AARRGGHHHH !
We're looking for an additional translator at the moment. The job involves translating from English-to-Thai and occasionally Thai-to-English. Here is an excerpt from one of the application letters I have just received:
"My core tasks are translating news form English to Thai in the field of world currents, composing articles in human interest subjects, and following up news outside for sometimes."
Sometimes it might seem as though I am critical, but am I asking too much to expect a grammatically correct application letter, especially for such an important position?
3 comments:
I was thinking of releasing a book of all the clangers I've seen in the past few months. No doubt I'd get fired and then sued and then hit with brooms, but it would be funny.
With the rush to get breaking news out quickly, I've noticed some real doozies on the Bangkok Post and Nation websites. The example you posted looks like something taken right off Babelfish.
Accurate translation is probably one of the most difficult jobs out there. I've only met one person who was able to listen to one language and speak in another simultaneously. To be able to accurately translate narrow nuance as well as broader meaning is a gift, and a rare one at that. English is such a complicated animal, and Thai can be pretty obtuse as well. (The recent booklet put out by the PPP is an example) Mistakes in translation, especially in a magazine seeking to build locally on a world-wide reputation, can be disasterous.
Matt - if you need a publisher ... ;-)
David - I agree with everything you're saying. English is hard, and American English (and business American English especially) is extremely hard. I even have to look up some of the words in our magazine and I'd like to think I am pretty educated and knowledgeable.
Mistakes happen - we've made them ourselves - but the reader remembers them and not the 99 per cent of stories that are totally correct.
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