Pages in topic:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] >
NEVER ask the client
Thread poster: Daniel Frisano
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Dangerous waters Apr 9, 2021

Daniel Frisano wrote:

My original NEVER is hereby downgraded to a lowercase never to allow for a tiny margin of exception.


So “never” isn’t absolute in your book? Next you’ll be calling things “very unique”...

I can see your new best pal turning on you very soon.

But seriously, if never isn’t never, this has all been a waste of time. Pure clickbait.


Mervyn Henderson (X)
Thomas T. Frost
P.L.F. Persio
expressisverbis
Baran Keki
Philip Lees
Robert Forstag
 
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
Member (2004)
English to Italian
Passive-aggressive... Apr 9, 2021

loving it... maybe because I'm a specialist myself...

P.L.F. Persio
Zibow Retailleau
 
Daryo
Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
Serbian to English
+ ...
Are you doing this on purpose? Apr 11, 2021

As some kind of deliberate provocation?
Or do you really believe it???

Daniel Frisano wrote:

Then don't complain that you're not respected enough or underpaid.

I've never had a dentist or lawyer or plumber requiring me to make the decisions they were hired to make.

Because if they did, they'd lose much of their credibility, wouldn't they?

And I'd be left wondering why I'm paying someone who needs my help to get things done ...


Pretending that you know better than the author what was in the author's mind when writing something ambiguous or apparently wrong to me smacks of some kind of misplaced machismo / looks like misappliance of some silly "saving face" rules, not of "protecting your professional credibility", nor you "negotiating power".

The only kind of "clients" that would be impressed by a translator never asking for any clarifications would be the type of clients who would "check" your translation by comparing it to Google Translate - but then, I guess, according to you what would be wrong with that? "The client is always right" would be another of your mantra?

Personally, I would have ZERO respect for a taxi driver who misheard me and being too "afraid to lose credibility" to ask for clarifications would take me in the wrong direction into some god forsaken industrial zone when I need urgently to go the opposite way to some place that could be only in a residential area.

As to where real "negotiating power" / "credibility" comes from, I wouldn't want to just repeat what others said.

Another element - when translating you might get away with deciding on you your own what was the intended meaning of some ambiguous part of the text. By the time anyone notices you got it wrong, there will be probably a considerable distance and time between you and your "creation" - a large buffer zone to cushion the blow.

When interpreting you won't last very long with that kind of "never ask questions" attitude - both sides of the negotiating table [that are PRESENT then and there] would quickly realise that your "facilitation of communication" between them has turned into a silly game of "broken telephone" - and that would surely do marvels for your "professional credibility" ...


Thomas T. Frost
expressisverbis
Fiona Grace Peterson
Liviu-Lee Roth
P.L.F. Persio
Zibow Retailleau
IrinaN
 
Daniel Frisano
Daniel Frisano  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 09:46
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
  Apr 11, 2021

Ah, Sunday, time for keyboard warriors to rise! And it's always those with no face and no name who are the bravest!

I'm perfectly fine with that, don't get me wrong. If yapping away a boiling indignation makes someone feel better, go ahead and do it, I can always print a selection of the finest on soft paper and use it as appropriate.

Just leave my good clients alone. It hurts when I have to read this (from a client, a couple of weeks ago):

Untitled-1

For decency I blanked out the word after "surrounded by". Everybody can make their own guess. Hint: it's NOT "skilled, reliable, punctual professionals".

I see stuff like this almost every week. And if you're wondering "Wait a second, I've never seen this. Why?", then THAT is a question worth asking (yourself).

Leave my clients alone. Don't waste their time and brain cells. Don't interfere while I'm taking care of them.

This is not about me - it has never been. It's about using your head and making everybody's life easier.

That's enough.

