| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: When I find a difficult term to translate, I first... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Andrea Flaßbeck (X) 
Germany
Local time: 06:03
English to German
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| Goodness gracious! | Jun 16, 2009 |
When I find a difficult term to translate, I first...
0.7% would ask a KudoZ question before anything else!
That explains a lot, though.
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 00:03
English to Spanish
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| Internet search | Jun 16, 2009 |
gad wrote:
I'm surprized that "run an Internet search" is what most people do, since the Internet is full of poor translations. I do research online this way, too, but this would not be my first step in researching a term.
But not looking for the translation, as your comment suggests.
I run an internet search restricted to medical journal databases in order to find the term in use in different (medical/pharmaceutical) contexts and understand what it means and how it's used. Once I have that figured out and can pick the correct equivalent if there are more than one, I resort to my (paper) bilingual dictionaries.
If I don't properly understand what the term means, I resort to an expert in the field (i.e., MD or pharmacist friend, depending on the specifics of the text) IF there's no confidentiality agreement involved or IF the question can be asked in a way that discloses nothing of the text.
If I can't ask outside sources, I add the term with all the research done and proposed translation to a query log, which I send to my client at a previously agreed date.
Greetings
Andrea
[Edited at 2009-06-16 16:31 GMT]
| | | | Anne Bohy
France
Local time: 06:03
English to French
| local research first | Jun 16, 2009 |
My first look is at the electronic version of my dictionary (for a first overview of the different acceptions of the word, in case I missed one). After that, I may either research some more on paper dictionaries, or go to the Internet (more often Google search) which may also bring back some KudoZ answers, good or bad.
I never ask a KudoZ question. In several years now, I have answered a huge number of questions, but never asked a single one. The reason is, I'm too afraid of the crazy answ... See more My first look is at the electronic version of my dictionary (for a first overview of the different acceptions of the word, in case I missed one). After that, I may either research some more on paper dictionaries, or go to the Internet (more often Google search) which may also bring back some KudoZ answers, good or bad.
I never ask a KudoZ question. In several years now, I have answered a huge number of questions, but never asked a single one. The reason is, I'm too afraid of the crazy answers I would get.
But there is also another resource that I use: I ask the customer for additional info. No translator is supposed to be a perfect expert in all domains or to master all subtleties of his non-native language, so I consider normal to ask questions now and then. Plus, hopefully it educates customers about the need to provide unambiguous source text. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:03
Spanish to English
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What is sauce for the goose etc...
To answer the poll properly, I would first need a definition of what constitutes a "difficult term" to translate.
Something as simple as "alta/baja" from Spanish to English can be a nightmare at times, whereas technically imposing-looking terms may actually be easy to render.
I don't usually work a lot in art/poetry/literature but when I do I invariably find it much more taxing (probably because it is often pretty impenetrable in the first p... See more What is sauce for the goose etc...
To answer the poll properly, I would first need a definition of what constitutes a "difficult term" to translate.
Something as simple as "alta/baja" from Spanish to English can be a nightmare at times, whereas technically imposing-looking terms may actually be easy to render.
I don't usually work a lot in art/poetry/literature but when I do I invariably find it much more taxing (probably because it is often pretty impenetrable in the first place) than initially daunting-looking technical screeds. ▲ Collapse
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Miranda Joubioux (X)
Local time: 06:03
French to English
| Other: depends on field | Jun 16, 2009 |
I have always used paper dictionaries and always will and for some fields you can't get away from them. I now have quite a collection.
However, some subjects don't require paper dictionaries and the dictionaries installed on my computer and online dictionaries can be sufficient.
Occasionally, I find that I just can't find some words. In this instance Internet searches are essential and even then, you really need to read up on the subject to get a full picture.
However, I'm sur... See more I have always used paper dictionaries and always will and for some fields you can't get away from them. I now have quite a collection.
However, some subjects don't require paper dictionaries and the dictionaries installed on my computer and online dictionaries can be sufficient.
Occasionally, I find that I just can't find some words. In this instance Internet searches are essential and even then, you really need to read up on the subject to get a full picture.
However, I'm surprised how few people actually ask colleagues (I include Kudoz in this).
In some fields, other translators will have come across words you don't yet know and they are generally happy to share their knowledge.
It definitely depends on a lot of things. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ilary (X)
Local time: 06:03
| Consult an online dictionary | Jun 16, 2009 |
Then, if I don't manage to find it because e.g. it's a very technical term, I run an Internet search and look for parallel texts or glossaries.
