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Client requesting translation in bilingual format

Paul Golf

I have a client who is requesting the final translation in parallel bilingual format. The export for bilungual review batch command does a pretty decent job of getting what I need, except that in the review document that's created, all the formatting tags are displayed in long form (i.e. <italics> </italics>). Is there any way of exporting to bilingual format which applies the tags to Word rather than displays them for editing? Also I'm surprised that Trados doesn't seem to have a feature to generate a finalized document in bilingual format. Surely it can't be that uncommon for clients to request this?
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  • 0 in reply to Jerzy Czopik

    Unknown said:
    It is indeed quite common, even if you don't see any sense in there. And this has nothing to do with the understanding of how translation works, but a simple customer convenience thing...

    This is exactly right Jerzy.  The translation industry does not revolve around well ordered and experienced customers who understand how an agency or experienced translator would prefer to work.  You can't always "educate" a customer either unless you want to lose them.  So I love to see solutions that can cater for the things many translators come across on a day to day basis.

    It's a bit like PDF translating.  We all know this isn't the best way to work, but there are plenty of valid reasons for having to handle them, and plenty of content for translation in these formats too.

    Paul Filkin | RWS Group

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  • 0 in reply to Jerzy Czopik

    Unknown said:
    So why not put these versions both on one paper and sign this?

    And why yes? ;-)
    The practice I have seen multiple times in my life is that you need to create separate versions anyway... and a notary confirms that the translated version corresponds to the original. And then you sign the translated (and notary-confirmed) version... since this is the only legally valid way (signing contract/agreement in your native language).
    So creating such hybrid - which will then have to be splitted manually anyway - is just adding extra work on both sides.
  • 0 in reply to Evzen Polenka
    For the same reason, why a customer is buying his Mercedes in the color "liquid bronze" and the other one goes to his local garage to have the same type of car painted in "crazy blue".

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  • 0 in reply to Evzen Polenka
    Hi Evzen,

    When you say things such as 'completely wrong (or completely missing!) idea how translators work .... wrong and unmanaged client's expectations', I wonder how you 'manage' your clients. I guess by enlightening them as to how you work and by refusing work that isn't as you wish it to be.

    Anyway, I find life is much more satisfying when I find ways of coping with even the strangest client requests, which are rarely unreasonable from their perspective. I have a troubleshooting attitude to the work I receive and am especially pleased if I can deliver it to the customer in a better state linguistically than it was when I received it (authors are often technicians rather than linguists). That gives me great satisfaction. I prefer to work with a 'can do' attitude because with every challenge comes learning. My attitude may be idealistic and do I work mostly for an agency who understand the whole scenario. When they pass me a difficult job whether linguistically or technically, they usually know it's going to be difficult and are hoping I can pull out my magic wand and make it work. I've been very fortunate with my clients but I hope I'd have the same attitude with difficult clients because it makes life easier and I learn more from challenges.

    All the best to you Evzen,
    Ali :)
  • 0 in reply to Paul
    Wow Paul, that's a GREAT app! The Appstore really is more and more like a huge sweetie shop full of wondrous goodies (I'm quoting myself there ;-)
    Ali :)))
    (who should be packing for a birthday trip rather than catching up on community emails but it's always a treat to read them even if I don't have time to participate)
  • 0 in reply to Paul Golf

    Hi ,

    'such a simple thing to do I'm surprised it isn't featured as an option for batch tasks'

    I do see what you mean Paul but the thing is, there are LOTS of tasks that would be useful but if they were all included in the product it would make things too complicated and SDL do their best to identify what's needed by most users most frequently. As  has demonstrated, some translators don't need this feature. In the past, when SDL have found an app to be required frequently, they have included it in the next build.

    I also have worked with documents that have to be bilingual, in a different context than that demonstrated by . The client devised a bilingual xlf format that retains the source on export similarly to bilingual Excel files. We even get to correct the source if the authors have made any errors.

    There are other apps created by David John, here:

    David John

    I say this because I think he works with Chinese too so others may be useful to you.

    The only teensy downside is that this app costs US$80. There are LOTS of free apps too. Cost is the decision of the individual app's creator.

    The Appstore includes SO much more than you could ever squeeze into a single piece of software, it's GREAT!

    All the best

    Ali :)