The End Is The Starting Point

I have a clear vision of the END. And by this I don’t mean Armageddon!
I’m talking here about how my end product (= #translation) should look.
 
In a casual chat with colleagues, a dedicated #interpreter once told me that she disliked translating because

💬 “there is no end to translation”.
 
What she meant was that you can always dig deeper and play around endlessly with words.
 
Is this true?
 
I don’t doubt that this statement was true for her. Possibly, her personality lends itself better to interpreting.
 
But as a seasoned translator, I know exactly when a translation sits right. The process is a bit like distilling a fine liquor by filtering out all the foreign substances.
 
📌 And the end is the starting point. The understanding of the finish line serves as the basis for calculating man hours and lead time. Without this calculation in your head, you cannot reliably meet deadlines.
 
This is why I would not take on any #MTPE (machine translation post-editing) jobs - especially not the “light” MTPE jobs where translators are simply meant to make cosmetic changes and smooth down the rough edges of MT.
 
I have no picture of how my final product should look with this kind of semi-finished translation ( #lightMTPE ). How can I quantify the right degree of compromise in quality to justify the number of hours I invest and get paid?
 
I prefer to stick to the craft that I have mastered. My clients will be served only the finest distillate without taint – and not a synthetic concoction camouflaged by natural ingredients added as an afterthought.
 
👉 Do you have a vision of “the end point” in your trade?

#professional #humantranslation #TranslationServiceArai