| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Which would be the worst threat to your progress as a translator? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | | combination of | Sep 8, 2010 |
the steady decline in rates (you need to work more for the same income)
the widespread use of Machine Translation (some people say: well, it is bad, but my in-house proofreader will fix it)
the decline of my skills with age (cannot do anything against age)
the decline of demand in my specialization field(s) (who knows?)
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 10:41
English to French
+ ...
| Decline with age | Sep 8, 2010 |
Up to a certain age, my knowledge and other skills improved, then my eyesight started declining, as well as speed and probably memory - my brain needs more add-ons
| | | | Nicole Schnell 
United States
Local time: 01:41
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Tell me about it... :-( | Sep 8, 2010 |
Interlangue wrote: Up to a certain age, my knowledge and other skills improved, then my eyesight started declining, as well as speed and probably memory - my brain needs more add-ons
But our know-how, acquired over several decades, will remain priceless.
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Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:41
English to Arabic
+ ...
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn a new acronym today (and feel ignorant)...
Now, having consulted acronymfinder.com and eliminated Louisiana State Police, Less Sensitive Persons and Linearly-Scaled Permutations, I'm pretty sure Language Service Providers was meant here.
Since the poll title suggests it's directed at translators, why not just say "translators"?
(Could this be ... See more Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn a new acronym today (and feel ignorant)...
Now, having consulted acronymfinder.com and eliminated Louisiana State Police, Less Sensitive Persons and Linearly-Scaled Permutations, I'm pretty sure Language Service Providers was meant here.
Since the poll title suggests it's directed at translators, why not just say "translators"?
(Could this be the reason why that poll option received the least votes?) ▲ Collapse
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I would say, the biggest threat comes from the overabundance of linguistic school graduates who agree to work for next to nothing.
LSP - same as Nesrin)
[Edited at 2010-09-08 10:10 GMT]
| | | | Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Neither did I | Sep 8, 2010 |
Nesrin wrote: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn a new acronym today (and feel ignorant)... Now, having consulted acronymfinder.com and eliminated Louisiana State Police, Less Sensitive Persons and Linearly-Scaled Permutations, I'm pretty sure Language Service Providers was meant here. Since the poll title suggests it's directed at translators, why not just say "translators"? (Could this be the reason why that poll option received the least votes?)
I had no idea what it was either. Anyway, I chose 'declining rates' as the worst threat.
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 10:41
Spanish to English
+ ...
| If the sky falls... | Sep 8, 2010 |
Between yesterday's apocalyptic poll and today's, it looks like the Quick Polls are on a doomsday streak
I'm really not too worried about the future. For me, translating is just a way to pay the bills. I enjoy it, but it's just one of many possibilities life has offered me. If all my translation were suddenly to dry up, I'd simply find something else t... See more Between yesterday's apocalyptic poll and today's, it looks like the Quick Polls are on a doomsday streak
I'm really not too worried about the future. For me, translating is just a way to pay the bills. I enjoy it, but it's just one of many possibilities life has offered me. If all my translation were suddenly to dry up, I'd simply find something else to do. I could always go back to teaching English or take on more work as a tour guide, which I've been doing part time for the past several years. I suppose if it came down to health problems, if I was in such poor health that I couldn't translate, I'd probably be too ill to do anything else either. In that case, progress in any area would come to a halt. ▲ Collapse
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John Cutler wrote: Between yesterday's apocalyptic poll and today's, it looks like the Quick Polls are on a doomsday streak
My thoughts exactly... lighten up, people!
| | | | Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
Local time: 20:41
Member (2003)
French to English
+ ...
| Exchange Rate and Natural Disaster | Sep 8, 2010 |
A natural disaster could be a rather threat to progress (although I guess there is eventual recovery). Here in New Zealand, there has been a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, which has done extensive damage to infrastructure. Most schools and businesses are closed right now. People are focusing more on survival than business.
Fortunately, I'm in Wellington, which has not been affected at all. However, Wellington is the city considered most at risk, as we're on a major fault ... See more A natural disaster could be a rather threat to progress (although I guess there is eventual recovery). Here in New Zealand, there has been a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, which has done extensive damage to infrastructure. Most schools and businesses are closed right now. People are focusing more on survival than business.
