Russian Translation

[Patricia Chaput]

I am not offering translation services, but if you 
can't afford professional translation, do you 
really need sophisticated and idiomatic English? 
As someone who worked through graduate school as a 
translator, what I usually did for scholars who 
needed translation of Russian materials was 
accurate but imperfect English.  I could sit down 
at the computer and type out translation without 
worrying that it was perfect, since the meaning 
was always accurate and comprehensible, even if 
the syntax might be a little stilted or irregular. 
  If you genuinely want sophisticated and 
idiomatic translation, then I think you will have 
to pay higher rates.  But that is just my 
perspective.  Idiomatic translation is not easy 
work, and if that is what you want, I think you 
should be prepared to pay by the hour, not by the 
page.  Paying by the page is very reasonable if 
you are willing to accept something that is less 
than idiomatic, though still clear in meaning (but 
still, your modest amount could even so be too 
modest).  Translation is not a low level skill.

Pat Chaput
Harvard University

On 9/16/07 10:00 PM, Margaret Maniak wrote:
> I am currently in need of translation assistance.  Essentially, I have quite a 
> few scholarly articles written in Russian which I need translated into 
> sophisticated and idiomatic English.
> 
> Unfortunately, I cannot afford professional translation rates, but I am happy 
> to negotiate a modest sum per page and can guarantee the right person a lot 
> of profitable work.
>  
> I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Margaret M.
> 
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