Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

104 Translation as a Profession3. Type of service and work organisation3.1 ‘Pure’ translation vs. extended service3.1.1 Pure translation‘Pure’ translation is when the translator simply deals with the actual transfer fromsource to target language (and culture). This means the translator just carriesout the standard operations required in translating: information searches, dataretrieval, terminology searches, translation, and finally proof-reading. Translatorsactually do ‘pure’ translation when they work in a team where other operatorscarry out the upstream and downstream stages of the process (see below: teamwork) and they can concentrate on the ‘text translating’ part.3.1.2 Extended serviceTranslators may disassemble Web sites or software packages, write down scripts,detect time-codes, cue the subtitles, align a new translation with existing memories,create dictionaries, ‘clone’ Web sites after translating their contents, burn aCD-Rom, prepare a translation for printing or for publication, and much more.The service provided is then ‘extended’ or ‘enhanced’ and the translator’s workorganisation will of course be radically different, in particular because it involvesusing a wider range of tools.3.2 Single translator vs. multiple translatorsA translation may be carried out by one translator working single-handed or by ateam of translators.3.2.1 Single translatorIn most cases, a translation will be carried out by a single translator, working alone.This does not mean that the translator is the only person concerned: it means thetranslator is the only person concerned with the translating activity including theproofreading.3.2.2 Multiple translatorsIn some cases, the sheer volume of the translation and/or the tight deadline meanthat the work can only be done by a team of translators. There are two possibilities:– batch translation;– multiple-pass translation.