[Edited at 2009-06-16 18:50 GMT]
| | | | | I vote Other | Jun 16, 2009 |
I mostly agree with Marie-Christine Périé. My first choice depends on the field of translation. Usually if I happen to know specialists in the field, I consult them.
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 22:03
Dutch to English
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| Dictionary first | Jun 16, 2009 |
As others have said, it depends. If it's a term that I would expect to find in a dictionary, that's what I do first. I have a legal dictionary on my computer and I have bookmarked a number of useful terminology websites on various topics. For anything else there is Google. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I would search Kudoz terms or ask a question.
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| Oh my... online dictionaries! | Jun 16, 2009 |
I am amazed at the fact that, currently, the number of respondents who look terms up in online dictionaries before reaching for a paper dictionary is three times higher than the number of people who open a paper dictionary first. I can now stop wondering where those awfully wrong terms come from in my reviewing assignments...
My reply was paper dictionary - the Web is unreliable, save for a few exceptions.
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bohy wrote:
But there is also another resource that I use: I ask the customer for additional info. No translator is supposed to be a perfect expert in all domains or to master all subtleties of his non-native language, so I consider normal to ask questions now and then. Plus, hopefully it educates customers about the need to provide unambiguous source text.
I agree with every single word here.
What I usually do before I even start translating is to create a PDF out of the translatable document, and when I come across a term or an ambiguous sentence that I can't help even after consulting all my resources, I use the PDF copy to highlight the problem spot and add a comment in a bubble asking for context, definition and/or taking stabs at what the author may have meant. This is very useful because it saves time typing out questions, allows the client to see the problem spot in context and also allows the client to reply directly in the PDF.
I totally hear you when you talk about educating clients about clean, healthy text. Some clients don't seem to realize that a translator is not a mind-reader.
[Edited at 2009-06-17 02:18 GMT]
| | | | Laureana Pavon
Uruguay
Local time: 01:03
Member (2007)
English to Spanish
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MODERATOR | In an ideal world this would work | Jun 17, 2009 |
ViktoriaG wrote: bohy wrote:
But there is also another resource that I use: I ask the customer for additional info. No translator is supposed to be a perfect expert in all domains or to master all subtleties of his non-native language, so I consider normal to ask questions now and then. Plus, hopefully it educates customers about the need to provide unambiguous source text. I agree with every single word here.
However, most if not all of my clients (end clients, not agencies) have no knowledge whatsoever of the source language, so asking them for clarification is completely out of the question.
In my case I turn to my paper dictionaries first, then reliable online dictionaries (yes, they do exist), then the rest of the options mentioned in the poll.
[Edited at 2009-06-17 02:46 GMT]
| | | | David Earl
United States
Local time: 22:03
German to English
Catherine Shepherd wrote: Just kidding
Thank you for helping me start my day with a chuckle!
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keelin feeney
Ireland
Local time: 05:03
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
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| Most of the above | Jun 17, 2009 |
I put down the Proz search in my answer as it is nearly always my first port of call when I have a difficult term to translate. From there I use my own installed dictionaries, online dictionaries, Google, and websites with similar or the same terminology.
I often ask the client directly if s/he can find out what the correct term is but if all else fails, I ask a Kudoz question. I don't ask many Kudoz questions but that is more down to the fact that I have finally found the term else... See more I put down the Proz search in my answer as it is nearly always my first port of call when I have a difficult term to translate. From there I use my own installed dictionaries, online dictionaries, Google, and websites with similar or the same terminology.
I often ask the client directly if s/he can find out what the correct term is but if all else fails, I ask a Kudoz question. I don't ask many Kudoz questions but that is more down to the fact that I have finally found the term elsewhere, not because I dislike Kudoz. In fact, I think that it is a great idea.
No matter where I find a difficult term, I tend to check it with Google to make sure that it gets plenty of hits.
I guess it all depends on whether the word is "common", technical, legal, financial, ...but it is true that we are lucky to have such an extensive choice of language tools! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Brandis (X)
Local time: 06:03
English to German
+ ...
| I use multiple resources | Jun 17, 2009 |
Hi! I use multiple resources, internet, electronic dictionaries, ask colleauges, proz. com termhelp etc., BR Brandis
| | | | Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 06:03
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
In memoriam | I have to vote OTHER | Jun 17, 2009 |
because my number one alternative is missing:
I first consult my digital dictionaries on my hard disk.
MW
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