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How to choose a good text for a sample translation.
Thread poster: Vivien Green
Helene Lyons
Helene Lyons  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 23:36
Spanish to English
+ ...
Choosing the right text Aug 10, 2015

I am looking to start a portfolio and have read a lot about copyright laws etc. but what I really want to know is when chosing a text (in this case historical), is it advisable to use something that is very well known? I know that the text I want to use has been translated a number of times so I´m not sure.

Thanks in advance for any replies,


Helene
 
Xuling Wu
Xuling Wu
United States
Local time: 14:36
Member (2021)
English to Chinese
+ ...
It's a creative solution Sep 23, 2021

Phil Hand wrote:

Are what I use.

If you've done translations published with your name attached, you can quote from them. And I've published a lot of abstracts with translations on my blog. It's fair use so long as you're not claiming the ideas in the paper are yours!


Me, too. None of the authors I contacted ever responded to my inquiries even though I explained that I wasn't asking for any pay. It is frustrating. So, instead of waiting around for their permission, I started blogging, only translating the parts included as quotes. I give proper citations, like writing a research paper back in the old days in college. I must thank these lazy authors because it's more exciting to publish writings with your own analyses.
 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 23:36
French to English
. Sep 25, 2021

Helene Lyons wrote:
I know that the text I want to use has been translated a number of times so I´m not sure.

I would avoid translating a text that has already been translated. It may come off as presumptuous to act like you think you can do better than a published translator. Or the client might find one of the previous translations on internet and prefer it to yours - remember they might not actually be in a position to judge (I recently sent some sleeve notes to a potential client who promptly placed their first order saying they liked my "punchy style" - the text wasn't at all punchy, more like dreamy and poetic. But I was pleased as punch to get the order so never mind).

Jorge Payan
 
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How to choose a good text for a sample translation.







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