| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Help with survey for Master's thesis: Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Freelance Translators Thread poster: Katrin Glatzer
|
|---|
Hi colleagues,
I am currently writing my Master’s thesis in Management at the University of Lincoln/UK. For this purpose I set up a survey on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on freelance translators. Ethical approval from the university for data collection has been received.
Could you please help and complete my survey? I n... See more Hi colleagues,
I am currently writing my Master’s thesis in Management at the University of Lincoln/UK. For this purpose I set up a survey on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on freelance translators. Ethical approval from the university for data collection has been received.
Could you please help and complete my survey? I need as many responses as possible.
https://lincoln.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-freelance-translators-2
Thanks and regards,
Katrin ▲ Collapse
| | | | Adieu 
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
| You forgot something | Jul 5, 2022 |
Screening criterion: Europeans ONLY
| | | | Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:59
Serbian to English
+ ...
You forgot to define what is "Europe" for the purpose of your study.
Geographical "Europe"? European Union? European Economic Area? The Brexiter's version of "Europe"? The Eurovision's idea of what is a "European country"? or some other?
Also, you might find it strange or unexpected, but if I was obsessed with "privacy", I would for more trust paper copies than anything in electronic form. Just a digression.
[Edited at 2022-07-06 01:02 GMT]
| | | | Katrin Glatzer
Netherlands
Local time: 01:59
Dutch to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for all your remarks which are really helpful, particlarly the definition issue of Europe which I never thought of.
Geographical Europe is what is meant by "Europe" here.
Regarding the pricacy aspect, I would like to mention I am not asking for any personal and/or sensible information.
Kind regards,
Katrin
| | |
|
|
|
Joakim Braun
Sweden
Local time: 01:59
German to Swedish
+ ...
So if you don't have a degree you can't complete the survey?
Don't you think there are professional translators without degrees?
| | | | Katrin Glatzer
Netherlands
Local time: 01:59
Dutch to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Joakim,
My approach in this study is that translators are skilled professionals. I am implying here translation requires more than just speaking 2 languages. Following this logic I think this requires formal schooling and an academic degree.
Kind regards,
Katrin
| | | | Adieu
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
| Not really how that works | Jul 8, 2022 |
Degrees in translation or language studies = 3rd tier
Native bilingual (no relevant degree) OR random degree from or long-term study in source language country OR advanced technical degree OR non-translation industry experience in the specialized field (translation topic) = 2nd tier
Native bilingual w/ doctorate or vast industry experience (physicians, lawyers, engineers) = 1st tier, premium price, rare
Translation is an odd field where translation diplomas... See more Degrees in translation or language studies = 3rd tier
Native bilingual (no relevant degree) OR random degree from or long-term study in source language country OR advanced technical degree OR non-translation industry experience in the specialized field (translation topic) = 2nd tier
Native bilingual w/ doctorate or vast industry experience (physicians, lawyers, engineers) = 1st tier, premium price, rare
Translation is an odd field where translation diplomas are highly DISrespected.
[Edited at 2022-07-08 06:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
When I started translating many moons ago there were no translation degrees in Portugal. My degree (Economics) has nothing to do with translation and to make things somewhat more confusing life works in mysterious ways and took me to other paths. So, over the years Economics is not the area I have been translating the most…
| | |
|
|
|
Katrin Glatzer
Netherlands
Local time: 01:59
Dutch to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Teresa,
I am not asking for a degree in Translation but just a degree in general.
Kind regards,
Katrin
| | | |
I know personally a few good translators (around my age, meaning as old as I am) who don’t have a degree.
Another thing, if I remember correctly one of your questions regarding clients seems to imply that Proz.com is a client. Shouldn’t it be reworded? Good luck with your thesis!
Teresa
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:59
French to English
When I started translating I had nothing but my A levels.
I do have a master in translation now, but I got it on the strength of my experience rather than by attending university.
If you're working in a specialist field like law or engineering, some formal education is very useful.
It's funny that back in the days when research was laborious, involving visits to the library and calling friends of friends to pick their brains, there was no such thing as a diploma in translati... See more When I started translating I had nothing but my A levels.
I do have a master in translation now, but I got it on the strength of my experience rather than by attending university.
If you're working in a specialist field like law or engineering, some formal education is very useful.
It's funny that back in the days when research was laborious, involving visits to the library and calling friends of friends to pick their brains, there was no such thing as a diploma in translation. Now that you can find multilingual websites for practically anything, suddenly you need all manner of certificates!
I started working in my specialist fields (art music fashion...) simply because I had learned a fair bit through my hobbies and extensive reading for my own personal interest. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Katrin Glatzer
Netherlands
Local time: 01:59
Dutch to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for your remark regarding the client question with regard to portals. Unfortunatly, none of my test-sample translators had this impression but I see where you are coming from. This is basically confirming the notion the pilot-test sample of subject experts for a survey should be as big as possible to gather as many of these issues as possible.
Due to the survey being open for data collection it cannot be reworded.
Kind regards,
Katrin
| | |
|
|
|
Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:59
French to English
Well I just completed the survey, but I'm not sure my answers will be useful.
My income didn't change that much because the French government gave us handouts to compensate for loss of income, but there was no way of explaining that.
As for my specialist fields, they have changed and changed back again: the museums, event organisers, art galleries, and tourist operators all disappeared, but they have since all come back, and I acquired a new client in a field I used to work in long... See more Well I just completed the survey, but I'm not sure my answers will be useful.
My income didn't change that much because the French government gave us handouts to compensate for loss of income, but there was no way of explaining that.
As for my specialist fields, they have changed and changed back again: the museums, event organisers, art galleries, and tourist operators all disappeared, but they have since all come back, and I acquired a new client in a field I used to work in long ago, so I'm not sure whether that really counts as new.
And I have far more than five specialist fields. Some of the fields listed had considerable overlap (journalism and media for example, and what exactly does tourism cover? It can mean anything from lists of hotel amenities to high-brow descriptions of medieval monasteries... which might be classified as architecture or history...) ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Kay Denney wrote:
And I have far more than five specialist fields. Some of the fields listed had considerable overlap (journalism and media for example, and what exactly does tourism cover? It can mean anything from lists of hotel amenities to high-brow descriptions of medieval monasteries... which might be classified as architecture or history...)
I started out as a generalist and as a consequence my specialist fields are still varied, though over the years a lot has been abandoned (today I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole some subject matters I translated at the beginning…). Curiously enough, the one subject I’m more comfortable with isn’t even there (EU affairs).
| | | | Joakim Braun
Sweden
Local time: 01:59
German to Swedish
+ ...
Katrin Glatzer wrote:
Hi Joakim,
My approach in this study is that translators are skilled professionals. I am implying here translation requires more than just speaking 2 languages. Following this logic I think this requires formal schooling and an academic degree.
No, it doesn't. I don't have a degree, yet I'm a sworn, state-authorized translator, which presumably proves I'm a skilled professional (whatever the actual translation quality!).
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Help with survey for Master's thesis: Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Freelance Translators | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