Fortunately, I'm in Wellington, which has not been affected at all. However, Wellington is the city considered most at risk, as we're on a major fault line. A big earthquake here is a distinct possibility, and if and when it happens, it will cause considerable disruption. I imagine I would be without power and Internet for a while, and would probably have more important things on my mind than work.
However, natural disasters only happen once every so often. But still ...
A more present threat, related to decline in rates, is an unfavourable exchange rate. Most of my clients are based in Europe and pay me in Euros. But the Euro is falling against the New Zealand dollar. The higher our dollar rises against the Euro, the less money I get when I'm paid. ▲ Collapse
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 11:41
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Other ... the Greek government | Sep 8, 2010 |
is currently my major problem, and will likely remain so for the future.
Soaring prices and taxes, combined with complete absence of support for freelancers/small business combined with poor infrastructure and lack of public money for infrastructure investment. It's a pay more and more and get the less or nothing back situation.
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Nesrin wrote: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn a new acronym today (and feel ignorant)... Now, having consulted acronymfinder.com and eliminated Louisiana State Police, Less Sensitive Persons and Linearly-Scaled Permutations, I'm pretty sure Language Service Providers was meant here. Since the poll title suggests it's directed at translators, why not just say "translators"? (Could this be the reason why that poll option received the least votes?)
same here
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 10:41
Member (2006)
German to English
| You took the words out of my mouth | Sep 8, 2010 |
John Cutler wrote: Between yesterday's apocalyptic poll and today's, it looks like the Quick Polls are on a doomsday streak I'm really not too worried about the future. For me, translating is just a way to pay the bills. I enjoy it, but it's just one of many possibilities life has offered me. If all my translation were suddenly to dry up, I'd simply find something else to do. I could always go back to teaching English or take on more work as a tour guide, which I've been doing part time for the past several years. I suppose if it came down to health problems, if I was in such poor health that I couldn't translate, I'd probably be too ill to do anything else either. In that case, progress in any area would come to a halt.
Just that I dont teach English, I would go back and do my engineering job
| | | | | Sorry, can't resist. So, does that mean......... | Sep 8, 2010 |
Rowan Morrell wrote: A natural disaster could be a rather threat to progress (although I guess there is eventual recovery). Here in New Zealand, there has been a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, which has done extensive damage to infrastructure. Most schools and businesses are closed right now. People are focusing more on survival than business. Fortunately, I'm in Wellington, which has not been affected at all. However, Wellington is the city considered most at risk, as we're on a major fault line. A big earthquake here is a distinct possibility, and if and when it happens, it will cause considerable disruption. I imagine I would be without power and Internet for a while, and would probably have more important things on my mind than work. However, natural disasters only happen once every so often. But still ... A more present threat, related to decline in rates, is an unfavourable exchange rate. Most of my clients are based in Europe and pay me in Euros. But the Euro is falling against the New Zealand dollar. The higher our dollar rises against the Euro, the less money I get when I'm paid.
that if Wellington crumbled due to the earthquake in Christchurch, it would be through no fault of its own?
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:41
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Decline with age | Sep 8, 2010 |
Obviously not an issue with our younger, perhaps healthier colleagues but a real concern for some of the more decrepit among us.
I already have back problems after years of bad posture, although so far they have not prevented me working at my usual rates. I also may need to undergo a liver transplant in the next few years and am a bit worried because they say you are usually too tired to work afterwards for a couple of months, in which I case I might die from boredom or a surfeit of Latin... See more Obviously not an issue with our younger, perhaps healthier colleagues but a real concern for some of the more decrepit among us.
I already have back problems after years of bad posture, although so far they have not prevented me working at my usual rates. I also may need to undergo a liver transplant in the next few years and am a bit worried because they say you are usually too tired to work afterwards for a couple of months, in which I case I might die from boredom or a surfeit of Latino soaps on our local hospital TV...
To my mind, MT is not an issue because a) It's not foolproof yet and b) you still need someone with a bit of nous to clean up the mess they generally make.
I seriously doubt that rates are really declining, as mine have remained more or less the same for several years now, my only concession to the economic recession being to maintain them steady at pre-crisis levels.
Of course, clients (especially agencies) will always haggle but I find that the maxim "pay peanuts = get monkeys" holds firm...
Here's another mysterious acronym for you all - LLP -> Live long and prosper!
[Edited at 2010-09-08 15:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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