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NEVER ask the client Автор темы: Daniel Frisano
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| 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.
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| Passive-aggressive... | Apr 9, 2021 |
loving it... maybe because I'm a specialist myself... 
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Daryo
Великобритания
Local time: 07:47
сербский => английский
+ ...
| 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" ...
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Daniel Frisano 
Италия
Local time: 08:47
Член ProZ.com c 2008
английский => итальянский
+ ...
Автор темы
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):
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]
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‘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
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Sadek_A
Local time: 11:47
английский => арабский
+ ...
| 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.
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
Daniel Frisano
Италия
Local time: 08:47
Член ProZ.com c 2008
английский => итальянский
+ ...
Автор темы
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.
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| 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 |
I know this isn't good for a linguist to admit, but I'm completely at a loss for, um, er, you know, er...
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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]
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P.L.F. Persio
Нидерланды
Local time: 08:47
английский => итальянский
+ ...
| 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.
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Mervyn Henderson (X)
Испания
Local time: 08:47
испанский => английский
+ ...
Zapped again. Rule 2. But I'm not alone in Zapland this time.
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Mervyn Henderson (X)
Испания
Local time: 08:47
испанский => английский
+ ...
| 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".
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