| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you ever try to "improve" on a source text? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ever try to "improve" on a source text?".
This poll was originally submitted by Gwen Jones. View the poll results »
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I translate mainly patents, I am asked to write exactly what is in the text. If I think there is a mistake, I ask the client and only if I am told to change it I do.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 23:02
English to French
+ ...
I don't correct or change source texts but make a footnote about missing text, contradictions, some times even gross spelling/grammar mistakes.
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:02
German to English
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Sometimes a text doesn't actually contain specific errors but is poorly written, doesn't flow well, etc. In such cases it's virtually impossible not to improve it as it would be unsatisfactory to produce a badly written translation.
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Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:02
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
| The aim is to create a good product | Mar 20, 2010 |
I translate mostly journalism and other published material in which there is nothing to be gained through 'faithful rendering' of poor language use. Stylistically, the client wants a good final product to publish, regardless of whether the original is good, bad or ugly. I would not be doing my job if I attempted to produce some kind of pseudo-equivalent of bad writing.
If the quality of the original is unintelligibly poor, I have generally found clients more than willing to amend t... See more I translate mostly journalism and other published material in which there is nothing to be gained through 'faithful rendering' of poor language use. Stylistically, the client wants a good final product to publish, regardless of whether the original is good, bad or ugly. I would not be doing my job if I attempted to produce some kind of pseudo-equivalent of bad writing.
If the quality of the original is unintelligibly poor, I have generally found clients more than willing to amend the original or clarify what is meant.
I would never change the facts, however; if I feel the content is wrong I inform the client and let them decide whether they want to change it.
Cheers,
Simon ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gwenydd Jones
Spain
Local time: 23:02
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| It depends on the genre and who it is for | Mar 20, 2010 |
I think that the text type and if it is going to be published are big factors in whether the translator should or should not intervene stylistically.
When working with literary/journalistic translations, it can be very difficult to be objective about what is actually substandard in the ST and therefore should be corrected, as opposed to how the translator thinks it would sound better, which is purely subjective. In the latter case, I don't think the translator should make so called ... See more I think that the text type and if it is going to be published are big factors in whether the translator should or should not intervene stylistically.
When working with literary/journalistic translations, it can be very difficult to be objective about what is actually substandard in the ST and therefore should be corrected, as opposed to how the translator thinks it would sound better, which is purely subjective. In the latter case, I don't think the translator should make so called "improvements", but in practice I think it can sometimes be very difficult to avoid doing so. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 22:02
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| My reputation depends on it | Mar 20, 2010 |
Simon Bruni wrote:
I translate mostly journalism and other published material in which there is nothing to be gained through 'faithful rendering' of poor language use. Stylistically, the client wants a good final product to publish, regardless of whether the original is good, bad or ugly. I would not be doing my job if I attempted to produce some kind of pseudo-equivalent of bad writing.
It's not my fault if the customer's marketing material (website, brochures etc) in the source language is not perfect. It IS my fault if that same material in English isn't up to scratch.
I would never change the facts, however; if I feel the content is wrong I inform the client and let them decide whether they want to change it.
I find it happens surprisingly often. I do research to tie down the best translation and find that their facts aren't in line with what I've found (not that you can necessarily believe everything you find on the web, of course:-)). When I inform them, they almost always agree and ask me to change the English version.
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 23:02
Spanish to English
+ ...
| This is true | Mar 20, 2010 |
Gwen Jones wrote:
in practice I think it can sometimes be very difficult to avoid doing so.
I've often thought about that in relation to giving "less quality at a lower price" (that's an old joke).
I.e., you might not even notice you're making them. (In that sense, you probably don't "try". It's effortless to the more experienced ones. But it can probably spell out the difference between a raw translation and a revised translation).
My experience of it is more like Sheila's. I get in touch with the PM to resolve questions arising in research and we're often capable of bringing the client around to an improved version. But admittedly, we can take this licence only where we specialize.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:02
Spanish to English
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It depends.
The other day I had to revise a text and the client had written "cages" which turned out to be "cafes". I had to ask them to confirm what they meant, and I wouldn't have delivered the text until I got an answer either way.
Something similar happened yesterday with another client too, with a "comprising" when they meant "compromising"...
Most clients, as Simon notes, are only too glad to have a translation which is more polished than the original, but I think we real... See more It depends.
