Back and forth – the positive challenge of translation types

 

[Tug of war*]

Achievable challenges make for interesting work. Fundamentally, constant routine tasks are rather dulling. This week, my brain experienced the pleasure of performing two curiously different translation tasks, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. I had accepted two week-long translations orders with similar deadlines. One was a Russian to English translation of medical questionnaires while the others was a Hebrew to English translation of a consulting contract and its appendices. The challenge was not the languages but the type of translations. The first was a back translation while the second was a forward translation.

To clarify, back translation is the process, required in many medical projects to be conducted in many languages, where the content of the proposed translation is confirmed by having the translation rendered back into a text in the original language, generally English. The producing company and contracting agency wish to confirm the content is identical to the original. In practice, the back translator must produce a text that reflects the word choice and essential meaning of the target language as well as the syntactical correctness. Consequently, the key elements are ensuring that the correct word was used and that the sentence structure reflects the intended meaning. In the case of Russian to English, this is more complicated as Russian syntax is so different from English. For example, “to me is wanted” is a weaker form of “I want”, not an absurd passive. Therefore, the back translator must thoroughly understand each word and structure and express them in the target language to the level of correctness of the source text. As a result, the resulting sentence often sounds completely unnatural and awkward, even non-sensical, in order to reflect those same characteristics of the source. That artificiality is not considered poor quality as long as the back translation completely corresponds to the content and correctness of the text.

On the other hand, forward technical translation aims to produce a seamless, i.e., native sounding, text whose content is identical to the original but form is localized for the target language and audience. The translator must fully understand the meaning, both explicit and implicit, of the text and recreate it in another language. This process involves transcreation by nature as vocabulary is not universal i.e., each language has unique words as well as specific definitions for common words, and structure, i.e., the natural manner of expressing an idea varies. Extreme loyalty to the word choice and syntax of the original text will generally result in an unsatisfactory translation to one degree or another. The ultimate test here is not only whether the content is identical but also if the text sounds natural. Therefore, the choice of words and syntax are largely at the discretion of the translator as long as the first two conditions are met.

The challenge I faced this week was far more than switching languages. It involved changing approaches. I began the morning carefully checking each term regarding which I had any doubt of its meaning, often placing English equivalent in a “clunky” manner in an English sentence, and then comparing the original and back translation to make sure I was accurate no matter how unnatural it sounded. In the afternoon, I had to focus on the English and strive to produce a natural equivalent of the sentence to be translated. carefully considering how much freedom I had taken. I was far more concerned about the choices of the English version than applying the Hebrew structure. I have to admit that this change of thinking did not occur instantaneously each day but required a little effort and reminding of myself during the first few sentences that I was working on a different project. While both tasks were technically translation, they were in a certain sense quite different.

At the end of each day, I felt quite tired but satisfied. On the one hand, it apparently takes additional mental effort to change approaches. On the other hand, I found it fascinating to gain a deeper awareness of the differences of the two types of translations as it is rare that I work on two large projects at the same time. (Being male, I find it difficult to  focus on more than one task at a time.) I enjoyed the contrast between the projects. It felt that I was working in two completely different worlds. In work, variety is the spice of life especially if it expands your understanding.

* Pictures captions allow the blind to fully access the Internet.

Picture credit: Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/dehaasbe-24609490/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6947572">Benoît DE HAAS</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6947572">Pixabay</a>

Explanation and communication – Helping customers understand price

[Man explaining smartphone*]

“I thought it was simple.” That sentence is from a phone conversation with a prospective buyer of translation this week. That same perception is shared by buyers of countless services in the market. They know what they want but are completely ignorant of the process. To clarify, the vast majority are not interested in knowing any or all of the details but would like and often need to know how the process affects the price and delivery time. As an example, I present three customer dialogues and the results, demonstrating the importance of respectful customer education.

My first correspondence was with an institutional client that required translation of a series of long documents, most of which were in PDF or Excel form. Translating them in a CAT (Computer Aided Translation) tool requires processing of the PDFs, often a long process. After estimating the total number of words, I provided a total quote, as is my policy, but added that the cost reflected both the repetitions of the numbers in the Excel files but also the time investment required to work with the PDF (formatting back and forth) and Excel (QA). Within minutes, I received the Word version of the PDFs, which gave me the exact number of words. I provided a revised quote, significantly lower. Both of us were happy as it reduced my time investment and their cost.

An agency asked whether I would accept a “half minimum” for a translation of a small number of words. It would have been natural to express annoyance regarding this oxymoron. Instead, the answer was to explain that a minimum fee also reflects the time invested in correspondence, preparing the text and invoicing. Fortunately, this project manager accepted this justification with humor and understanding, improving the relationship and hopefully preventing such requests in the future.

