Poll: My ProZ.com tagline highlights what makes me special to potential clients.
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 23, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "My ProZ.com tagline highlights what makes me special to potential clients.".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:00
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I'm not sure Jan 23, 2020

My tagline is “Human translation” and I use it on my website, Proz.com profile, business cards, etc. It was intended to point out that I don’t use CAT tools (it’s no longer entirely true, as I made a single exception for a very regular customer) but I wonder if potential clients read it as I’ve been asked many times to use this or that CAT tool…

 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 08:00
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
I think so Jan 23, 2020

@Teresa - I think translation with the help of CAT tools is commonly regarded as human translation. In my interpretation, the opposite of human translation would be machine translation, with or without human post-editing.

Linda Ildevert (X)
Liena Vijupe
Joe Ly Sien
Elke Fehling
Giuliana Maltempo
Kay Denney
 
Jan Truper
Jan Truper  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 08:00
Member (2016)
English to German
Absolutely Jan 23, 2020

It showcases my sense of humor, my knowledge of popular culture and the fact that I kick translation ass.

Elke Fehling
Elizabeth Tamblin
 
Alexandra Speirs
Alexandra Speirs  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:00
Italian to English
+ ...
forgot I had a tagline Jan 23, 2020

It just says "Over 30 years in the business" so I suppose it lets them know I'm experienced.
Although it also suggests I may be behind the times .....!


 
Liena Vijupe
Liena Vijupe  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 09:00
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
I would hope so Jan 23, 2020

Mine is "Human translations" (I wasn't aware that Teresa and possibly others have almost the same) and I agree with Marjolein. Special or not, I chose it to highlight that my translations sound like they're done by an actual human, not machine-translated, and would be worth the investment.


Marjolein Snippe wrote:

@Teresa - I think translation with the help of CAT tools is commonly regarded as human translation. In my interpretation, the opposite of human translation would be machine translation, with or without human post-editing.


 
Elke Fehling
Elke Fehling  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:00
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
Cats aren't human ;-) Jan 23, 2020

Teresa Borges wrote:

My tagline is “Human translation” and I use it on my website, Proz.com profile, business cards, etc. It was intended to point out that I don’t use CAT tools (it’s no longer entirely true, as I made a single exception for a very regular customer) but I wonder if potential clients read it as I’ve been asked many times to use this or that CAT tool…


Teresa, you actually show that you don't know what CAT tools do. Not a good tag line, in this case.

I always compare translators to a carpenters: A carpenter would be foolish not to use automated tools like chain saws or nail guns when building a house. Not using these tools would actually give him a big disadvantage on the market.

Of course, there are areas where automated tools aren't needed or possible to use. A good translator knows when to use what tool. Just as he knows when to use what term.


 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
OT human translation Jan 23, 2020

I always compare translators to a carpenters: A carpenter would be foolish not to use automated tools

Perhaps you should compare them instead to painters and imagine what the Sistine Chapel would’ve looked like if Michelangelo had used a roller😂😂


Muriel Vasconcellos
Kay Denney
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 04:00
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jan 24, 2020

It could certainly make me "special" for a few clients, or be just what they're looking for for others. Yet, it also makes no difference to many clients, as well.
To begin with, it's too short. It should be at least twice the length, since the space to its right is entirely blank anyway.
But also, it's not highlighted. Regular font, the same as the rest of the page, it does not call any attention. I suspect most people searching don't even read it.


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:00
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I hope so Jan 24, 2020

Mine is "Each translation a gem." Unfortunately, I don't know how to do a quick and dirty translation. I've tried. I had a PM who used to tell me "Lower your standards!" A made an honest effort, but I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to not do and got very confused. The decision-making slowed me down.

 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 08:00
French to English
. Jan 24, 2020

Mine is bilingual (if we're talking about what I think we're talking about). It shows the kind of stuff I excel at, that I translate ideas and concepts rather than words, and that I go out of the way to find a way of saying something that will stand out, and it goes against the grain because I broke a "rule" laid down by the most forceful of my teachers at translation school

I know it works because a fair number of
... See more
Mine is bilingual (if we're talking about what I think we're talking about). It shows the kind of stuff I excel at, that I translate ideas and concepts rather than words, and that I go out of the way to find a way of saying something that will stand out, and it goes against the grain because I broke a "rule" laid down by the most forceful of my teachers at translation school

I know it works because a fair number of people comment on it. They ask me how I thought of it, and for the French version there's a back story about a remark in a dubbed Disney film which struck me. I then waited for years for the video to come out so I could watch the original version and find out what the source remark was. Which demonstrates exactly how much I obsess over translation, so it's all good!
Collapse


 
Janet Muehlbacher
Janet Muehlbacher  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:00
German to English
+ ...
does the tag count anymore? Jan 24, 2020

from my experience and that of others, what counts most now is low rates

Kay Denney
 
Elke Fehling
Elke Fehling  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:00
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
Sure Jan 24, 2020

Chris S wrote:

I always compare translators to a carpenters: A carpenter would be foolish not to use automated tools

Perhaps you should compare them instead to painters and imagine what the Sistine Chapel would’ve looked like if Michelangelo had used a roller😂😂


But most of us don't get to paint any fancy chapels but normal houses.

[Bearbeitet am 2020-01-24 19:21 GMT]


Elizabeth Tamblin
 


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Poll: My ProZ.com tagline highlights what makes me special to potential clients.






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