Fidus Interpres
by Fabio Said
I just finished reading this monumental work on Fabio Said's life as a professional freelance translator and his view and description of the translation universe (industry does not fit the vast scope of this e-book). Even though it is written in Brazilian Portuguese, with the aid of a dictionary (WordReference), I was able to readily understand a fair amount of it. Therefore, if you love languages as much as I do, and you are willing to look up the occasional Portuguese word, you will have much to learn from this book, and you will enjoy the experience as well.
Said is a superb communicator, as he is able to get his ideas across in a way that makes me, the reader, believe that he is standing right in front of me. I envision him in a classroom setting; wearing a tie and engaging me in an informative and thought-inspiring lecture. From the outset, he makes it clear that being a translator is not something that anyone can do. He does point out that anyone can pay his or her dues at an online site such as ProZ, but that does not necessarily mean that he or she is fit for the job. He lets the reader know that besides the pitfalls in the act of translating itself, there are several obstacles that are on the road to success in the business world when dealing with translation agencies.
Here are some of the many topics covered in Fidus Interpres:
· Translation techniques
· Glossaries and terminology management
· How to use social media and translator sites
· How to collect from late payers
· How to set up your own website
· Marketing techniques
· Difference between translators and interpreters
· Different types of translators and specialization
· Organizing your work schedule including taking vacations
If you are starting out as a freelance translator, you will save yourself some headaches if you follow Said's advice. Although the business environment emphasizing this book focuses mainly on Brazil, if you live in another Latin American country or do business with Latin America, you will most likely recognize practices that are similar to your own. If you have been in the business for several years as I have, you will run across techniques and practices that you already have in place. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to know that another professional translator thinks it wise to do some of the same things that you yourself are doing, and serves as reinforcement. Even so, I gleaned more than a few new ideas from this book. I won't go into detail because I want you to read it yourself, but I will say that I was particularly intrigued by what Said had to say about direct marketing.
To sum up, there is something in this book for everyone. No one can read it from cover to cover and put it down without being influenced positively. Therefore, even if you come away with a handful of tips from this book, it will have been worth the purchase. I know I will be turning to it for years to come.
Click here to order Fidus Interpres either as an e-book or paperback.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder