Jul 21
LaurentTout un métier
Not much news this summer, but let me just tell you three things:
- You can now apply to the Open Competition of the European Commission for Translators (French and English in particular). Deadline for application is August 12 midday.
- The French translators' association SFT just published its report on translation practices (in French). Lots of facts and figures you can't miss out!
- Last but not least, I have finally published my Terms of Service (in French only), inspired by Corinne McKay's book How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, with the help of the SFT.
You can enjoy the sun, and don't forget your sunscreen!
Feb 22
LaurentTout un métier
Reminder: this is only a recap of the French article. To read the full post, click on the French flag on the upper right corner of the page.
With each passing day, I'm amazed by the power of Twitter. I had already used it to get an idea of the typical translator's desk, and it did not fail me either when I tried to list the essential readings for translators. Ever wondered what books you should have on your bookshelves? Here are 20 books chosen by translators, for translators. (You can also check the (other) "20 Best Books for Language Lovers" on the website onlinecollege.com.)
Back to basics:
-In French:
-In English:
- Baker M.,In Other Words: a Coursebook on Translation, Routledge, 1992
- Bellos D., Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything, Faber & Faber, 2011
- Eco U., Experiences in Translation, University of Toronto Press, 2000
- Jenner J. & D., The Entrepreneurial Linguist - A business-school approach to freelance translation, EL Press, 2010
- Jones M.H., The Beginning Translator's Workbook: Or the ABC of French to English Translation, University Press of America, 1997
- McKay C., How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, Lulu.com, 2006
- Montgomery S.L., Science in Translation, University of Chicago Press, 2e édition, 2000
- Munday J., Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications, Routledge, 2e édition, 2008
- Soffer M., The Translator's Handbook, Shengold Publishers, 7e édition, 2009
Develop your activity and skills:
-Learn how to proofread and manage projects in French:
-Some marketing tips in English:
- Ariely D., Predictably Irrational, HarperCollins, 2008
- Cialdini, R., Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion, Collins, 2006
- Harford T., The Undercover Economist, Oxford University Press, 2005
-Productivity and personal development:
Your special bonus (if you can read French): two three novels on translation
(Thanks to Wendy, Katerina, Nad, Blandine, Clémence, Valérie, Corinne, François, Céline, Fanny, Eve and Chloé)
Jan 21
LaurentTout un métier
Reminder: this is only a recap of the French article. To read the full post, click on the French flag on the upper right corner of the page.
This is certainly a vast question: what rates for technical translations? I will not give numbers, as it is almost impossible to determine a fixed price for an intellectual service. But here are some pieces of advice to set a fair price.
So how should you choose your rates? It all depends on the type of text, the deadline, your skills, the languages, etc. To get an idea of the market, the French translators association SFT conducts an annual survey. For 2008, you can see that the average rate for an English to French translation is €0.12 per word, but can reach €0.40! Whereas Finnish to French seems pretty lucrative with an average of €0.31.
The translation agency TradOnline and the European Council for Literary Translators also published rates surveys (links below). Also, here are some great blog loaded with essentials tips.
Download the translation rates surveys of the SFT, TradOnline and the CEATL.
