.
| | | | Parrot
Spanyolország
Local time: 19:48
spanyol - angol
+ ...
| Wrong question | Mar 18, 2016 |
The keyword is "should". Otherwise, the more measurable element in the contract (yes, it is a contract of sorts) is "deadline".
Consequently, the answer lies in an assumable estimate of output under aceptable conditions of quality. No one can be called a bad translator if he negotiates the deadline or calls for assistance to meet it.
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svenfrade wrote:
First of all, never bite off more than you can chew.
Deadlines must be met. Quality shouldn't suffer.
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Muriel Vasconcellos wrote: svenfrade wrote:
First of all, never bite off more than you can chew.
Deadlines must be met. Quality shouldn't suffer.
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| The question is totally wrong | Mar 18, 2016 |
When a translator sets the deadline within which she can complete the translation, quality is already the main consideration. There can be no conflict between quality and deadline.
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Both, of course. As they said at business school, you can't sell Christmas trees in January.
There are times when a deadline cannot be altered, and you have to do the best you can in a short time. Delivering on time is also an element of quality!
In fact, interpreters do the best they can at speed. They can't doodle about correcting and adjusting - they have to translate each sentence and move on. I can't do it myself, so I am fascinated and respectful when others can.
<... See more Both, of course. As they said at business school, you can't sell Christmas trees in January.
There are times when a deadline cannot be altered, and you have to do the best you can in a short time. Delivering on time is also an element of quality!
In fact, interpreters do the best they can at speed. They can't doodle about correcting and adjusting - they have to translate each sentence and move on. I can't do it myself, so I am fascinated and respectful when others can.
They prepare in advance. They read up on the subject, practise, and as far as possible have things ready before they start.
Translators can do that too. Get to know the clients, or at least the industries they work in. I look at any earlier work I have done for the client and note their terminology, and collect solutions to style issues.
When the rushed jobs job come, I can fire off a reasonably worded translation at speed. I always aim to make a usable draft of a translation at the first pass. For the 'here today and mulched tomorrow' kind of text, the quality is acceptable to good.
There are texts that need polishing and refining, and it is always good to have time to 'sleep on' a translation. In my case the results are usually better, but sometimes just different - and possibly less consistent!
Experience helps, and as others have said, you should never take on more than you can deliver. I never accept a really impossible deadline, or too many rushed jobs in succession.
If 'fast' is all the client wants, then MT is making progress! ▲ Collapse
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If you can't do both, don't take the job.
| | | | Thayenga
Németország
Local time: 19:48
Tag (2009 óta)
angol - német
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Christine Andersen wrote:
Both, of course. As they said at business school, you can't sell Christmas trees in January.
There are times when a deadline cannot be altered, and you have to do the best you can in a short time. Delivering on time is also an element of quality! ....
If 'fast' is all the client wants, then MT is making progress!
Exactly. Even if you try to deliver the best possible quality, it won't do much good if you return the translation late. Your client (agency) might also have a tight and mandatory delivery deadline.
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| Client's needs | Mar 18, 2016 |
In all cases linguist should stick to client's directions.
Sometimes, clients ask to compromise quality for the sake of meeting very tight deadline. However, it is up to you to accept or decline such jobs
| | | | Sara Maghini
Egyesült Királyság
Local time: 18:48
angol - olasz
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| Why should you choose between two fundamental elements? | Mar 18, 2016 |
If you're a real professional, you guarantee both. Simply don't accept a job if you can't deliver it on time.
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Both, but if I really have to choose I would say deadline, provided that the quality is "acceptable".
What would be best:
Acceptable quality (not a masterpiece, but correct and mostly idiomatic) and on time?
Or a masterpiece ("This translation should be nominated for an award of Best Quality Ever"), but too late?
I honestly think that a lot of us most of the time aim for "acceptable to good quality", and not for "extraordinary good quality" due to deadline restri... See more Both, but if I really have to choose I would say deadline, provided that the quality is "acceptable".
What would be best:
Acceptable quality (not a masterpiece, but correct and mostly idiomatic) and on time?
Or a masterpiece ("This translation should be nominated for an award of Best Quality Ever"), but too late?
I honestly think that a lot of us most of the time aim for "acceptable to good quality", and not for "extraordinary good quality" due to deadline restrictions, don't you think so? ▲ Collapse
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