We need the services of a German-to-English freelance translator with
considerable technical acumen in mechanical engineering and some
chemical engineering. Their "technical acumen" is far more critical
than their language skill, although this person obviously has to be
completely familiar with German WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT INTERESTED IN
THE SERVICES OF PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION COMPANIES OR EMPLOYMENT
AGENCIES! We translate many German patent applications and some
German published articles and reports, the subject matter of which is
complex mechanical devices, methods, etc., and some chemical
engineering material. Our approach has been to run ads in the Sunday
editions of some newspapers in major US cities, then carefully test
the respondents with translation tests until we find those who are
capable of doing the work. Considerable skill is required to
accurately read drawings and then clearly explain via translation into
English what the author is attempting to convey. We are looking for
some alternate approaches to finding such people. Perhaps there are
bulletin boards, etc., or perhaps various professional societies may
be of help (e.g., the ASME or AIChE, or various others). Perhaps
there are approaches to accomplishing our goal that we know nothing
about. We would like a listing of some of these (presumably
high-potential) sources. Can you help us? |
Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
08 Apr 2005 09:07 PDT
Hi!
Would translation market places be ok with your company?
Marketplaces are websites wherein you post a job requirement and
freelance translators will bid for your job. Of course non-technical
translators are also members of such marketplaces but maybe before
accepting their offer, you can ask for past sample works to determine
if they are suitable for your needs.
Thanks!
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Clarification of Question by
frank2-ga
on
08 Apr 2005 09:53 PDT
In response to your question about websites where a translation is
"posted" and then a bunch of translators bid on it: No, we are not
interested in such websites. We simply do not care to expend the
resources necessary to communicate with and test the waves of
unqualified and semi-qualified translators of the sort that haunt
these websites. We are looking for professionals who just happen to
have the ability to translate German into English. This was a
reasonable stab at a solution -- please continue!
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Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
08 Apr 2005 10:07 PDT
Ok if that will not do maybe we can try other means.
You mentioned that you are willing to interact with professional
societies or organizations. Here are some additional questions about
this...
a. Would you be willing to accept organizations outside of the United
States as long as they are technical translators?
b. Would you be willing to accept organizations catering to the
translation industry in general (i.e. either scientific or literary)?
Ex. American Translators Association
http://www.atanet.org/bin/view.fpl/52076.html
I will wait for your answer.
Thanks again!
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Clarification of Question by
frank2-ga
on
08 Apr 2005 11:57 PDT
Read the following, then you decide: As I mentioned before, we're
more interested in the technical acumen of the person and their
ability to read complex drawings then clearly convey in English
whatever it is the author is trying to convey. We're thoroughly
familiar with the ATA and on rare occasion use an ATA member. ALSO,
WE PREFER NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH, IN THAT THE MATERIAL IS COMPLEX
ENOUGH TO BEGIN WITH, WITHOUT ADDING THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS OF SOMEONE
WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH ENGLISH. We're trying to find some
professional people (various types of mechanical engineers, chemists,
physicists, etc.), possibly retired (a very good bet if we could
figure out how to get to them), possibly still employed as a
professional. As far as societies go, as long as those we would be
testing and possibly working with were technically very savvy, then
sure the society would be OK. WE CAN'T AFFORD THE TIME FOR SERIOUS
EDITING OF THE WORK THESE PEOPLE DO -- WE NEED SOME EXCELLENT PRODUCT
RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO AND THIS WHOLE EXERCISE IS TO FIND SOME SUITABLE
PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVIDE US WITH SUCH WORK. Please continue, you are
making some interesting points and raising some interesting questions.
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Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
08 Apr 2005 13:38 PDT
Hi again!
It seems that the best bet for your job will be US based professional
organizations. But since most of the organizations out there cater to
diiferent fields of translations then our choices will best be suited
with looking at general translation organizations.
The idea of finding engineering major translators is actually ideal
but since most people in this field will rather do technical work then
finding somebody with the specific credentials will be difficult.
First they have to be American engineers and then they should have a
great grasp of written German language. Getting retired engineers as
well pose the same problem.
I think that US based translation societies will be the best bet we
can have. Including their local affiliates (like ATA local affiliates)
will be great as well since you might find a hidden gem among them.
The difficulty with this is you have to contact them one by one and
dig as well until you find the right guys for the job. Furthermore;
since these are organizations some or most members will be translation
companies as well. Since you would want to test them anyway then this
a good avenue to find professional translators.
If you feel that this will be suitable, I will immediately format an
answer to your question.
Thank you.
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Clarification of Question by
frank2-ga
on
09 Apr 2005 10:12 PDT
OK, your approach for now via various US-based translation
organizations may produce some good candidates, but as I mentioned,
we're already quite familiar with the ATA, so don't bother to list
them in your response. Also, if at all possible, try and sort out some
way of approaching retired individuals who would have some TIME and
perhaps just the skills we're looking for. Perhaps the ASME (or some
other prof. orgs.) offers a way of getting in touch with retired or
even former members that would have these skills. As mentioned at the
very beginning, we want to stay away entirely from translation
companies and employment agencies. Let's see what you can put
together for us -- you've taken an inquisitive and professional
approach so far, and we enjoy working with you.
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Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
09 Apr 2005 11:35 PDT
Hi again!
Thank you for appreciating my efforts thus far.
When we talk about organizations like the ASME, we are talking about
members who have different interests in Mechanical Engineering (there
could be researchers, translators, etc.). We will have no way of
finding if indeed they have translators there.
Would that be ok with and you will just be the one contacting them and
ask about this matter? I will try to include such organizations in the
list if you answer in the affirmative.
Thanks!
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Clarification of Question by
frank2-ga
on
10 Apr 2005 12:11 PDT
Our thought was that there would be some vehicle (newsletter,
magazine, bulletin board, etc.) that we could use to get in touch with
members of professional organizations, such as the ASME, AIChE, etc.
In other words, we could place a small ad (possibly free, possibly
fee-based) in such a vehicle, then any of the professional members
seeing the ad, who happened to be well acquainted with German and
interested in freelance work, may respond. "Vehicles" of some sort,
that will reach a select audience, are certainly one way to go. There
may also be professional bulletin boards on the Internet where we
could place such ads -- are there? Please try and produce some
specific avenues we can pursue -- it's your expertise in researching
the net that we're depending on. Thanks in advance.
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Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
10 Apr 2005 16:48 PDT
Hi again!
Please take a look at these links. Please tell me if these are pretty
good examples of things that you are looking for.
Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering
http://scitation.aip.org/ASMEJournals/OffshoreMechanics/
International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering
http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/
Thanks again!
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Clarification of Question by
frank2-ga
on
11 Apr 2005 04:12 PDT
The first one is a little too esoteric, but the second one probably
reaches some engineers that could be helpful. Most of our work deals
with fairly common types of engineering, for example, automotive
engineering, commoner forms of mechanical engineering (hydraulics,
plumbing and heating, etc.), steelmaking and the many disciplines
involved, the engineering related to chemical installations, some
electrical engineering,etc. Can you find any bulletin boards for
enginnering professionals that an ad for freelance (translation) work
could be posted on? How about some websites on which translators
looking for work may post their particulars? We appreciate the effort
you're expending to try and help, and look forward to whatever you can
turn up.
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