| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: I view researching the subject I’m working on as Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "I view researching the subject I’m working on as".
View the poll results »
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Well, it can be boring (maybe really long for justa few things), sometimes it is interesting, sometimes, depending on the workload, you can see it as a waste of time.
Really it depends on the subject and the deadline.
| | | | Jack Doughty 
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:23
Russian to English
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In memoriam
It depends entirely on the subject. Some are fascinating, some are boring, with all levels in between.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 12:23
English to French
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Too early to say for this particular project (just started).
Enjoyable most of the time, absolutely fascinating most of last year for a long term project - still on but at a (much) slower pace.
I am seldom asked to do "boring" stuff.
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As Jack puts it, depending on the subject, any level between fascinating and boring.
But absolutely never a waste of time or a necessary evil, how could learning or gaining a better understanding on things ever be that?
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 12:23
Spanish to English
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I chose enjoyable because I love learning new things and am insatiably curious.
I'm currently working on a text that mentions several species of animals that inhabit a certain region of South America. I have to control myself not to get distracted and start reading the information about them on the internet. I'd have a great time doing it, but I wouldn't get any work done!
| | | | B D Finch
France
Local time: 12:23
French to English
+ ...
| Cause for concern | Jan 16, 2010 |
Perhaps our clients ought to find it quite worrying that nearly 10% of those who have responded so far, say that they either "seldom research the subject", or consider research to be "a waste of time". Of course, to give them the benefit of the doubt, it is always possible that they already know so much that there is no point in them trying to find out any more about their subject.
The nearly 20% who consider it to be "a necessary evil" do, albeit reluctantly, research their subje... See more Perhaps our clients ought to find it quite worrying that nearly 10% of those who have responded so far, say that they either "seldom research the subject", or consider research to be "a waste of time". Of course, to give them the benefit of the doubt, it is always possible that they already know so much that there is no point in them trying to find out any more about their subject.
The nearly 20% who consider it to be "a necessary evil" do, albeit reluctantly, research their subject. It is a shame that they have to spend their time writing about things for which they can summon up no interest. The word "drudge" comes to mind. Still, like all of us, they do have bills to pay.
[Edited at 2010-01-16 12:05 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | depends on the topic | Jan 16, 2010 |
It depends, but generally I can always make myself happy thinking how I one day will be the ultimate Trivial Pursuit player
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Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:23
French to English
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| Option missing | Jan 16, 2010 |
I put "enjoyable" because it usually is - I try not to accept any subjects which I don't have an interest in if I can help it. However, the glaring omission in my book was "essential". No matter whether you enjoy the subject matter or not, it has to be done, otherwise you simply can't provide a good translation.
And, in response to Maria, it's amazing how many times quiz questions come up which you have come across in a translation!
[Edited at 2010-01-16 12:27 GMT]
| | | | | I avoid boring projects | Jan 16, 2010 |
Maria Rosich Andreu wrote: It depends, but generally I can always make myself happy thinking how I one day will be the ultimate Trivial Pursuit player
Yes, I think the same way.
I also believe that it's bigger the chace to make mistakes in boring projects, since you don't pay the same attention for something that fails to catch your interest. There may be some projects that need some harder work because I don't know the subject, but researching is always interesting (although it's time consuming, I never feel it's a waste of time.
| | | | | enjoyable... | Jan 16, 2010 |
I just enjoy researching, regardless of the subject... I'm translating a manual on portable (grain) dryers at the moment... fascinating stuff!
edit: I forgot to add the little face... but I am enjoying it, I swear!
[Edited at 2010-01-16 13:06 GMT]
| | | | | Fascinating... and saves time in the long run | Jan 16, 2010 |
Generally it is fascinating, though sometimes it can be tedious - for example, finding the translations for different breeds of fish to translate a study related to fish farming.
But it builds up knowledge. I keep useful references for future jobs and build up my glossaries in Wordfast Pro (just in case that fish name comes up again).
Sometimes it is fascinating to find something on the background to the particular translation task, such as articles announcing the proje... See more Generally it is fascinating, though sometimes it can be tedious - for example, finding the translations for different breeds of fish to translate a study related to fish farming.
But it builds up knowledge. I keep useful references for future jobs and build up my glossaries in Wordfast Pro (just in case that fish name comes up again).
Sometimes it is fascinating to find something on the background to the particular translation task, such as articles announcing the project I am translating the tender documents or bid for. Great if you can find the pictures of the place.
In fact, if I'm stuck for translating a term, I find it is often useful to search on images to actually see what it is I need the English term for. For example, I wasn't sure the most appropriate term to use for 'ship' in a translation, but found an image of the particular ship and so knew it was in fact a 'tanker'.
In a lot of cases the end client's website is a useful source of information.
A few times I've bought books to ensure I have the correct terminology (for example, on patents and ISO 9001). In fact, I bought these as eBooks so I had them immediately.
So, yes, I love researching. ▲ Collapse
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Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 06:23
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
This career is perfect for me since I'm very curious about almost everything. In school, I was one of those people who loved doing the research for papers but hated actually writing them.
| | | | | Necessary, but not evil | Jan 16, 2010 |
It's just a part of the whole job.
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 06:23
English to Spanish
+ ...
John Cutler wrote:
have to control myself not to get distracted and start reading the information about them on the internet. I'd have a great time doing it, but I wouldn't get any work done!
[/quote]
This happens to me all the time; I usually spend way more time than needed researching a subject, becuase it pulls me in.
Of course, "fascinating" comes because I rarely -if ever- accept projects on subject/areas that I consider boring. Not that I'm asked to do many of those, though, since I only work in 3 fields that I love.
Greetings!
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