Suggestion: review of blatant mistranslations Thread poster: Łukasz Gos-Furmankiewicz
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Today marks the second time in the recent months that I've felt forced to submit a support ticket or contact a KudoZ moderator due to a blatant mistranslation in legal PLEN. And let's face it: bad translations and even blatant mistranslations occur, including by Certified PROs or other translators with high-standing, which is going to delude askers and especially future reference seekers.
We already have KudoZ moderators and KudoZ editors. I believe it's time for a review process. W... See more Today marks the second time in the recent months that I've felt forced to submit a support ticket or contact a KudoZ moderator due to a blatant mistranslation in legal PLEN. And let's face it: bad translations and even blatant mistranslations occur, including by Certified PROs or other translators with high-standing, which is going to delude askers and especially future reference seekers.
We already have KudoZ moderators and KudoZ editors. I believe it's time for a review process. Who cares about the points, it's the perpetuation of mistakes which is the problem. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Christina Green 
United States
Local time: 07:28
Member (2003)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Points are not the important thing. Like you, I have encountered horrible mistranslations. It is time to purge some of the glossaries.
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Today marks the second time in the recent months that I've felt forced to submit a support ticket or contact a KudoZ moderator due to a blatant mistranslation in legal PLEN. And let's face it: bad translations and even blatant mistranslations occur, including by Certified PROs or other translators with high-standing, which is going to delude askers and especially future reference seekers.
I definitely agree. I can't rely on the glossaries for the same reason. Its time to raise the standard of our translators here and set a better example for proper use of kudoz.
Nora Ingram
| | | | | Yes, I agree with you Christina, that points are not important | Aug 1, 2013 |
As to the rest, I don't know, especially in the Polish forum - Kudos. Many of the translations done even by some very professional people are sometimes nothing but word for word translations that no one uses in real life, especially in the American legalese.
The Polish terms are pretty strange by themselves. I have been wondering for a long time where certain terms come from because they don't make any sense logically, but I know that language is not always logical. The Polish law ... See more As to the rest, I don't know, especially in the Polish forum - Kudos. Many of the translations done even by some very professional people are sometimes nothing but word for word translations that no one uses in real life, especially in the American legalese.
The Polish terms are pretty strange by themselves. I have been wondering for a long time where certain terms come from because they don't make any sense logically, but I know that language is not always logical. The Polish law is just very different from the American law -- perhaps this is where the problem originates. At times, a very strange usage of certain words can be observed in the Polish legal language -- from Poland. Certain texts are also simply badly written.
The papers prepared by some Polish-speaking lawyers in the US are very different -- all clear, especially if related to the American legal system. The Russian legalese is also much more logical and clear.
[Edited at 2013-08-01 15:41 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Just a small information | Aug 1, 2013 |
Please note that kudoz editors (I am one of them) can do virtually nothing, they can only change the field or the pair but cannot edit questions (this is a moderator only feature).
Just to inform for those who think that editors can "edit" questions
Best regards
Angie
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:28
Spanish to English
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I've seen some baddies too. Surely there must be be some way to edit them or remove them from the glossaries.
| | | | | Glossaries are the sacred domain | Aug 1, 2013 |
of Asker and chosen Answerer.
Before Moderators were assigned cop-only status, they, in consultation with experts in the given fields, could go in and correct blatantly erroneous glossary entries. That is no longer allowed. Nowadays, one can't even comment on the page about incorrect entries made in the glossary without it being removed by someone policing the pair.
Then there's the question, who would decide that the gloss entry is a 'blatant mistranslation' and who w... See more of Asker and chosen Answerer.
Before Moderators were assigned cop-only status, they, in consultation with experts in the given fields, could go in and correct blatantly erroneous glossary entries. That is no longer allowed. Nowadays, one can't even comment on the page about incorrect entries made in the glossary without it being removed by someone policing the pair.
Then there's the question, who would decide that the gloss entry is a 'blatant mistranslation' and who would be considered suitable for correcting it? That's a whole other can of worms.
Imo the glossary is condemned to remain the minefield it is. Maybe there should be a disclaimer added along with a 'use at your own risk' warning.
[Edited at 2013-08-01 16:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Most dictionaries, especially in some language pairs, | Aug 1, 2013 |
have to be used at your own risk -- so I cannot see any difference with the Proz glossaries.
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Gül Kaya
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:28
Turkish to English
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| Get rid of the points system | Aug 1, 2013 |
I think Kudoz is ripe for a total overhaul and reform. It has long been open to abuse because of the points system and is populated both by points-chasers as well as those who can't seem to be bothered to open a dictionary. Unfortunately they just feed each other in a never-ending cycle. I would be interested in hearing how Proz justifies this. Shouldn't people be allowed to answer for purely altruistic reasons, because we want to uphold standards, help colleagues (and ourselves) without asking ... See more I think Kudoz is ripe for a total overhaul and reform. It has long been open to abuse because of the points system and is populated both by points-chasers as well as those who can't seem to be bothered to open a dictionary. Unfortunately they just feed each other in a never-ending cycle. I would be interested in hearing how Proz justifies this. Shouldn't people be allowed to answer for purely altruistic reasons, because we want to uphold standards, help colleagues (and ourselves) without asking for any reward, further the profession? ▲ Collapse
| | | | texjax DDS PhD
Local time: 08:28
Member (2006)
English to Italian
+ ...
| This is an excellent idea | Aug 1, 2013 |
writeaway wrote:
Maybe there should be a disclaimer added along with a 'use at your own risk' warning.
| | | | | civil disobedience | Aug 1, 2013 |
writeaway wrote:
of Asker and chosen Answerer.
Before Moderators were assigned cop-only status, they, in consultation with experts in the given fields, could go in and correct blatantly erroneous glossary entries. That is no longer allowed. Nowadays, one can't even comment on the page about incorrect entries made in the glossary without it being removed by someone policing the pair.
I am fully aware that this is in violation of a forum rule, but I still want to say that that's just wrong. No administrative sanction will make me call white black or the other way round.
Then there's the question, who would decide that the gloss entry is a 'blatant mistranslation' and who would be considered suitable for correcting it? That's a whole other can of worms.
True. But there are ways, such as asking multiple people, especially confirmed specialists, including non-translators.
Imo the glossary is condemned to remain the minefield it is. Maybe there should be a disclaimer added along with a 'use at your own risk' warning.
[Edited at 2013-08-01 16:25 GMT]
My idea would be to include such a warning where an entry is contested.
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