Wow, I managed to go the whole month of January without a blog post. Oops. Well, I’m back now (hello again everyone!), and ironically during my extended blogging vacation I’ve been thinking about… working hard. Specifically, getting more work done in the same amount of time (while maintaining the same high quality, of course!)
My typical working method has always been to translate word by word, sentence by sentence, looking up words as I go and using the appropriate fonts etc. from the start. I might leave a few tough bits that require research until the end, but by the time I get to the last word, the translation is almost ready to go. I think this became my routine initially due to a fear of putting down something quick and unchecked that was wrong, or lacking the correct format, and missing it at the review stage. But the downside is it feels slow and laborious.
Then last week I had a translation that was a type I’d done many times before and this one was reasonably straightforward, so I figured I’d use the opportunity to try a different translation method. Namely, to translate from beginning to end without stopping, without looking anything up (unless I really had no clue what the word meant), and without worrying about formatting (aka the first draft method). Then to go back through it to check any terms I was unsure of, decide on any options, and put in all the correct fonts and so on. I’ve tried this method several times in the past, but always succumbed after a few lines to my desire to have a nice, pretty looking translation shaping up as I go, instead of what looks kind of a mess. But this time I made it all the way through to the end without stopping to check anything, yay! 🙂 And I’ll definitely be trying this method again, because I doubled my usual speed by using it!
Because I still go through the translation with a fine-tooth comb after the initial draft, I ensure the same level of quality; in fact, it could be argued that the quality is improved when you get the whole text down in one go before analyzing it, rather than approaching it piecemeal from the start.
I need to practice this a few more times with different document types, but I’m hopeful this method could lead to a higher level of productivity (and improved quality?) for me.
Do you use either of these methods and prefer one to the other? Do you have a different way of working? I always look forward to your comments, so please leave one below! 🙂
Welcome back, Katherine! One of my New Year’s resolutions has been to work more efficiently this year (and, as a result, hopefully spend less time in the office), so I was very interested in reading your most recent blog post. I believe it is an excellent approach to tackling a translation, also because – and this is what others say too – very often, when you read a text, your first instinct is right.
Best wishes, Elisabeth
Hi Elisabeth! Thanks for your comment. I agree, I found that I tend to doubt myself more when I look at the text more analytically. I really didn’t have to make many changes to my text after the first draft, apart from fixing the fonts/size etc., which was a good feeling!
Hi Katherine
That’s how I work. I always feel happier to have something down on paper to work on and often find something I was unsure of at the beginning is explained later on in the text. I specialise in creative translations and, particularly with art texts, I just write down what comes into my head and my first draft can be quite incomprehensible. I then love to get my teeth into the nitty gritty and see it transformed by the end.
The only downside is that I tend to type quite intensely till the end of the first draft and end up with stiff shoulders.
I’d ideally like to find a halfway house.
Alison
Hi Alison, thanks for commenting! You’re right, it does feel better to have a whole translation down on paper early on, even if it’s nowhere near ready, psychologically it has a positive effect! What do you mean by art texts, what sort of documents are they? Descriptions of artwork?
Yes, I can imagine it could get uncomfortable typing almost without stopping! The text I tried this with was a series of short paragraphs, so there were some natural break points. Have you tried dictation software, I’ve heard it’s very useful for first drafts, and better ergonomically too.
I’m not a translator so I can’t comment on translation methods, but in terms of how I edit/proofread things I too have found the ‘two looks’ or ‘draft’ method to be the quickest. And also the most reliable, because your eyes can miss things when editing something if you just look at it once.
Glad to have you back and blogging for 2012!
Hi Anna, thanks, it’s good to be back! I agree, getting an overview of the whole thing can help you catch problems that you might not notice with the “under the microscope” approach. I’m looking forward to trying my new method again, and hoping it works out for me!
Hi Katherine
The art texts are often gallery brochures, press releases etc. and can include descriptions of artwork too. I find that writing the first thing that comes into my head first time round helps me move away from the French when looking for a creative translation of the original. Once I get the English to sound good I then check to make sure I’ve not lost or moved too far away from the sense of the original.
Voice recognition would be difficult for me because I have a condition that makes my mouth very dry. On reflection, I find I take more breaks when translating creative texts as inspiration often comes to me while I’m walking about the house or doing something else (I then sprint up to the computer while it’s fresh in my mind). It’s when I’m typing more straightforward texts that I forget to stop.
Now I see what you mean Alison! 🙂 So you essentially think of what the equivalent text might say in English and then go back and check the individual meaning of the words. I like to do that too, but as with my hesitance to use the first draft method, I’m often too nervous about completely losing the meaning to go with it. But I think it produces a much more natural English text. Thanks for reminding me I should do that more often! Of course, it doesn’t work as well with very specific technical or legal texts, but it’s great for the more creative ones, as you say.
Hi Katherine. This is the method I use most of the time. I find it much easier to get a draft down, step back from the text and then revise it a few times. Sometimes I disconnect my PC from the Internet for the first draft, just to avoid the temptation to go hunting for a term or getting distracted by emails etc. In terms of voice recognition, it’s true it’s very quick when it has adjusted to your voice. However, unless I’m suffering an attack of RSI I can’t really be bothered with it most of the time. Trying to translate legal language perfectly in your head before dictating it is quite a challenge, so I only really find it useful with more straightforward texts.
Hi David, thanks for your comment! I’ve obviously been missing out as most people seem to use this method – oh well, I’m on board now! 🙂
I think I would use voice recognition just to break up the typing on a long job or during a busy week. I imagine using it in the way Alison translates, I would expect it to be quite a free translation. I agree it wouldn’t be very efficient (for me at least) to try to verbalize legal language, yikes!
Hey, Katherine! Good to see you back… I’m a little slow getting around to even reading posts, but I could really relate to this one. It’s amazing how changing your method or approach can have really great results. I think sometimes we get stuck in a rut, always doing things the same way, but the very act of just changing the routine can offer great results.
And there is definitely something to be said for translating a text all the way through without stopping (even if you do put in some highlights or question marks along the way); I think it results in a much better flow.
Hi Lisa, thanks for commenting! I agree; I always tend to stick with what I know, but it’s great when you do try something different and it works even better! 🙂
I was happy to read this as this is something I have recently tried and I think it’s a great way to both test your translation skills and manage time effectively. Great method for moms. 🙂