VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:16 am Post subject: Not the best language translation

The script of a foreign prospect I'm currently negotiating a rate with has been translated into English. Well, sort of. It's pretty much 'there,' but there are a few areas where it's obvious to me (and probably would be to most other English-speaking people) that the translation is lacking, resulting in either unclear thoughts or just words that would never be used together.

The 'do your best' part of me wants to bring this to the prospect's attention. But as they're trying to get me to lower my rate by 25%, should I just read the script as-is?
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
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Bish · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:49 am Post subject:

"Dear Client, during preparation for recording, I noticed a few phrases and grammatical constructs in the copy that I am unfamiliar with. Would you like to review the copy supplied before I record it? If you would like me to make any logical changes, I offer a copywriting service for a small premium. If you are happy with the copy as-is, please let me know and I will record it verbatim. Yours, VO."
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:53 am Post subject:

Bish · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 6:39 am Post subject:

Ouch. I'd better get some Savlon on that Smile

I recently did some elearning stuff for a pharma company. Fifty slides outlining the use of a software package used to check the progress of clinical field trials (interesting stuff, eh?). They had somewhat over-written it in an effort to be clear and concise for a non-native English speakers... and in the process had managed to over-egg the pudding and obfuscate what was basically a simple process. I did mention it to them, but they told me they'd run it by legal and they wanted it verbatim. Yesterday I received a request to re-record half the slides... re-written with an emphasis on clarity of meaning. New job. New invoice. Yay.

It never hurts to raise the question... if only to get a clear confirmation of the scope of work and establish procedures for fixes and re-takes.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 6:52 am Post subject:

"The preparation of this equipment is performed in the assembled, isolated from the external environment way with the appropriate regime processes registration and archivation."

I'm going to use your suggested reply now, Peter.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Bish

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 7:21 am Post subject:

Yeah... I'm waiting for a response now.

It's so interesting that a medium-sized business in northern NJ with the same length script is happy with the same rate I quoted the foreign client... a pharmaceutical company. The bigger they are... Mello

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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

Many don't how much something's worth outside of their own field.

ccpetersen · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:48 pm Post subject:

I run into this a lot. I offer them a rewrite/edit service and let them know that it will improve the spoken version. Oftentimes they have translated it as if it is going to be read, not spoken.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:58 pm Post subject:

I had one this week that was so thick with words, that I did ask about the possibility of doing some tweaks. But was directed to read it as written, so there you are!
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