Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

Chapter 4. The translating profession 145One of the forthcoming trends is for major accounts to set up a specialtranslation management entity between themselves and the translators. Theirpreference goes to some sort of dedicated ‘agency’ or ‘brokering service’ staffedby some employees or just paid by the company to find and screen the necessaryperformers and to see the projects through. In time, the entity concerned wouldbecome independent or, rather, would act as a clearing house for the particularmarkets concerned.To complicate things further for translators, there emerges a new trendwhereby purchasing departments (or, on a much smaller scale, purchasing officersor agents) are being deprived of their autonomy. Purchasing tends to be subject tosystematic calls for tenders resulting in lists of exclusive providers worldwide. Thismeans that the purchasing departments or agents may no longer buy translationfrom their former suppliers if these are not officially listed. Fierce competition isbecomingtheruleand,cherryonthecake,thereareindicationsthatthetimeisnear when, failing vigorous action by governments, reverse auctions – auctions inwhich the lowest offer automatically wins – may become the rule when selling andpurchasing translations (just as any other product or service).