Pages in topic:   [1 2] >
Poll: Do you believe that a good memory is an important attribute for a translator?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 24, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you believe that a good memory is an important attribute for a translator?".

This poll was originally submitted by Nadine Epstein. View the poll results »



 
Angie Garbarino
Angie Garbarino  Identity Verified
Local time: 20:13
Member (2003)
French to Italian
+ ...
Yes Jan 24, 2017

In my opinion a good memory is critical not only for a translator but for learning languages in general.

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
:-) Jan 24, 2017

Sorry, what was the question again?

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 12:13
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Absolutely! Jan 24, 2017

It goes without saying ...

 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Netherlands
Local time: 20:13
Member (2016)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Certainly ... Jan 24, 2017

... both internal and external

 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Netherlands
Local time: 20:13
Member (2016)
English to Dutch
+ ...
;) Jan 24, 2017

Chris S wrote:

Sorry, what was the question again?



 
Sophie Dzhygir
Sophie Dzhygir  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 20:13
German to French
+ ...
Yes Jan 24, 2017

Not compulsory, but very useful. I do not have a very good memory and it doesn't prevent me from doing my job, but for sure I would spare some time and be more efficient if I could remember more things without having to search or check them first.

 
Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 20:13
Member (2006)
German to English
Other Jan 24, 2017

It does help☺

 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 04:13
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
Yes, of course! Jan 24, 2017

Er, we are talking about CAT tools right?

But seriously, folks, how on earth can you possibly translate if you don't have a decent gray matter memory?


 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:13
Spanish to English
+ ...
Depends Jan 24, 2017

On what we mean by memory.
I don't think you need to be able to remember every little thing you've ever translated. I seriously can't remember half the stuff I did last week, for example. Usually when a job is done I "forget" it and move on to the next one.
I also get my clients' names mixed up, for example this week I struggled to recall which was Gema and which was Inma (both short names ending in -ma, both academic clients, but in different areas). In fact I've always been rubbi
... See more
On what we mean by memory.
I don't think you need to be able to remember every little thing you've ever translated. I seriously can't remember half the stuff I did last week, for example. Usually when a job is done I "forget" it and move on to the next one.
I also get my clients' names mixed up, for example this week I struggled to recall which was Gema and which was Inma (both short names ending in -ma, both academic clients, but in different areas). In fact I've always been rubbish with names - I can know some people for years and still get their names wrong. But I never forget a face. Unless they're really forgettable.

[Edited at 2017-01-24 09:53 GMT]
Collapse


 
Jack Doughty
Jack Doughty  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:13
Russian to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Less important than it used to be Jan 24, 2017

In the days before personal computers and the Internet, it was much more difficult to find terms and other information that you had forgotten.

 
Lingua 5B
Lingua 5B  Identity Verified
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 20:13
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Which is precisely why Jan 24, 2017

Jack Doughty wrote:

In the days before personal computers and the Internet, it was much more difficult to find terms and other information that you had forgotten.


... they had bigger value back then. If something is easy to find, its value drops significantly.


 
Nilton Junior
Nilton Junior  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 19:13
Member (2009)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes Jan 24, 2017

In fact, I don't see why it wouldn't be.

 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 20:13
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
Yes, but Jan 24, 2017

'good memory' is relative to your own expectations

- and it will always be an asset in any field, even in the private sphere.


 
Jessica Noyes
Jessica Noyes  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 15:13
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
Interpreting Jan 24, 2017

If a having a good memory is important to being a good translator, it is exponentially more important, indeed essential, to being an interpreter (which is why, as the proper nouns start to fade from own memory banks, I no longer offer interpretation services.)

 
Pages in topic:   [1 2] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Do you believe that a good memory is an important attribute for a translator?






Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »