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Poll: What is the biggest misconception new clients have when approaching freelance translators?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 23

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is the biggest misconception new clients have when approaching freelance translators?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 21:16
Member (2007)
Ingiriisi to Portuguese
+ ...
All of the above plus some... Jul 23

1. Anyone who is a bilingual can translate,
2. A translator can translate any subject matter,
3. A translator can translate in both directions,
4. Translation is simply replacing word-for-word,
5. Translation and interpreting are the same job,
6. Nowadays, with all the technology available, translation should be as fast as light…
7. Should I go on?

Daryo
expressisverbis
Géraldine Fourrier
Heather Oland
Zea_Mays
Ian Keith Jones Williams
Jennifer Levey
 
Daryo
Daryo
Local time: 21:16
Serbiyaan to Ingiriisi
+ ...
A not so minor distinction completely forgotten ... Jul 23

There is a not so minor distinction completely forgotten in the wording of this poll question:

there are 'clients' and 'clients' - the 'clients' who need the translation for themselves (privately or for their business) and those who are nothing more than intermediaries are two completely different beasts in the 'translation market' jungle.

Also, the real problem [especially with intermediaries] is often not in 'misconceptions' but in ignoring 'conceptions' that they sh... See more
There is a not so minor distinction completely forgotten in the wording of this poll question:

there are 'clients' and 'clients' - the 'clients' who need the translation for themselves (privately or for their business) and those who are nothing more than intermediaries are two completely different beasts in the 'translation market' jungle.

Also, the real problem [especially with intermediaries] is often not in 'misconceptions' but in ignoring 'conceptions' that they should know as supposed professionals. ▲ Collapse


expressisverbis
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Heather Oland
Luis M. Sosa
Maria Laura Curzi
Philip Lees
Yuri Larin
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 21:16
Ingiriisi to Portuguese
+ ...
Depending on the client, of course. Jul 23

"What is your best rate?" 😂
Probably one of the most common questions.
But the real question should be: "What level of expertise, quality and responsibility does this project require?"
Translation is not just about words; it is about knowledge, training, experience, specialization, judgement and accountability.
A good translation requires much more than linguistic skills.

Daryo
Gregor Trebec
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Josephine Cassar
Heather Oland
Sara Daitch
Matthias Brombach
 
texjax DDS PhD
texjax DDS PhD  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:16
Member (2006)
Ingiriisi to Talyaani
+ ...
A few more... Jul 23

• Editing and proofreading are synonyms. 🙄
• Higher volume = lower rate
• Translation is just replacing words from one language with words from another.
• A native speaker can automatically translate professionally.
• A rush job should cost the same as a standard-deadline project.
• A translation can be evaluated simply by comparing it word for word with the source.
• The translator can start working without seeing the full file or... See more
• Editing and proofreading are synonyms. 🙄
• Higher volume = lower rate
• Translation is just replacing words from one language with words from another.
• A native speaker can automatically translate professionally.
• A rush job should cost the same as a standard-deadline project.
• A translation can be evaluated simply by comparing it word for word with the source.
• The translator can start working without seeing the full file or having access to the necessary context, references, screenshots, or figures.
• Minor changes to the source text don't require additional work.
• AI or machine translation makes human expertise unnecessary.


[Edited at 2026-07-23 14:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse


Luis M. Sosa
The Shredder
Philippe Etienne
expressisverbis
Zea_Mays
Maria Laura Curzi
Daryo
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 23:16
Greek to Ingiriisi
What is your rate for translation? Jul 24

If I had to pick one (as the question asks), it would be "One-size-fits-all rates."

I get tired of being asked my rate without being told anything about the source text. As if translating a driving licence is the same as translating a medical research paper.

Actually, I don't get tired any more, because nobody is asking. But I used to get tired of that.

Cilian O'Tuama
Gregor Trebec
Yuri Larin
expressisverbis
Maria Laura Curzi
SandraV
 
William Bowley
William Bowley
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:16
Spanish to Ingiriisi
+ ...
Best? Jul 24

expressisverbis wrote:

"What is your best rate?" 😂


Absolutely. "What is your rate that is best for us?"

expressisverbis
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 21:16
Ingiriisi to Portuguese
+ ...
Exactly. Jul 24

William Bowley wrote:

expressisverbis wrote:

"What is your best rate?" 😂


Absolutely. "What is your rate that is best for us?"


It is almost always implied that the "best rate" is the one that is best for the client, not for the translator.

SandraV
 
Michael Newton
Michael Newton  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 16:16
Japanese to Ingiriisi
+ ...
new clients Jul 24

They ask themselves: "Hmm, how low will they go?"

Gregor Trebec
SandraV
 


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Poll: What is the biggest misconception new clients have when approaching freelance translators?






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