[Edited at 2021-04-11 19:41 GMT]


Gerard Barry
 
Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 08:46
Danish to English
+ ...
Some quotes Apr 11, 2021

‘An individual’s arrogance is always in proportion to his lack of self-assurance.’
– Otto Weininger

‘Arrogance is a self-defense tactic to disguise insecurities.’
– Caroll Michels

‘That which inspires arrogance is ignorance, caused by the heart’s blindness.’
– Saeed Malik

‘Arrogance is a great obstruction to wisdom.’
– Bion

‘Arrogance is a veneer — a thin covering of excuses hiding deep pe
... See more
‘An individual’s arrogance is always in proportion to his lack of self-assurance.’
– Otto Weininger

‘Arrogance is a self-defense tactic to disguise insecurities.’
– Caroll Michels

‘That which inspires arrogance is ignorance, caused by the heart’s blindness.’
– Saeed Malik

‘Arrogance is a great obstruction to wisdom.’
– Bion

‘Arrogance is a veneer — a thin covering of excuses hiding deep performance deficiencies.’
– Bob Lewis
Collapse


expressisverbis
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Christopher Schröder
Zibow Retailleau
Daryo
Angie Garbarino
IrinaN
 
Sadek_A
Sadek_A  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:46
English to Arabic
+ ...
So, a logical question here would be... Apr 11, 2021

If your client knows they are surrounded by ------s, and also knows you are the one for the job; still, they initially use those ------s, then ultimately resort to you.

What can this all tell us about your client's management of things?

I don't see a proof on importance of not asking questions by translators; however, I see one on importance of not choosing lightly by clients.


expressisverbis
Thomas T. Frost
P.L.F. Persio
Christopher Schröder
Kay Denney
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Abba Storgen (X)
 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Daniel Frisano
Daniel Frisano  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 09:46
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
  Apr 11, 2021

Sadek_A wrote:

If your client knows they are surrounded by ------s, and also knows you are the one for the job; still, they initially use those ------s, then ultimately resort to you.

What can this all tell us about your client's management of things?



For heaven's sake, she's talking about translators in other languages.

And that's the umpteenth proof of the importance of avoiding useless questions that you can answer yourself with just a moderate amount of judgment.

Can't take it anymore, I need to leave this discussion for good, right now.


Gerard Barry
 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Wow Apr 12, 2021

I know this isn't good for a linguist to admit, but I'm completely at a loss for, um, er, you know, er...

P.L.F. Persio
expressisverbis
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Zibow Retailleau
Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
 
Michael Wetzel
Michael Wetzel  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 09:46
German to English
UNLESS ... Apr 12, 2021

Daniel Frisano wrote:

... avoiding useless questions that you can answer yourself ...


That is to say: NEVER ask the client*

* Unless it clearly makes sense to ask the client.


It's taken what, 100 posts? But I think everyone is finally in agreement now.

[Edited because I screwed up the quote function]

[Edited at 2021-04-12 13:37 GMT]


P.L.F. Persio
expressisverbis
Zibow Retailleau
Christopher Schröder
IrinaN
Angie Garbarino
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
 
P.L.F. Persio
P.L.F. Persio  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 09:46
Member (2010)
English to Italian
+ ...
Don't fret, Chris ... Apr 12, 2021

Chris S wrote:

I know this isn't good for a linguist to admit, but I'm completely at a loss for, um, er, you know, er...


... they'd zap you anyway, in the end.


Zibow Retailleau
expressisverbis
Christopher Schröder
Sadek_A
 
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Mervyn Henderson (X)  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 09:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
Zappety-zap Apr 12, 2021

Zapped again. Rule 2. But I'm not alone in Zapland this time.

P.L.F. Persio
Zibow Retailleau
expressisverbis
Christopher Schröder
 
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Mervyn Henderson (X)  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 09:46
Spanish to English
+ ...
Cambridge Dictionary Apr 12, 2021

I've just found this definition:


"An imaginary place where everything is pleasant or perfect in a way that is impossible to achieve in real life."


The definition of "never-never land". Please note the words "imaginary", "impossible" and "real life".


Zibow Retailleau
P.L.F. Persio
expressisverbis
Christopher Schröder
 
Pages in topic:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

NEVER ask the client







Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »
Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »