Musings from an overworked translator
featuring musings about my life and the translation industry
Welcome! Willkommen! Zdravstvuyte!
I am a full-time German to English translator. This blog is my creative outlet to share my knowledge and random musings. Despite the title of my blog, I am generally available for translation work - even if there might be a delay of a few days. You can contact me at gertoeng AT jill-sommer.com.Tweet Tweet!
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Musings from an overworked translator 
Makes me think about an IT>EN translator who recently applied to work with our company. She didn’t capitalize the first-person pronoun “I” at all in her application materials. When our staff pointed out her mistake, by way of trying to be helpful in letting applicants know why they’re rejected and also by way of helping her improve her English, this was her reply:
AHhahaha you dont have a lot to do dear right?
If you spend your time for this stupid thing maybe its because you are bored…but no problem..i understand it. Thank you Miss Grammar
—
There’s is nothing that tips us off to a translator’s capabilities faster than proper capitalization.
WOW. Just wow.
“If YOU don’t have time for this ‘stupid thing’, maybe it’s because you are an incompetent translator.” Next!
And she was a translator? I’m in shock!
Wait, an Italian to English translator who doesn’t capitalize I and doesn’t use apostrophes at all? Run as fast as you can! Unbelievable.
HAHAHA! Totally stealing this one.
Another recent favorite I ran across – a la the British “Keep Calm and Carry On” meme – was:
KEEP CLAM
AND
PROOFREAD
Loved it.
Yes, I am familiar with it: https://translationmusings.com/2014/05/14/almost-wordless-wednesday-107/