| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: Do you accept handwritten documents for translation? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you accept handwritten documents for translation?".
This poll was originally submitted by Joan Berglund
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you accept handwritten documents for translation?".
This poll was originally submitted by Joan Berglund
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Oleg Osipov 
Russian Federation
Local time: 02:02
English to Russian
+ ...
| From local clients | Feb 12, 2009 |
Basically, I accept them from some local clients.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:02
Spanish to English
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| Prefer not to | Feb 12, 2009 |
... but sometimes it can't be avoided. For example, certain documents for sworn translation need to be handled as seen and certified as such.
[Edited at 2009-02-12 15:28 GMT]
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 02:02
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Imagine if ... | Feb 12, 2009 |
Doctor's typed their medical notes .... or notaries .....
Life could be so much sweeter ....
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:02
Russian to English
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In memoriam | Only if it's easily readable, or if I can get help | Feb 12, 2009 |
I have an arrangement with a native Russian speaker whose sister and mother are both doctors, so with his and their aid, I can usually cope even with doctors' handwriting. In return, I proofread his translations into English.
| | | | Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:02
French to English
+ ...
| Goes with the territory | Feb 12, 2009 |
I do get some handwritten doctors' notes occasionally. French doctors' handwriting tends to be slightly less awful than British doctors', but only slightly. I try to make sure I charge by the hour, a.k.a. danger money.
Thankfully, though, it doesn't happen very often.
| | | | | I generally do | Feb 12, 2009 |
Of course it does not happen very often, but sometimes even typed documents have some handwritten notes. Before accepting I make sure I can easily read the handwriting!
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 01:02
English to French
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Some of the documents I get have handwritten notes... I don't leave them out!
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Adam Warren
France
Local time: 01:02
Member (2005)
French to English
| It depends how badly they're handwritten | Feb 12, 2009 |
I think PDFs are worse
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If I can't read it, I refuse - as simple as that
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IanDhu wrote: I think PDFs are worse
Oh yes, of course, especially if they contain many figures, tables and bad fax copies! aaargh
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 19:02
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| One of my specialities | Feb 12, 2009 |
Pre-20thC handwritten documents.
Prior to the 20th C, you get broad trends in handwritten scripts instead of individual, idiosyncratic scripts, or doctors' notes (shudder). Once you get used to the handwriting from a certain period, it is fairly easy. And the texts tend to be personal letters, church records, etc, which can be interesting in themselves. And a nice change from operating manuals.
pdf files can be bad, but I hate seeing what OCR tries to do to Fraktur...... See more Pre-20thC handwritten documents.
Prior to the 20th C, you get broad trends in handwritten scripts instead of individual, idiosyncratic scripts, or doctors' notes (shudder). Once you get used to the handwriting from a certain period, it is fairly easy. And the texts tend to be personal letters, church records, etc, which can be interesting in themselves. And a nice change from operating manuals.
pdf files can be bad, but I hate seeing what OCR tries to do to Fraktur... I'd rather have a pdf/xerox at that point. ▲ Collapse
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Reed James
Chile
Local time: 19:02
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
| I always like a challenge | Feb 12, 2009 |
I confess that I like the challenge of deciphering chicken scratches that remotely resembles someone's handwriting. And written documents are usually Mexican, and they are usually letters or notes to different United States welfare agencies.
I especially enjoy translating these documents when I have a little extra time because a person's handwriting tells a lot about his or her personality, and these particular documents tell a story about a family's life. I am happy to know that I ... See more I confess that I like the challenge of deciphering chicken scratches that remotely resembles someone's handwriting. And written documents are usually Mexican, and they are usually letters or notes to different United States welfare agencies.
I especially enjoy translating these documents when I have a little extra time because a person's handwriting tells a lot about his or her personality, and these particular documents tell a story about a family's life. I am happy to know that I am helping out in what is usually a difficult situation. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 19:02
Member (2009)
French to English
| Maybe I'm crazy | Feb 12, 2009 |
I actually enjoy working with handwritten documents, although I am even *more* thankful that I do not handle medical translation when I think about deciphering a doctor's handwriting. I am usually pretty good at reading people's handwriting, so I think it gives me a strategic advantage. When something is handwritten, it is often the only way that the information contained is available. Translation always involves discovery, but handwritten documents can hide some rare gems.
That be... See more I actually enjoy working with handwritten documents, although I am even *more* thankful that I do not handle medical translation when I think about deciphering a doctor's handwriting. I am usually pretty good at reading people's handwriting, so I think it gives me a strategic advantage. When something is handwritten, it is often the only way that the information contained is available. Translation always involves discovery, but handwritten documents can hide some rare gems.
That being said, I agree that I usually do charge a bit extra for the time involved in transcribing. While I enjoy deciphering the handwriting, I cannot say the same for trying to work with poor quality copies. I do have to be able to tell the white pixels from the grey in order to work!
-Jenn ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elena Novski
Canada
Local time: 19:02
Russian to English
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| Not Any More | Feb 12, 2009 |
I used to, in pre-computer era - these days, however, no one asks me to! even medical reports are up to the mark
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