| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: In your opinion, which of these is the most valuable for a translator to have? 投稿者: ProZ.com Staff
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Thayenga 
ドイツ
Local time: 17:07
2009に入会
英語 から ドイツ語
+ ...
With lots of clients, but poor soft-/hardware and no education...the number of clients matters little. The answer is: a combination.
| | | | Berna Bleeke (X)
Local time: 17:07
英語 から オランダ語
| I don't know if it's the *most* valuable, but... | Jul 5, 2016 |
Another good thing to have is a kind of modesty. It's very easy, when coming across an obscure word, to assume that it must have been a typo in the source, especially if the word you think it's a misspelling of would sort of fit in the context. Look it up anyway, you might be surprised! And the same goes for sentences. If your translation doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, then re-read the source again. Maybe a word you thought you knew has several meanings, or maybe a pronoun you thought refe... See more Another good thing to have is a kind of modesty. It's very easy, when coming across an obscure word, to assume that it must have been a typo in the source, especially if the word you think it's a misspelling of would sort of fit in the context. Look it up anyway, you might be surprised! And the same goes for sentences. If your translation doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, then re-read the source again. Maybe a word you thought you knew has several meanings, or maybe a pronoun you thought referred to one thing, actually refers to another, or something like that. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ilan Rubin (X)
ロシア連邦
Local time: 18:07
ロシア語 から 英語
| Source language | Jul 5, 2016 |
For me what's key is excellent command of the source language, at least in my pair (Ru>native En). That's very hard work and takes years and years to achieve. The rest will come (esp. clients) once you have this.
| | | | | Marketing skills? | Jul 5, 2016 |
Without these, there will be no clients, of course.
And how about tech skills, too?
Also necessary if one is to drive top computers and software, no?
And how about specialized knowledge/experience/education in one or more non-linguistic fields?
Seems to me this survey was not well thought-out.
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| Good contacts = lots of clients | Jul 5, 2016 |
Lots of clients seems to be the most popular choice. However, there are two aspects to be considered here. "Lots of" may not be the best expression here. Quality is way more valuable than quantity in this case. In addition, good contacts are mostly a prerequirement for lots of clients.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 11:07
英語 から スペイン語
+ ...
| Easily forgotten | Jul 5, 2016 |
Sonja Kroll wrote:
The evergreen of underrated skills.
Command of both languages as demonstrated in excellent writing skills.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 11:07
英語 から スペイン語
+ ...
| Sophie's choice | Jul 5, 2016 |
Actually, none of the above is the most valuable, but a combination of several of them.
Humanity has had translators and interpreters since civilization began and since writing began. There were no computers, no software, no so-called marketing skills (what I call “how to lie” skills).
How often we forget to distill down to the essentials.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
メキシコ
Local time: 09:07
2006に入会
英語 から スペイン語
+ ...
A pool of clients means that our work is being considered as valuable and important. That's why they come back to us again.
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| In Portugal you need to have "good contacts" | Jul 5, 2016 |
Well, I must say this.
In Portugal you do need to have "good contacts".
In my opinion, just in like other professions isn't your graduation who gives you authority at all.
It is your real experience, and speaking for myself I have seen so many errors done on my Master fields by academical translators that I only can say: In Portugal, as for portuguese language, you need "good contacts".
The internal rates at agencies, the real work being published online...nothing of that... See more Well, I must say this.
In Portugal you do need to have "good contacts".
In my opinion, just in like other professions isn't your graduation who gives you authority at all.
It is your real experience, and speaking for myself I have seen so many errors done on my Master fields by academical translators that I only can say: In Portugal, as for portuguese language, you need "good contacts".
The internal rates at agencies, the real work being published online...nothing of that matters.
Only you need is..."good contacts".
Even if you want to be a moderator.
[Editado em 2016-07-05 17:12 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
スペイン
Local time: 17:07
スペイン語 から 英語
+ ...
Whatever happened to "vocation"?
I'm talking staying power...
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Sonja Kroll wrote:
The evergreen of underrated skills.
| | | | | Command of mother tongue and excellent understanding of source language(s) | Jul 5, 2016 |
Sonja Kroll wrote:
The evergreen of underrated skills.
No software or client list or dictionary or formal/informal training can trump that.
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'Teflon coating' was one of the options. 
You have to be thick-skinned and endure a lot of ridiculous c**p from some stupid customers.
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