Tradutor (inglês/português/inglês) desde 1992, especializado nas áreas jurídica, financeira, administrativa e de marketing, mas não dispensa outras, por acreditar que o bom tradutor deve ter essa pré-disposição. Co-autor do dicionário jurídico Bandeira & Rubim (sem data de lançamento); palestrante em cursos rápidos sobre tradução; e revisor.
I wonder if it happens in any profession. I wonder if we, translators, are the only ones. My point is how sad and upsetting it is to be taken for granted in this serious, painstaking and yet unfairly paid work we do.
It has always happened, but I feared this would become “a rule” someday, and it did. Clients are now expecting more, in much less time, and at even lower rates. If you don’t do it, someone else will, they say. You know what’s even worse? They eventually get it, regardless of consequences.
I’m sick of all the Whitney Houston impersonating translators who say “It’s not right, but it’s okay. I’m gonna make it anyway.” If it’s not right, it should not be okay, and it should not be done. Geez… I felt like writing the “F” word here!
That what we do is not easy and effortless as many people think. Quoting Alexander Pope, “to err is human, to forgive divine.”, but we are regarded as an exception to that. If a client will never forgive us for a minor, rush-led error, shouldn’t we charge accordingly?
Betty Writght used to be right when she sang “no pain, no gain”. Now I still feel the pain, but where the “f” is the gain?
This is not an expression of my personal beliefs, but just a report of what I have seen happen. How much do you agree with all of this? Leave your thoughts.
Escultura de mármore, com pouco mais de 2 metros de altura, é a representação de Moisés, segundo Michelangelo. Localizada na Igreja San Pietro in Vincoli, Roma, a estátua mostra Moisés com dois chifres na cabeça. Chifres? Sim, chifres.
Acredita-se que isso seja devido a um erro da tradução de Êxodo 34:29-35, feita por São Jerônimo, tradutor da Bíblia do hebraico para o latim, a Vulgata.
Não se sabe se por desconhecimento ou descuido, ao traduzir a Vulgata São Jerônimo ignorou o fato de que a vocalização de Karan (resplandecer) pode torná-lo Keren (chifres), e acabou usando o termo cornuta (do latim, chifres).
Carlos Floriano Neto, estudante de hebraico, a quem agradeço por ter me ajudado a decifrar esses “chifres”, diz ainda que o hebraico Karan designa “algo que sai de um ponto e se dispersa” e, assim, tanto resplandecer como chifres faria sentido. Tanto é que há imagens de Moisés com dois pontos de luz partindo de sua cabeça.
Moral da história: se nem mesmo os santos estão livres de errar na tradução, quem dirá nós.
FIVE THOUSAND WORDS (Lyrics and music by Sharon Neeman)
The clock showed close to quitting time, my desk was almost clear
I thought perhaps I’d slip around the corner for a beer -
But the phone rang and I answered and a friendly voice said Hi!
It was the secretary of a legal firm nearby
She said Oh, please excuse me calling this late in the day
But we have a new petition in a case that’s under way
Can you translate it tomorrow? Any time by five will do
‘Cause we wouldn’t want to give the work to anyone but you
It’s only…Five thousand words for tomorrow at five I thought I’ll do that easily, I’ll scarcely have to strive
So I smiled and said No problem, I’ll just add it to my bill
And you’ll send a check on Friday? And she said You know we will.
I set to work at eight AM, I cut my lunch date short
By five the stuff was ready to be filed before the Court
I sent it off by email and I made a cup of tea -
And the phone rang and I answered and a lawyer said to me:
I’ve just leafed through your translation and I think it’s very good
And I’d like you to translate an affidavit if you could
It’s the size of that petition… well, perhaps a trifle more
And you know that I’d be grateful if you’d have it in by four
It’s only… Six thousand words for tomorrow at four I thought I’ll get up early, I’ve a longish day in store
And I shrugged and said No problem, I’ll just add it to my bill
And you’ll send a check on Friday? And he said You know we will.
I hit the desk at seven and I ate my lunch alone
I never touched the Solitaire or gossipped on the phone
At four o’clock I sent it off and shook my weary head
And the phone rang and I answered and the junior partner said:
I really have to thank you for a job superbly done
And I know you’ll be excited ’cause we’ve got another one:
I’ve just written my summation, and you know how glad I’d be
If your excellent translation could be on my desk at three
It’s only… Eight thousand words for tomorrow at three
I thought This won’t be easy but I’ll have the evening free
So I sighed and said No problem, I’ll just add it to my bill
And you’ll send a check on Friday? And she said You know we will.
I started at five-thirty, and my lunch was just a snack
At three I typed the last few words and sent the email back
I flexed my aching fingers and I silently rejoiced
And the phone rang and I answered and the senior partner’s voice said
You really are a wonder, and your talents are unique
In fact, that’s why we’ve kept you very busy all this week
Now, I know that it’s short notice but I must rely on you
For the Judge needs my rebuttal to be on her desk at two
It’s only… Ten thousand words for tomorrow at two
I thought How can I tell him that it’s just too much to do?
But I groaned and said No problem, I’ll just add it to my bill
And you’ll send a check on Friday? And he said You know we will.
I staggered in at four AM, I never ate a bite
But I got it done by two although it was a trifle tight
I was dizzy, I was queasy, and I thought I’d never budge
And the phone rang and I answered and by God it was the Judge!
She said I know you’re tired and I really hate to ask
But there’s no one in the city who can do this one last task
I’ve just handed down my ruling and she gave a modest cough
And at one PM tomorrow the courier takes off
It’s only…Twelve thousand words for tomorrow at one
My mind screamed No, Your Honor! There are things that can’t be done!
But the words came out No problem, I’ll just add it to my bill And it’s been four months since Friday, and the bastards owe me still!
Escultura de mármore, com pouco mais de 2 metros de altura, é a representação de Moisés, segundo 
