Murgi <srindler@da2.so-net.ne.jp> wrote:

> > > Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the
> > > stories that go around....
> >
> > Well, complete 10,000 jobs at $10 each...

I'd prefer 10 jobs at $10,000 each....

> >
> I can verify that I know several translators who have been making this
> amount for years...

Ah, but are they still doing so now?

> Why do I know that? I run a translation agency and some of these guys are
> working free-lance for the agency.
> You can achieve this with less demanding work like the translation of simple
> service manuals, but then you can do easily 500,000 text bytes/month.

Is that sort of work still available in Japan? I thought it had gone
offshore, to places where reasonable facsimiles of native-English
speakers would work for far lower rates. I know it did used to be
possible to achieve huge turnovers with repetitive translations (by
taking advantage of all the marvelous ways in which computers can help
automate such tasks), so that even low word rates could still produce
large total incomes, but haven't clients got wise to that nowadays?

> Of course, you need to be a veteran translator with ample experience and
> work for clients who have always work available.

Yes, that needs to be said too, considering the original post. 

________________________________________________________________________
                   Louise Bremner (log at gol dot com)
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