Finally, the bewildered first-time buyer of translator mentioned above received some simple clarifications. I explained that the time required to complete a translation is based on the number of words the average translator can translate in a day. I clarified that the English words count is between 1.4 and 1.5 times the Hebrew word count, which she had sensed intuitively. I added that QA of long texts takes times and requires many breaks, to which she could relate to a writer. Thus, she received enough information to make an intelligent decision while I improved my chances of attaining the project.

The point is the customer education, done properly, creates a win-win situation for both the customer and the service provider. It is not a waste of time as the vast majority of buyers know nothing of the service process. Whether in translation or any other service field, providing relevant information is beneficial for both parties as it makes matters mutually much simpler. 

* Captions are vital for Internet access to the blind.

Picture credit: Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/useche70-11527325/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6733008">Manuel Alvarez</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6733008">Pixabay</a>

Is the “good enough” business model still good enough?

 

[Boris Badanov*]

When I visit Los Angeles, I stay at a motel that has nothing fancy about it. It has a small lobby, lacks a restaurant or bar and “boasts” a view of Ventura Boulevard. On the other hand, the room is large, comes with a comfortable bed and faces the parking lot, i.e., no noise. This motel is also half the price of the hotel chains and is run by a very friendly and helpful couple. In other words, the motel is not great but is a good enough for me.

On a larger scale, one of the classic and most successful business models of 20^th century was mass production “good enough”. Consumers were more than satisfied by a product of medium quality if they received it quickly and at a relatively low price. The best examples are in the fields of cars, food and housing. Of course, specific conditions created the perfect environment for the massive success of simple and inexpensive products. Curiously, the original appliers of this strategy have long dropped it, raising the question whether the approach is valid in this century.

The concept of a producing a standard product inexpensively and quickly was successfully implemented in cars, food and housing, among other fields. The Ford Model T simply dominated the market. Customers could buy better-built cars with more options but chose the pedestrian Ford black Model T because of its price and functionality. Likewise, hamburger restaurants had existed for decades but the original, massively successful McDonald’s concept was to provide a decent, standard hamburger quickly and inexpensively, reducing costs by simplifying the menu to basic items that could be produced in a few minutes without the need to customize each order. The post-World War II building boom opened the door to prefabricated housing using woods, drywall and cement as countries and private companies built millions of units of affordable basic housing for growing and sometimes homeless populations. They were not fancy or even sturdy but were grabbed up as soon as soon they were finished. While none of these products were fancy or even particularly well made, they were undoubtedly huge financial successes in their time.

The reason for this success was a combination of expensive alternatives, growing demand and customer expectation. In 1919, the alternatives to the Model T were unreliable internal combustion cars, expensive electrical vehicles and awkward steam-powered vehicles while the early McDonalds thrived in the face of non-chain, full-service diners with much greater costs. As for housing, traditional urban housing construction used mainly brick, wood or stone, which required more time to build and, thus, was more expensive. Growing demand clearly fed the demand for these markets. Americans fell in love with the automobile and the freedom it created. The post-war economic boom created the discretionary income to allow people with average income to eat at restaurants on a regular basis. Various government subsidies and discounted loan rates allowed young couple to purchase their first flats and houses. As for expectations, the first generation of buyers was thrilled to receive a reasonable product at a reasonable price and could not afford the luxury options. Thus, the “good enough” model thrived in a fertile market.

Most interestingly, most companies that took off using this approach subsidies have evolved in the opposite direction. For examples, even the most functional types of vehicles, vans and pickups, come with numerous options, free or at additional cost. No automobile manufacturer advertises “we have one model: take it or leave it”. Likewise, the fast-food chains, from McDonalds to KFC, boast complicated menus even in their specialty. It is hard to understand and pick which hamburger or chicken option to order due to the incredible range of options. In housing, the term “cookie cutter” today is derogatory and implies that a given house is similar to countless others. Many buyers now seek “character” (which in the UK seems to mean wooden beams in the ceiling). A 2-bedroom bungalow circa the 1950’s is considered undesirable by many. In fact, it is quite difficult to find any company today applying the simplified approach used by leading companies in the 20^th century.

Looking at the conditions that created the success for this pioneering and successful approach, I am convinced that some enterprising small company will use the same technique in the future to create an empire. Clearly, many basic goods are priced very high for low and even average income consumers. At the same time, world population and, even more important, the number of people with disposable income will likely increase. The major issue is how many consumers will be satisfied with a functional project without bells and whistles. It is clear that expectations of aesthetics, performance and status influences buying decisions. Somehow today having the same car, eating the same food and living in the same house layout as all your neighbors are considered undesirable. There may be such a product out there but I was unable to think of any.  It will be interesting to see how this innovating entrepreneur will overcome the current sentiment that good-enough is bad-enough (as Bullwinkle would say).

* Caption pictures to help the blind fully access the Internet.

Picture from the Wikipedia site.

