I noticed that lately, I haven’t written about COVID. And there are so many new cases around the world that maybe we should be asking ourselves if we are already “out of the woods”.
Although all the restrictions like using a face mask, keeping your distance, and not gathering with a large number of people in closed spaces have pretty much disappeared in most countries, some cities and countries are beginning to use some of these restrictions again.
We should remember that we are living through a pandemic. That means that COVID is here to stay with us, probably forever. Our lives will never go back to the exact way they were before.
New variants of the disease keep appearing. The vaccines used in the past years, don’t cover all the new variants. Plus, now we also have to worry about Monkeypox and Camel flu.
The truth is that, while we keep trying to get back to our “normal” lives more infections happen, and more variants are formed.
So, what should we do? Not much, except taking care of ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us.
I wouldn’t like to be responsible for infecting my mom or any other member of my family, especially those who are more sensitive to getting sick.
As freelance translators, most of us work from home. That is a great advantage already. We don’t expose ourselves daily to other people who might be infected.
Here in Guatemala, the cases of COVID increased in December. Of course, with all the holiday gatherings, parties, concerts, etc. It is only normal that more people are getting sick.
And, of course, we all just want to live our normal lives without worrying about COVID and everything else that is going on in the world.
I think we can definitely combine getting back to our “new” lives with taking care of ourselves. It isn’t easy to do, but it isn’t impossible. It is all about making sure that we don’t overexpose ourselves for no good reason.
Of course, when we see the situation worldwide, the new cases are affecting several industries. China decided to implement really strict restrictions, so many factories are closed. And this is happening in several countries which are the main producers of the different things we buy.
But our current recession is a topic for another time 😉
What do you think about how the current COVID situation? How are things being handled in your country? Do you feel safe? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments. And don’t forget to subscribe!
Thanks to Day Translations for sponsoring this post! Make sure to click on the link to find out more about the services they offer.
Today I have a question that I think many of us have actually asked ourselves: What is the difference between translation, transcreation, and copywriting?
When it comes to marketing translation services, sometimes a client might request a translation, but then we find out that what they really need is transcreation or even copywriting. So, before we accept a project that might be confusing in its scope, let’s review these terms and then get back to our client with all the knowledge!
Translation
Marketing translation services take the source text and translate it into the target language remaining as true to the meaning of the original content as possible. Some localization may also be necessary, for example by changing measurements into the preferred metric in that country (inches into centimeters, etc.).
Translation is never as simple as just swapping one word in one language for another. It still needs to be read fluently and not as though it’s been translated. T
Bodies of text such as on websites, email campaigns, blogs, and product marketing material are ideal for this kind of translation service.
Transcreation tackles the message and feel of the copy. It’s translation + creation. With a more creative approach to translation, transcreation may be a better option for more emotive marketing content and advertising campaigns. For example, when translating a slogan directly it might not sound or feel quite right. Using transcreation allows you to remain faithful to the intent of the copy no matter what language it’s in. This often happens if the source copy uses language-specific devices such as idioms, puns, and humor, or cultural references that are intrinsic to the text but are not relevant to the target market. Transcreation recreates the copy so that it works in the target language and country, but still retains the conceptual elements that the campaign is built around.
Sometimes transcreation isn’t enough. The creative concept might be too far removed from the target audience that the campaign needs original copy written.
For this, native-speaking copywriters can write copy specifically for your target audience. They will have a deep understanding of your target market, your sector, and your brand; so that their copy seamlessly fits in with your brand identity and any other translated content.
As you can see all these translation services are interlinked. However, when quoting on a marketing or advertising translation project, make a distinction between these services. There will be some differences cost-wise and so you’ll want to get this reflected in the quote.
Today I want to talk about how as translators we can actually do a lot more than just translate.
Let’s talk about different language-related areas for translators.
Transcription
Transcription varies from translation in that it involves audio or video as the source instead of a document. You have to listen to the audio and transcribe it in a document along with the corresponding time codes.
Most of the times, the audio will be in your native language, but it can also be in your second one. And you might be asked to transcribe and translate an audio, which means that you have to transcribe the audio and then translate it. I work with English and Spanish (Spanish being my native language), so I could get an audio in Spanish to transcribe it, and then translate it into English. It could also be the other way around.
Copywriting
Copywriting is the process of writing persuasive marketing and promotional materials that motivate people to take some form of action, such as make a purchase, click on a link, donate to a cause, or schedule a consultation.
