| Pages sur ce sujet: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you read the text through in full before starting to translate it? Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
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It depends above all on the time you have and text's lenght.
Theoretically, one should always read it in full to have comprehensive knowledge of the text, which results in a better translation and consistency (because that way you know what will be lurking in the dark later ). But this is not always possible, or, if the text is long, it rarely happens.
[Modificato alle 2012-08-01 14:35 GMT]
[Modifi... See more It depends above all on the time you have and text's lenght.
Theoretically, one should always read it in full to have comprehensive knowledge of the text, which results in a better translation and consistency (because that way you know what will be lurking in the dark later). But this is not always possible, or, if the text is long, it rarely happens.
[Modificato alle 2012-08-01 14:35 GMT]
[Modificato alle 2012-08-01 16:59 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Yvonne Gallagher
Irlande
Local time: 21:38
Membre (2010)
français vers anglais
+ ...
Pierluigi Bernardini wrote: It depends above all on the time you have and text's lenght. Theoretically, one should always read it in full to have comprehensive knowledge which results in a better translation and consistency (because that way you know what lurks in the dark later ) but this is not always possible, or, if the text is long, it rarely happens.
If I were translating a book or any literary article, yes, I'd read the text in full before starting. However, most other texts have very tight deadlines attached so there is only time for a quick skim. Sometimes I start to translate a regular (weekly) text without skimming and only skim to the end if I encounter a major problem with understanding something.
I agree that reading in full can help the translating process but sadly (sigh!) there is usually too litte time.
@ Filipa. Studio 2011 accepts pdf files for me! It's so useful in that way. Maybe you could try "saving source text as a Word fie" if it's not working
| | | | simon tanner 
Italie
Local time: 22:38
italien vers anglais
+ ...
| I like to discover a text as I go along | Aug 1, 2012 |
Like many others, I might at most quickly scan a text, but unless I know the client and their kind of material well, I usually do this before accepting the job anyway.
Apart from anything else, I like to 'discover' a text as I go along. Much of what I translate, whether academic, legal or otherwise, contains some form of "narrative", and I like the "story" to unfold bit by bit. I find this keeps me engaged and interested, which is crucial for me, since I have a low boredom threshold... See more Like many others, I might at most quickly scan a text, but unless I know the client and their kind of material well, I usually do this before accepting the job anyway.
Apart from anything else, I like to 'discover' a text as I go along. Much of what I translate, whether academic, legal or otherwise, contains some form of "narrative", and I like the "story" to unfold bit by bit. I find this keeps me engaged and interested, which is crucial for me, since I have a low boredom threshold! Once I "know the story", I lose interest, which also probably explains why find reviewing my own work boring, and also why I try not to hurry the first draft, precisely to keep review time to a minimum.
I definitely agree with John. I translate a lot of academic texts from Italian into English, and seeing as many of the references, even in Italian texts, are to English-language authors, the bibliography can be a goldmine for terminology - just reading the English titles of books or research papers can give you translation candidates for the key terms which can be easily checked for accuracy. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Whatever for? | Aug 1, 2012 |
I doubt anybody reads the whole text in full before starting to translate it, unless it is something very small. Of course you skim it before accepting it, but I think it is a complete waste of time to read it "in full" before translating.
Anyway, I am currently working on a very big manual, so if I had read it "in full" before starting it, I'd still be reading it, instead of being 2/3 of the way through!
[Edited at 2012-08-01 16:23 GMT]
[Edited at 2012-08-01 16:23 GMT]
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Joan Berglund
États-Unis
Local time: 16:38
Membre (2008)
français vers anglais
I skim the text but I don't read closely or do any term research until I actually start the translation. For the most part, I don't think it takes that much longer to type out a first draft as I read than it would just to read the text closely. Yes, I may change my mind about the way I translated an earlier section, but that is what search and replace is for. And typing as I go helps keep track of terminology. Of course, I do a couple of revisions after my quick first draft, but I would do t... See more I skim the text but I don't read closely or do any term research until I actually start the translation. For the most part, I don't think it takes that much longer to type out a first draft as I read than it would just to read the text closely. Yes, I may change my mind about the way I translated an earlier section, but that is what search and replace is for. And typing as I go helps keep track of terminology. Of course, I do a couple of revisions after my quick first draft, but I would do this whether or not I read the text closely first. ▲ Collapse
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I've tried reading the job ahead of time, and I just find that it's not worth the time invested. Time is money in our business. I invariably find that what seemed like problems in the beginning almost always get solved as I go along. Plus, it's fun to feel the text unfold, as Simon said:
simon tanner wrote:
I like to 'discover' a text as I go along.
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