OFF: What to say in a "translation techniques" training

[Susan79]

Morning all!

I have been asked to help deliver a "translation techniques" training for my coworkers: what would be the first things you would tell them?

Thanks!

[x-z]

Welcome everyone!

:)

[Susan79]

x-z

:) and then how to properly translate that into 70 dif languages?

[vinni_puh]

Susan, first of all - are you delivering this training to translators or non-translators?

[x-z]

Hey, are you trying to say that you've been tasked with somethin you're incompetent in? Well, that's pretty weird. No offence though.

[Susan79]

non-translators

[Susan79]

x-z, don't make me open up a can of Alk on your ***.

[vinni_puh]

well, there isn't much point in teaching them how to translate, right? :)

tell them about research, using dictionaries to find the right words & expressions; websites that you might use; using google to choose the most common/ correct translation.

I would also talk about the need to educate yourself about what you are writing, in both languages! For instance, if I was translating a specification for some piece of machinery that I am not 100% familiar with, I would go and read up on what it does, how it does it, look in product catalogs, talk with engineers if I am working in-house - in both languages.

Oh, and the first thing I would tell them - it's a bloody hard slog and doesn't pay well, but I am an idiot who loves her job :))

[x-z]

Lol. Go ahead.

[Susan79]

vinni-puh
"it's a bloody hard slog and doesn't pay well, but I am an idiot who loves her job" +100 :)

[vinni_puh]

it would break the ice nicely :)

think of a few funny anecdotes - or just rummage through this forum - and tell them to illustrate your talk. Thing is, it's very hard for non-translators to appreciate the fine points of our work, so don't bother trying to explain it to them. Is this a talk or are you actually trying to train your co-workers to translate? (would love to see the latter, hehe).

you could also use the talk as a platform to make your relationship with them easier - ie. talk about the time it takes to research and translate texts, the importance of taking time to proofread and not (gulp!) working 15 hours a day, pushing to finish a crucial report. :) What's that they say... "why should a report that took a PR team 2 weeks to write take 5 hours to translate?"

[Susan79]

vinni-puh

Most of them do it at work daily, nature of the business we are in, but the training is to give them a better understanding of how it should be done and some techniques for how to improve what they are doing now.

Jokes and anecdotes I certainly have covered, no worries there. :)

Improving the relationship I do all the time at other trainings on business writing, etc. so I am sure they will get an element of it here as well.

The main problem is that I am stuck on what you can say to them other than "you're not a translator, so use your dictionary, and then aske me or someone else to edit it".

[vinni_puh]

Ah, I see.

Try to see it from their point of view... what would be helpful to them. Think about what was useful to you when you were starting out. Also, what would be helpful to you if they did, that is what would make your life easier.

Compile a list of useful sites (MT, lingvo, Proz forum) that they could use as dictionaries or resources, print it out for them. Have a dig through Proz or Город переводчиков for helpful information for beginning translators and incorporate that (the latter is particularly good). Maybe include some industry- specific resources?

Talk about editing documents and why it's essential that you or another translator does it for them. Expand on that, describe to them what it is you actually do - just a precis, but it might make it interesting for them.

[SirReal]

Just a few hints.
Use the simplest words you can find in the dictionary. Use words you know well. Don't try to sound too smart! LOL
Use English dictionaries (www.m-w.com or any metadictionary like answers.com) to determine or check word meanings. Most people rely on bilingual dictionaries way too much (including translators).
Don't sweat small grammar and spelling mistakes. Meaning is way more important, and errors will get edited and corrected by a professional (hopefully!).