Those damn tools

I can understand translation tools are necessary for certain clients and situations such as leveraging huge previous projects, but I really regard these things as necessary evils. They slow me down, and don't have any added value to me as a translator. They cost a lot of money, make me charge less for my work and cause innumerable technical nightmares which aren't compensated for 99% of the time.

Terminology can be done using a standalone tool and a good translator who has experience with a client and field, should know the terminology anyways. And show me a tool that has an effective way to handle Style Guides! Haven't seen one yet. I haven't seen a single tool that can handle all the file types either.

I hate CAT tools. They've only caused misery and cost money. Anyone else sick of these things?

Yeah yeah, I know the sales shpiel spouting the benefits of a CAT tool. For me the drawbacks outweigh the minute benefits.

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Memory Mess

One of the agencies I work for keeps insisting that I use their Translation Memory, out of which nearly 30% of the segments give 100% matches, but of which the quality is so low that I can not in good conscience use them as they are in the final translation. Until now I have been updating these strings myself without being paid for the corrections, but it is getting rediculous, especially since they do not always update the Translation Memory with my strings. I have taken to doing the following:

Updating their memory with my "good" version that I maintain at home before starting any new job.

Rerunning the pre-translate on the files.

Rerunning the analysis (I usually win around 5% more 100%s by having a better TM)

They do not ask for an updated TM from me at all. I think they see this as part of the project manager's responsibility, although other clients require delivery of the update TM along with a translation.

Considering a ll this I believe I should be compensated for all my extra effort at some point. Does anyone have any tips on how to broach the subject? Should I even bother to ask since many agencies don't really care nor have the budget for maintenance work? and should I even bother to continue "improving" the translation?

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String length restrctions

We are working on a website localization for a new client. I asked them if there are any string length restrictions to consider. They answered: yes, the translated file should not exceed 64 kb... I instructed my translator to make translated strings as long as possible, that'll teach them!

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The Poofreader

One day we get a CV in filled with impressive QA credentials and academic background information. They were applying for a QA position of course

Then, smack in the middle of their resumé, their job description said "poofreader". Yes. Look closely. "Poofreader". I'm not sure what a poofreader does. Read poofs?

Better not let this guy poofread your CV.

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Unbelievable...

I am Argentine, and I have been living in the UK for a year and a half now, working as a freelance English-Spanish translator.

A few months ago I was contacted by an agency from New York, and everything went well till we discussed my rates. Their opinion was that, since I was from Argentina, I should charge them Argentinean rates, which are 5 times lower than those in the UK!

My (rather ironically expressed, I must admit) explanation that I was paying my bills in the UK and not in Buenos Aires did nothing to change their position, which I deemed so

far-fetched and ridiculous that it was even insulting.

Needless to say, I didn't accept any work from them!!

Has anybody else have such an experience?

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Book Translation

I have recently been contacted to perform a translation of a book into Spanish and I have never done this type of work before. Their offer was OK, around the 0,05 € per word which for the volume is not bad. My problem is that it will take me "off the market" for several months while I do the translation. The deadline is rather tight so I can not space other translations into this time. Of course the client just wants their book and does not consider this, but I do not believe that much more work come out of this. Should I accept this job? I'm debating whether or not this will be fair to my existing trusted clients.

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Patently Absurd

I recently heard from a friend of mine about how much translators who work for the European Patent Office get compensated, both in pay and benefits. I'm not sure how much is true but I hear its ridiculously high compared to the typical translator. Perhaps that's my jealousy speaking...

High salaries (I'm speaking of €60.000+)
Tax exemption!!! salaries are gross=net!
32-36 hour workweeks
Perks and benefits (lease cars, pension plans, sabbatical plans etc.)

Its really no wonder that its so expensive to file patents, they have to pay these guys' salaries! Methinks I'm in the wrong job. These and other EU translators really have it pretty sweet.

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