Poll: Do you think you are someone's favorite translator?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 7, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think you are someone's favorite translator?".

View the poll results »



 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:00
Spanish to English
+ ...
Probably Jul 7, 2020

Some of my university research Institute clients are quite insistent that they want me to do their translations, and are usually willing to allow flexible deadlines because they know that I am usually busy. This is probably because they know that their works will be published without any quibbles about the language, as they have had their fingers burnt with other translation service providers in the past.

 
Joana Neves
Joana Neves  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 11:00
Member (2020)
Russian to Portuguese
+ ...
I believe so Jul 7, 2020

I have that feeling with a couple of translation agencies, due to the fact that I work with a quiet rare language combination, if that exists nowadays, and also being a native of the target language.
It is always good for the ego, and my pocket! 😁


Aline Amorim
 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:00
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Oh, come on ... Jul 7, 2020

I bet you say that to all the girls.

Jo Macdonald
Thayenga
Kaisa I
Tom in London
Angie Garbarino
Aisha Maniar
Zibow Retailleau
 
Kaisa I
Kaisa I  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 07:00
English to Finnish
+ ...
I guess Jul 7, 2020

One client trusts my quality enough to pay me to spot check other linguists' work to evaluate their quality. Does that make me think I'm the favourite? Yes, but I can't be sure as they could easily switch to someone else, and I would only know from the lack of spot check work.

 
Luiz Barucke
Luiz Barucke  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:00
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
At least... Jul 7, 2020

...this is what some of my clients say. Not sure if they copy and paste it

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
No Jul 7, 2020

I’m everyone’s favourite translator!

IrinaN
Mervyn Henderson (X)
The Misha
Philip Lees
Liviu-Lee Roth
 
Lara Garau
Lara Garau  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 08:00
Member (2020)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Yes Jul 7, 2020

I'm the favorite translator of at least three clients.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 11:00
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I believe so Jul 7, 2020

For at least one of my clients as we have been working together for over 20 years and almost every month...

 
The Misha
The Misha
Local time: 07:00
Russian to English
+ ...
Funny how no one says no... Jul 7, 2020

... and everybody hates me. We must all be rock solid psychologically:)

Liviu-Lee Roth
 
Luiz Barucke
Luiz Barucke  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:00
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
I don't hate you :) Jul 8, 2020

The Misha wrote:

... and everybody hates me. We must all be rock solid psychologically:)


After some years working, if we weren't the preferred translators for at least 1 or 2 clients, then we should be jelly soft psychologically.

It doesn't mean we are irreplaceable.



[Editada em 2020-07-08 04:56 GMT]


Joana Neves
Liena Vijupe
 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Netherlands
Local time: 12:00
Member (2016)
English to Dutch
+ ...
I know I am Jul 8, 2020

I'm the only Dutch translator of two direct clients, the only stand-in for a freelance colleague who often isn't available herself nowadays due to private errands and the go-to translator for life sciences of a university translation agency. Some other agencies may also regard me as their favourite, but I'm not sure about that.

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:00
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes, no modesty Jul 8, 2020

I have quite a few clients that have stated that explicitly, and quite a few others who weren't explicit but surely make it look like I am.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:00
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Maybe Jul 8, 2020

My main client's project manager sent me feedback from one of the units saying "put this translator at the top of your list!"

 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:00
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
No Jul 9, 2020

ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think you are someone's favorite translator?".

View the poll results »

It seems unlikely that I am the favorite at any one client. My clients are nearly all in the private sector and nearly all my business is repeat work, so presumably they consider me a solid and reliable translator. Then again, I deal with multiple PMs within those organisations, and different PMs have different preferences. Some use me more than others.

But does it matter? No sensible agency or direct client will want to put all their eggs into one basket and give the bulk of the work in a certain language pair to only one freelancer. (I could see that happening for a relatively low-volume pair, but not for a pair that accounts for a decent percentage of a client's business.) Provided you're in the top 10% of a client's list of translators, you'll probably be fine.

Regards,
Dan


Liviu-Lee Roth
 


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Poll: Do you think you are someone's favorite translator?






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