| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Off topic: Are Translators Normal? Thread poster: Raf Uzar
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Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 00:31
Polish to English
In the past I have noticed that when I've mentioned that I'm a translator and that I work from home I get a strange look from my interlocutor. This still happens today and I'm pretty sure it will continue to happen in the future. People seem to think translators are strange, that freelance translation work is not 'normal'. A post on http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/ kind of backed up my id... See more In the past I have noticed that when I've mentioned that I'm a translator and that I work from home I get a strange look from my interlocutor. This still happens today and I'm pretty sure it will continue to happen in the future. People seem to think translators are strange, that freelance translation work is not 'normal'. A post on http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/ kind of backed up my ideas. The question begs, are we - translators - normal? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Silvia Barra (X) 
Italy
Local time: 00:31
English to Italian
+ ...
| Or a housewife | Feb 2, 2010 |
Since I'm a female, many people says me "Ah you're a translator, so you're a housewife"...
In Italy this happens...
Silvia
| | | | oxygen4u
Portugal
Local time: 23:31
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Same in Portugal... | Feb 2, 2010 |
Silvia, the same happens in Portugal. If you're at home you're either a housewife or you are simply unemployed but refuse to say so...
Even my youngest son (5 years old) seems to think all I do is sit in front of the computer and play...
We are truly misunderstood and we actually work harder than most people who do not work from home...
| | | | Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 00:31
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER
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Anne Carnot
France
Local time: 00:31
Member (2009)
English to French
| true everywhere | Feb 2, 2010 |
oxygen4u wrote:
Silvia, the same happens in Portugal. If you're at home you're either a housewife or you are simply unemployed but refuse to say so...
Even my youngest son (5 years old) seems to think all I do is sit in front of the computer and play...
We are truly misunderstood and we actually work harder than most people who do not work from home...
The same can be said in France. Most people think I only translate to keep busy between two house chores / school runs... it's hard to make people understand it's a real full-time job and just because you're working from home doesn't mean it can't be serious...
But I was happy the other day when my eldest (9), who was doing an exercise at school where he had to name five different jobs wrote, along with fireman and doctor, "translator"!! (and forgot to name his dad's job )...
Have a nice working day, at home
| | | | | Translators are as normal as other people | Feb 2, 2010 |
The answer is very simple: many people are just not able to think outside the box...
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oxygen4u wrote:
Silvia, the same happens in Portugal. If you're at home you're either a housewife or you are simply unemployed but refuse to say so...
My experience of living in Portugal is quite the opposite. At least, no-one I've met has ever adopted such a regressive attitude. In fact, homeworking in my town is quite a common thing.
Our top-floor apartments all have 70m² lofts and all of my neighbours have converted their lofts into office space -- there is an accountant, a draughtsman and a lawyer working from their home office in my building alone. Males and females.
Telecommuting, e-commuting, e-work, telework, working at home (WAH), or working from home (WFH) -- call it what you like -- is gaining ground, even in this backwater of Europe.
Back to the original question, it's simply up to us to set the record straight if confronted by ignorance.
| | | | Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 00:31
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
In memoriam | We are different | Feb 2, 2010 |
in th sense that we have a burning interest in what we are doing, a blessing that can't be said about most people.
We are passionately intrested in words, phrases, sounds, spelling and syntax.
Most people are not. In that sense we are not normal.
On the other hand, in all other respects we are surely as normal as most people.
Mats
Normal Swede
[Edited at 2010-02-02 ... See more in th sense that we have a burning interest in what we are doing, a blessing that can't be said about most people.
We are passionately intrested in words, phrases, sounds, spelling and syntax.
Most people are not. In that sense we are not normal.
On the other hand, in all other respects we are surely as normal as most people.
Mats
Normal Swede
[Edited at 2010-02-02 14:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Oleg Rudavin
Ukraine
Local time: 01:31
Member (2003)
English to Ukrainian
+ ...
| Normality in modern society | Feb 2, 2010 |
Sureky the answer depends on what is regarded normal in the modern society.
