| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you think translators are made from a different mould than other professionals? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| To some degree | Sep 18, 2023 |
It takes certain aptitudes and preferences to be a successful translator (though you could say that about any career).
Likewise, many of us face similar challenges and working styles and that leads to some similarities in how translators present themselves to the world. Working from home on projects that make you think hard and focus for long periods can make you a bit introverted and bookish even if you didn't start out that way.
But the translators I meet are a pretty... See more It takes certain aptitudes and preferences to be a successful translator (though you could say that about any career).
Likewise, many of us face similar challenges and working styles and that leads to some similarities in how translators present themselves to the world. Working from home on projects that make you think hard and focus for long periods can make you a bit introverted and bookish even if you didn't start out that way.
But the translators I meet are a pretty diverse bunch. We might share some common traits but we're not all the same by any means. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Matthieu Ledoré
France
Local time: 11:53
Member (2022)
English to French
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| Barely agree | Sep 18, 2023 |
Of course, it depends what "other professionals" you're talking about.
However, as I have 2 side jobs and have worked in other fields, I dare say that some of the skills/characteristics of translators (research, writing skills, clear communication, critical thinking…) are also useful in other domains.
| | | | | Woulda, coulda, shoulda, moulda | Sep 18, 2023 |
No.
| | | | Anne Maclennan 
Local time: 11:53
Member (2010)
German to English
+ ...
| 'From' not 'in' | Sep 22, 2023 |
Sorry to be pedantic, but surely the phrase is “cast FROM the same mould”? The mould stays the same but what comes out may differ.
To answer the question, like others in this forum my career has been varied. I qualified as a translator and then worked as a civil servant, then as a teacher and finally returned to translation. For each job I have needed different skills. As a teacher I had colleagues who boasted that their lesson preparation could take until late into the evening... See more Sorry to be pedantic, but surely the phrase is “cast FROM the same mould”? The mould stays the same but what comes out may differ.
To answer the question, like others in this forum my career has been varied. I qualified as a translator and then worked as a civil servant, then as a teacher and finally returned to translation. For each job I have needed different skills. As a teacher I had colleagues who boasted that their lesson preparation could take until late into the evening, if not the night. I refused to work beyond 20h00 on lesson preparation.
As a translator I work as late as midnight very occasionally on urgent projects for VERY good customers.
So, the mould might be the same, but the product is not. ▲ Collapse
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| Both correct but subtle difference in meaning | Sep 23, 2023 |
Anne Maclennan wrote:
'From' not 'in'
Sorry to be pedantic, but surely the phrase is “cast FROM the same mould”?
I would say that both are correct. An item is cast in a mould. Then, after it has been removed from the mould, we say that it was cast from the mould.
The mould stays the same but what comes out may differ.
I don't understand this at all. If you expect to get something different every time, what is the point of having a mould?
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 11:53
French to English
Philip Lees wrote: Anne Maclennan wrote:
The mould stays the same but what comes out may differ.
I don't understand this at all. If you expect to get something different every time, what is the point of having a mould?
Surely it depends what you put in the mould?
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:53
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Anne Maclennan wrote:
Sorry to be pedantic, but surely the phrase is “cast FROM the same mould”? The mould stays the same but what comes out may differ.
I would have made the same correction some time ago, but I would have immediately attracted smartypants ad hominem comments from the usual suspects (you know who you are).
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 11:53
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| different mould | Oct 3, 2023 |
I would say "from a DIFFERENT mould" is correct. They are "di stampo diverso", they are cut from a different cloth.
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| This is true for many other jobs | Oct 3, 2023 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
It takes a very specific personality to be a translator. For example:
- Willing to accept all kinds of hours and all-nighters
- Accepting most formats
- Always ready to learn new things
- Patient with late-paying clients
- Tactful when their word choices are questioned
Almost all self-employed people, not just for translators
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 11:53
French to English
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
It takes a very specific personality to be a translator. For example:
- Willing to accept all kinds of hours and all-nighters
- Accepting most formats
- Always ready to learn new things
- Patient with late-paying clients
- Tactful when their word choices are questioned
I disagree with most of this list! I'm not willing to accept all kinds of hours, I've never done an all-nighter as a translator. I don't accept formats that don't lend themselves to translation. I'll only agree to a job in Excel if I can copy it seamlessly into Word and back.
I am always ready to learn new things, it's one of things I love most in my job.
I stopped working with the worst paying agency as of January and so far everyone has paid more or less within two months this year. I don't see why I should be patient with a late-paying client, they are usually pretty impatient to receive my translation.
Yes I am tactful nowadays when my word choices are questioned. I will even demonstrate the patience of a monument explaining why their choices won't work.
But I'd say that more importantly, to be a good translator you have to be willing to put in hours working all alone with just your laptop, questioning your every move, checking and checking again, while also resisting all the fun things you can do on your laptop these days. I've seen translators come and go, and the ones who go are mostly bubbly extroverts who can't sit still and be quiet, who presumably have other talents. They usually head off into another job that may require good knowledge of languages, but leaning more heavily on oral rather than written communication.
[Edited at 2023-10-03 13:43 GMT]
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