Pro bono translation work

[Sarah Hurst]

I also agree with Paul Gallagher and William Derbyshire. I was a journalist
for 20 years and had to stop being a journalist because so many people were
eager to write for nothing. I hope that the same thing doesn't happen to the
field of translating, because I'm running out of careers to choose from. 

Sarah Hurst

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of William Derbyshire
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 8:09 AM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Pro bono translation work

 
In a message dated 8/27/2011 8:53:04 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time,  
paulbg at PBG-TRANSLATIONS.COM writes:

As a  professional translator, I find this "invitation" highly  offensive.
I am in complete agreement with Paul. 
In retirement I do a fair amount of professional translating for a variety  
of organizations. 
I do not accept requests for a reduced rate, nor do I perform pro bono work 
 unless I
am certain that the request come from, as Paul says, some destitute  
disaster victim.
I have had requests from a certain government agency to provide  
translations at one half 
my normal going rate (and filing for payment is a process which often takes 
 more time than 
the actual translation). No thanks!
I have even had would-be customers who state that they will not pay more  
than once for 
the same word in a document!  Such is their concept of and respect for  the 
work of a
translator. Good luck, Ms. Giles - the volunteers who might jump at this  
opportunity
are quite likely to be worth exactly what you wish to pay them -  nothing.
William W. Derbyshire, freelance translator  


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