The other day I had to revise a text and the client had written "cages" which turned out to be "cafes". I had to ask them to confirm what they meant, and I wouldn't have delivered the text until I got an answer either way.
Something similar happened yesterday with another client too, with a "comprising" when they meant "compromising"...
Most clients, as Simon notes, are only too glad to have a translation which is more polished than the original, but I think we really have to consult them every time and not just make changes to the text willy-nilly.
The problems arise if you are working with an agency that is paranoid about "bothering" the clients, or won't let the translator contact them in case they try to blag their business. This is why I always try to work on a basis of trust with all my clients and quickly dump any displaying a lack of trust or respect. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | If it's obvious | Mar 20, 2010 |
If the mistake is obvious I always correct it, and never notify of it.
Until now, I haven't received complains.
[Edited at 2010-03-20 13:37 GMT]
| | | | patyjs
Mexico
Local time: 15:02
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Sometimes... | Mar 20, 2010 |
I often find I have to add bits and pieces to sentences to clarify or avoid misinterpretation, for example, writing out the subject instead of using a pronoun, but I would never interfere with the "content". I would not go to great lengths to submit a translation which is far better written than the original although sometimes that's inevitable. Sometimes the mere fact that the translation is coherent is an improvement on the source!
 ... See more I often find I have to add bits and pieces to sentences to clarify or avoid misinterpretation, for example, writing out the subject instead of using a pronoun, but I would never interfere with the "content". I would not go to great lengths to submit a translation which is far better written than the original although sometimes that's inevitable. Sometimes the mere fact that the translation is coherent is an improvement on the source!
I do contact the agency/client if there are obvious factual errors, though.
[Edited at 2010-03-20 14:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | if it is really poorly written | Mar 20, 2010 |
then it's inevitable the translation will be better...usually no one complains or i get compliments for making it clearer, better grammar. I guess my writing and journalism background can be an asset at times. But not long ago, actually,I did a translation which was for a charitable foundation, describing some special event. The person who wrote it (french) was obviously really trying to be creative and thought they were succeeding but it was so poorly written that translating it was just tortu... See more then it's inevitable the translation will be better...usually no one complains or i get compliments for making it clearer, better grammar. I guess my writing and journalism background can be an asset at times. But not long ago, actually,I did a translation which was for a charitable foundation, describing some special event. The person who wrote it (french) was obviously really trying to be creative and thought they were succeeding but it was so poorly written that translating it was just torture. I admit that maybe a native french translator would have had an easier time. I didn't go out of my way to improve it but it was inevitable because everything about it was so bad...however they did not see it that way, obviously convinced they had created a magnum opus. They didn't pay for that translation and my outsourcer told me they had said that i didn't 'get the meaning' ....they were obviously offended that I didn't do justice to their vision. She had to get another translator for the other documents and this one. I told her I was sorry but I'd still spent several hours working on it. So i got paid partially and she thanked me for understanding, as they are a very difficult client. ▲ Collapse
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 17:02
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| I'm with Gwen: genre determines everything. | Mar 20, 2010 |
I also translate patents, and I am expected to render the original in all its details into English. If there are errors, I make a note of them and notify the client.
However, I also translate literary texts, and have to modify the structure of the arguments to appeal to an English language audience. I discussed this with the client up front, and they agreed with my proposals. However, I do not believe I am *improving* the original text (it's really nicely written and a fascinating... See more I also translate patents, and I am expected to render the original in all its details into English. If there are errors, I make a note of them and notify the client.
However, I also translate literary texts, and have to modify the structure of the arguments to appeal to an English language audience. I discussed this with the client up front, and they agreed with my proposals. However, I do not believe I am *improving* the original text (it's really nicely written and a fascinating read); I am making this fascination available to people from another culture, and that means providing a fluent, readable translation, not a slavish repetition. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 15:02
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam | Artistic license | Mar 20, 2010 |
WHEN I have an artistic license I use it; that is, when the material has been generated by the client and the client agrees, then I will do what I can to improve on the source text.
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To be honest, I don't understand this question, but "improve" is within the ominipotent "quotation mark", I interpret the word as make changes as necessary according to my professional judgment.
For this reason, I totally agree with Interlangeu, who said:
Interlangue wrote:
I don't correct or change source texts but make a footnote about missing text, contradictions, some times even gross spelling/grammar mistakes.
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