Let’s borrow JFK’s famous words: “Ask not what you should charge for your translation. Start by asking how much it will cost you to do the translation”. As Brazilian translator Danilo Nogueira once said in a much-read article on the business of translation, “translation is a service business, not an industry or commerce”. In this presentation, we will look at each side of our triangle, which is golden only if all three sides really exist in perfect balance with each other. By the end of the presentation, translators will be fully aware where the money in the translation world comes from, and how they can and should find ways to ensure that at least some of it lands in their pockets. Above all, they will learn how they can keep their clients interested, and willing, to keep on sending more…
Mechanical Engineer and Technical Translator. Discharged several duties in engineering, consulting and construction companies in Portugal, Israel, Denmark, United States, Bermuda and Mozambique. Member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Independent translator since 1989. Corresponding Member of the American Translators Association (ATA) since 1993. Certified Translator (CT) by the ATA (English-Portuguese). ATA Accreditation Exams Grader from 1994 until 2001. Vice-chair of the Organizing Committee of contrapor2006 – 1st Portuguese Translation Conference, Scientific Advisor and speaker at the 2007, 2009 and 2010 TRADULÍNGUAS Translation Conferences (Lisbon, Portugal). Invited speaker at several translators’ meetings in Portugal, United States (ATA and Colorado Translators Association), United Kingdom (ITI 14th Annual Conference), Czech Republic, Argentina and Brazil. Keynote Speaker at the 3rd ABRATES International Translation and Interpreting Conference (2010, Porto Alegre, Brazil) and at the Powell River International Translators’ Conference (2013, Powell River, BC, Canada). Trainer for Mechanical Engineering Translation and Professional Development for Translators. Author of several articles and glossaries related to technical translation and mechanical engineering. João’s professional website is at www.jrdias.com and he tweets about everything technically translated at @PORTranslation.