These materials can include written promotions that are published in print or online. They can also include materials that are spoken, such as scripts used for videos or commercials.
The text in these materials is known as “copy,” hence the name “copywriting.”
This is a sort of project that you will most likely work on in your native language.
Language localization is the process of adapting a product’s translation to a specific country or region. It is the second phase of a larger process of product translation and cultural adaptation to account for differences in distinct markets, a process known as internationalization and localization.
It doesn’t always have to be a product or a marketing campaign. You can also localize video games and language-learning websites like I do with FluentU. I localize their English videos into Spanish for Latin American learners of English.
Subtitling
Subtitling is the process of adding text to any audio-visual media to express the message that is being spoken. Essentially, subtitles are a written abridgment of the spoken audio. They allow people to read and understand what is being said, even if they don’t understand the language of the speakers. And without subtitles, it would not be possible to grasp the subtleties contained in verbal communications.
Subtitles can basically be added to anything that includes moving pictures, but are most commonly used on film and television, promotional and corporate videos, and increasingly becoming more popular on YouTube and internet videos.
Language consultancy consists of the analysis of a client’s language needs in order to develop solutions that optimize the translation process. This may include support in the drafting of documents or the analysis of document workflows or special projects. The workload for this type of service depends greatly on the complexity of each individual case.
Cultural Consultancy
Cultural consultancy is similar to language consultancy, but in this case, it is more about providing feedback about cultural aspects than language aspects. For instance, I did a cultural consultancy for a video game that took place in the former Maya and Inca empires, so they wanted someone from either culture to help them reassure that the cultural aspects presented in the video game were as close as possible to the original ones, to make it as credible as possible for the users.
Transcreation
Transcreation is the merger of two words: translation and creation. It’s an intricate form of translating that preserves the original intent, context, emotion, and tone. Originally conceived by marketing and advertising professionals, the goal of transcreation is to duplicate the message thoughtfully and seamlessly, without audiences realizing a translation ever occurred. The finished product should give the audience an identical emotional experience as the source message.
Have you worked in any of these areas before? If not, which ones interest you the most? I would love to read you in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe!
Today I want to talk about an interesting subject that I just heard about. Is the rate per word for translation and proofreading becoming extinct?
I recently listened to the latest episode from “Marketing Tips for Translators” by Tess Whitty (you can find it on all podcast platforms). She answered some questions from her listeners, including if getting paid per word is a tradition that is starting to disappear.
According to Tess, getting paid per translated or proofread word is not fair. We are not just delivering “words.” We are delivering a whole document in a different language in an understandable way. So, we are getting paid for our knowledge, our experience, our preparation, our talent; not just for “words.”
I have to say that I agree with Tess. As translators, we don’t just translate words. We make sure that those words become a whole that is understandable in our native language (or other). So why should we be paid just by the output of words?
Two alternative options are getting paid by the hour or by project.
Being paid by the hour is a good choice, but you definitely need to know how long it takes you to translate a certain number of words or pages in order to calculate your total rate and your delivery time.
Also, not many agencies accept to pay by the hour, except maybe for proofreading or audiovisual translations. And you would need to work with a timer app that you agree with the client so that you can log in there your activity and the client can verify how many hours you worked on the project.
As a localizer, I usually get paid by the hour. I rarely get paid by word. I can also get paid by project if it is a one-time kind of gig, but if it is a recurrent job, then companies prefer to pay by the hour.
But for translation, I have to say that I might prefer to get paid by project, especially for those that don’t have many words. By examining the source document, you can determine how much you would charge the client. It might take some negotiation, but in the end, you are going to get paid more than per word, and it just makes more sense.
Getting paid by project is getting paid by the whole package, not just by how many words you translate. Of course, it can have a downside. If you don’t calculate properly the amount to charge the client, you are still going to get underpaid. This is why it is very important to take your time to prepare a proper quotation, even if it takes a bit longer.
In the end, the important thing is to get paid fairly for the work we do and make sure both agencies and clients are clear about that. And although getting paid per word might be starting to disappear in some countries in Europe and the US, it is not widespread enough around the world.
So, which kind of payment do you prefer? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe.
Today I want to talk about podcasts. I don’t know about you, but I only got into podcasts recently. I wasn’t sure I’d like them. I must admit I was a bit skeptical. But I started listening to a couple of them, and now I’m hooked to quite a few!