Last respects to a (my ex) founding father (in-law)

 

[Silver platter*]

There is an axiom unknown to most people getting married that you also marry your partner’s family. I can add that divorce is similar, for better or worse. This week, I learned with great sadness of the death of my ex-father-in-law, Yoel Bashani. He was one of the thousands of Jews that dedicated their lives to the establishment and survival of the State of Israel and paid a high price for that choice. I had the privilege of knowing him for some 20 years.

Yoel Bashani was born in 1927 in Irbil, Iraq to a family whose long tradition was that the oldest son become a rabbi. He rejected this path and instead becoming a Zionist. He guided groups of Jewish families to Israel through the wilderness to Israel until he was arrested. He then awaited execution of his sentence until he was ultimately released and sent to Israel. After fulfilling his dream of working in agriculture in a kibbutz, he became a leading Arabic interpreter in the General Security Services, attaining the civiliian rank equivalent to brigadier general in the military. He served many years in the south of Israel, far from his home in the North and later worked closer to home as he approached retirement. He dedicated his active life to the survival of Israel.

This choice brought him great satisfaction and came at a terrible personal price. He was away from his family most of the week for the many years he worked in the field. Later, he became a loving grandfather as my daughter and his other grandchildren can attest. From day one, he accepted me as his son, which is the most any son-in-law can ask. He was not a great conversationalist but his words had weight and wisdom. A man of principle, he would tell you the truth, both rare finds in this world. His smile was warm and genuine. While principles do not make for an easy life, I always respected and liked him for his integrity.

The American founding father John Adams wrote “I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy…” Yoel Bashani, like many of his compatriots, gave his children and grandchildren the privilege of not studying war and politics. It was a honor to have known a founding father and be respected by him. May his memory be respected and his soul rest in peace.

* Picture captions allows the blind to fully access the Internet.

Picture via  png.com.

The road less traveled is now on Google Maps – independently employed A.D.*

 

[Mountain road and path**]

At this start of 2022, it is becoming quite clear that life is quite different than before corona (B.C.). Besides the concrete changes, people have changed their view of routines and norms. As I see it, one of those transformations involves how the public views people that are independently employed. Today, being a freelancer is much more respected as a career choice, considered a better financial choice and, to a lesser degree, identified as full-time work.

[Black pawn among white pawns]

B.C., especially a generation ago, freelancing was for marginal individuals. "Normal" people joined a company, worked their way up the ranks and ended up earning a respectable salary. Those that were too young or old or of the wrong sex or color to be accepted by the corporation took off on their own, generally out of lack of choice. Many individuals lacked the proper credentials or cultural attitude to function in a corporate environment. In some cases, it was an act of necessity if the primary salary was insufficient to make ends meet. The title “self-employed” was clearly not a matter of pride. Today, it is impossible to typecast a freelancer in terms of age, sex, background or experience. A simple Google search of almost any profession will reveal the whole spectrum of society. Not only that, spurred by the Corona situation, countless corporate executives have chosen the route of running their own business even over the option of the financial stability offered by their institutions. Not only is it not a matter of shame for people to state that they are self-employed, it even can be a matter of envy, i.e., I wish I had the guts. Thus, the last few years have significantly improved the social status of freelancers.

[Online trade]

The cause and result of this development is the enhanced ability to make a living as an independent. Until some 10 years ago, the vast majority of purchasers physically traveled to the place of sale, which was more often than not a chain, not even a family business. They received their information from traditional media, such as TV, newspapers, magazines and radio. Most consumers were unaware or very wary of online businesses. After two years of periodical closures and public restrictions, the vast majority of people in the developed world have mastered the art of searching for, assessing and ordering online products of all types from the most generic to the most specialized. As a result, the potential customer base of freelancers of all types has increased exponentially, allowing them to make a good living. The overall balance of power between physical stores and online sales is clearly swinging toward the latter, with almost all stores joining the party and offering online sales. The general public is much more aware that it is quite possible, albeit a little risky, to make a living without a corporate framework. They probably even know someone that is a freelancer. Therefore, the statement “you can make a living doing that?” is much less common.

[Facebook and WhatsApp]

In terms of social relations, the change has been slower. In the past, a clear distinction existed between work and home, i.e., a person cannot be disturbed for work but is available for social matters at home. Freelancing blurs this distinction. Even when friends and family knew that the person was a freelancer working at home, many felt free to call in the middle of the day for a long chat or an invite to coffee since "freelancers can do what they want to do". I personally experienced this issue with my daughter. When I was only a teacher, she knew that if I was home, I was available at all time. However, when I became a freelancer, it took a few years for her to understand that I had time for her but I needed to some notice in advance it as I had work obligations. A.D., there is a growing awareness, albeit still insufficient, that working independently still involves labor, meaning work has priority over social activities.

Corona has affected almost all aspects of our perception of life. If freelancers are not quite the new norm, we have gained increased respectability and understanding in the eyes of society. We are no longer the road not taken by serious people.

*    After de’virus

** Captions allow the blind the access the Internet. Pictures via Pixabay.