Judging by the values promoted (not declared, but promoted by media and encouraged by governments), a "normal" citizen should be law-obedient, non-thinking taxpayer and insatiable consumer ready to sacrifice his or her own interests for the sake of... what? Nobody tells me that.
A "normal" citizen gets education, find him/herself a job and retires at the proper age. In my country the usual vacat... See more Sureky the answer depends on what is regarded normal in the modern society.
Judging by the values promoted (not declared, but promoted by media and encouraged by governments), a "normal" citizen should be law-obedient, non-thinking taxpayer and insatiable consumer ready to sacrifice his or her own interests for the sake of... what? Nobody tells me that.
A "normal" citizen gets education, find him/herself a job and retires at the proper age. In my country the usual vacation is 21 days a year. That means that a "normal" employee will have some three years to himself or herself during the entire lifetime - three years for all things we have been dreaming of having done; for all places we've been dreaming of visiting...
If that is what normality is like, I'm happy to be abnormal! =) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Potter
Spain
Local time: 00:31
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Are translators normal? | Feb 2, 2010 |
I'd say the weirdo rate amongst translators is approximately the same as in other professions.
I know that in the United States bilingual people are highly regarded. Speak three languages and you'll be seen as a demi-god. Make a living with translation? What? Never thought of it.
Actually, from my American perspective, it seems strange that translatiion is seen as a lower form of work by so many people in Europe. Perhaps that is because they have 37 gazillion languages... See more I'd say the weirdo rate amongst translators is approximately the same as in other professions.
I know that in the United States bilingual people are highly regarded. Speak three languages and you'll be seen as a demi-god. Make a living with translation? What? Never thought of it.
Actually, from my American perspective, it seems strange that translatiion is seen as a lower form of work by so many people in Europe. Perhaps that is because they have 37 gazillion languages, none of which is dominant over very large areas. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Rather like professional musicians | Feb 2, 2010 |
What DO they do for a living?
| | | | Anja Weggel
Local time: 00:31
Member (2007)
English to German
| Translators are not taken seriously | Feb 2, 2010 |
Well, I certainly consider myself "normal" although this is of course a question of perspective...
What I encounter more often than not though is that I am not taken seriously. I work at home so I have all the time in the world to do housework and all the other things women are supposed to do. Moreover, I can simply take time off to do other people's chores...
In addition, I "only" translate from English which most people in Germany/Austria think they can speak anyway so what... See more Well, I certainly consider myself "normal" although this is of course a question of perspective...
What I encounter more often than not though is that I am not taken seriously. I work at home so I have all the time in the world to do housework and all the other things women are supposed to do. Moreover, I can simply take time off to do other people's chores...
In addition, I "only" translate from English which most people in Germany/Austria think they can speak anyway so what is it I actually do all day?
@Edward
That's why I love the Americans... In the States people think my language skills are great whereas in Europe I "just" speak English, no big deal... ▲ Collapse
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Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 00:31
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER
Edward,
I love the idea of a weirdo rate, but I have to say that in my experience, our community is full of weirdoes.
| | | | | That's right... | Feb 2, 2010 |
Oleg, you said it all!
Liz
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It's true some people consider it not a "proper" job, but something to do to gain some extra cents. When I find ex-colleagues of mine (I was a journalist before) and say that now I am a translator they go like: "What? A translator? But you were such a good journalist!" And then they say: "Give me your contact. I have some texts I need to get translated". And when I say that I translate into Portuguese and not into English, the deception is even greater in their faces. "Poor girl", they must thin... See more It's true some people consider it not a "proper" job, but something to do to gain some extra cents. When I find ex-colleagues of mine (I was a journalist before) and say that now I am a translator they go like: "What? A translator? But you were such a good journalist!" And then they say: "Give me your contact. I have some texts I need to get translated". And when I say that I translate into Portuguese and not into English, the deception is even greater in their faces. "Poor girl", they must think. Needless to say they never send me those translations
I also think that working from home is more and more common, and not only in the translation field. My husband too works from home (IT). So, as far as working from home is concerned, I think the general perception is changing and being regarded as "normal".
Cristina ▲ Collapse
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