As a translator, I mainly listen to podcasts related to my field. Here are some of my favorite, so far:
Smart Habits for Translators
Veronika Demichelis and Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo present this fantastic podcast. As the title suggests, in each episode, they give smart habits and tips for translators. From sleep habits to financial habits to dealing with burnout, they always offer fresh insights on each episode. Also, at the end of each episode, they talk about what they are reading or what new app or tool they are trying out.
They are professional freelance translators, trying to balance the challenges that come with building a career and maintaining clarity and boundaries between work and personal life. I think we can all relate to that!
Marketing Tips for Translators
Tess Whitty is the force behind this podcast. Tess has an extensive background in marketing and has been working in the translation field for many years. The combination of both experiences is what she discusses in each episode. They are all focused on helping your business and social presence grow. She also interviews other professionals of different translation fields and experiences to give their views on various matters.
Over the last five years, she’s hosted some incredible names in the translation business and bring theirs and her knowledge to translators. And they’ve all had two things in common: They believe passionately that freelance translators can market themselves to success, and they want to help you do that.
Translation Confessional
Rafa Lombardino, an English and Portuguese translator (among other languages), shares her views, insights, tips, and personal experiences as a translator on this amazing podcast. She has also showcased interviews with interpreters and language teachers about how they are coping with the COVID-19 emergency. The episodes are short, which I like because you can listen to them while working out or right after work or at any break you have.
She explores that side of our translation careers we don’t talk about too often or very openly: the struggles, the time invested into continually learning and improving ourselves, the ups and downs, that feeling that we could be found out at any moment, and also the little joys that make up for everything.
Speaking of Translation
Eve Lindemuth Bodeux and Corinne McKay offer excellent advice and tips for translators. From tools to apps to services, it is focused on helping translators make their work easier and faster. Their experience shows on this podcast, and there is always something new to learn.
Eve brings her natural energy, creativity, and professionalism to everything she does. She is a popular speaker at translation industry conferences and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Translators Association. Corinne is an ATA-certified French to English translator and Colorado-certified French court interpreter with over 15 years’ experience in the language professions, and she’s also a famous author.
Founded in Transcreation
This podcast by marketer and copywriter Delfina Morganti Hernández from Argentina is quite new. She talks about transcreation and gives real-life examples of how transcreation is used in marketing, which offers a very vivid idea of the concept and how it works.
This is the first-ever podcast on transcreation as a service, where you’ll delve into how brands cross borders with their creative communications.
Freelancers & Entrepreneurs
This podcast by Paul Urwin aims to help freelancers and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by giving helpful tips on each episode. From how to create a video for your brand to how important it is to have a morning routine to how to find clients on LinkedIn, this podcast is full of great insights by one of the experts in the field.
The Freelancers and Entrepreneurs podcast is where freelancing meets entrepreneurship and business. They discuss clients, sales marketing, outsourcing, mindset, and much more.
Spanish We Do
This is another recent podcast by José Erre, which talks about the Spanish language, in English. The first three episodes are an interview with journalist Alicia Civita about the use of Spanish in the US. From everyday use to showbusiness and the famous Spanglish. If you love the Spanish language but don’t feel comfortable listening to a podcast entirely in Spanish, this is the podcast for you!
This one is about all things Spanish: culture, business, marketing, and life!
The Spanish language and it’s over 500 million native speakers in one podcast.
You can find these podcasts in all the major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
We can learn so much from podcasts, mainly because they are made by our own peers’ experience. I have learned so many tips and new information about being a translator since I started listening to them because it feels like their voices represent mine.
What about you? Do you listen to any podcasts? Do you listen to these? Let me know in the comments, and also let me know if you have other podcasts to recommend!
Today I want to talk about copywriting for translators.
Lately, I have been reading a lot of information about copywriting and how translators could also become copywriters.
But copywriting is quite different from translating.
Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com
As a translator, you receive a source document that you need to translate to your target language, to the best of your ability.
A copywriter only receives ideas from his or her client and writes a completely new document, without a source document, just a blank page. And you have to write as if you were your client.
Do you think translators can also become copywriters? In my case, I guess what scares me the most is the blank page and the idea to write like someone else. We all have different writing styles and different ways to convey our thoughts in writing.
I have been reading more about the subject, and it definitely interests me. It is a challenge, but I think that with the proper investigation and preparation, copywriting is something that a translator might find easy to do.
Let me know your thoughts about this topic, I’d be very glad to read them, especially if you have experience both as a translator and as a copywriter.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for reading! Please, if find this post helpful or interesting, share it with your friends and on social media.
Translation Expert 