| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: What does asking a question on the KudoZ network mean for you? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What does asking a question on the KudoZ network mean for you?".
This poll was originally submitted by Cecília Alves. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
| A complementary resource | Aug 16, 2021 |
As 99% of the time I am working alone, I tend to use the kudoz section for brainstorming, i.e., to gather opinions from fellow translators. I often already have a notion about the answer, but seek comments, feedback, confirmation or reassurance from colleagues. It can be very interesting to see what others come up with.
One of my biggest bugbears is undefined abbreviations or acronyms, and kudoz queries are very helpful for that kind of thing. Another problem can be the idiosyncrati... See more As 99% of the time I am working alone, I tend to use the kudoz section for brainstorming, i.e., to gather opinions from fellow translators. I often already have a notion about the answer, but seek comments, feedback, confirmation or reassurance from colleagues. It can be very interesting to see what others come up with.
One of my biggest bugbears is undefined abbreviations or acronyms, and kudoz queries are very helpful for that kind of thing. Another problem can be the idiosyncratic use of terminology between one Spanish-speaking country and another. I'm currently suffering quite a lot from that kind of thing. ▲ Collapse
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Kudoz is sometimes my last port of call, but usually not my first. My first hit is always IATE and then my other ports of call are: Eur-Lex, BDTT, Linguee/DeepL, WordReference, dict.cc, Termium, PONS.
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There are now very few people in my language pairs with anything valuable to contribute, and even fewer in my particular fields.
People only really ask about technical terms in the Scandi languages, so in a way we have completed KudoZ now.
We don’t endlessly argue the toss over slight nuances in the way the big languages seem to.
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Robert Forstag 
United States
Local time: 12:14
Spanish to English
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| Usually a last resort, but... | Aug 16, 2021 |
...in cases where I've been up against a deadline, time is running short, and I've already been working a solid 10-12 hours, I've also used it as a shortcut to save time.
Sometimes, the answers that I've received have not only been helpful, but incredibly enriching (the magnificent Charles Davis comes immediately to mind here in ENG-SPA-ENG). On other occasions, not so much.
My general approach is to avoid using Kudoz as much as possible, not only to avoid accusations ... See more ...in cases where I've been up against a deadline, time is running short, and I've already been working a solid 10-12 hours, I've also used it as a shortcut to save time.
Sometimes, the answers that I've received have not only been helpful, but incredibly enriching (the magnificent Charles Davis comes immediately to mind here in ENG-SPA-ENG). On other occasions, not so much.
My general approach is to avoid using Kudoz as much as possible, not only to avoid accusations of leeching off others, but also because the proper posting of queries and subsequent evaluation of the answers and comments takes a fair amount of time, and can be rather distracting when I'm still working on material. ▲ Collapse
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I seem to forget about this possibility, but now you reminded me
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 14:14
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| The problem is waiting | Aug 16, 2021 |
It is an excellent resource, but unfortunatelly, we have to wait a couple of hours, at least, before we get good answers. When we are translating, that's not the best choice, and it becomes one of the last resources, which I use only when I really can't find the term in my long research in other resources that will provide me a solution immediately.
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 12:14
German to English
| Occasionally an embarrassment | Aug 16, 2021 |
I'm usually self-sufficient when it comes to resolving terminology issues, but sometimes I need to reach beyond my usual resources due to a failure of imagination or inadequate reference material. I've felt horribly embarrassed on those rare occasions when I've had to post two inquiries for the same job. I'm astounded when I see the same people posting multiple queries on a regular basis. I suppose these queries are great for Kudoz collectors, but I wonder about the capabilities of those postin... See more I'm usually self-sufficient when it comes to resolving terminology issues, but sometimes I need to reach beyond my usual resources due to a failure of imagination or inadequate reference material. I've felt horribly embarrassed on those rare occasions when I've had to post two inquiries for the same job. I'm astounded when I see the same people posting multiple queries on a regular basis. I suppose these queries are great for Kudoz collectors, but I wonder about the capabilities of those posting a half-dozen questions at a time. ▲ Collapse
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Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
| As a very last resort | Aug 16, 2021 |
I only use it if I have exhausted all my resources, and it's usually something about cultural understanding where just reading the definition won't do. I would need to ask the native speakers.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
| New broom doesn't sweep for me | Aug 16, 2021 |
Teresa Borges wrote:
Kudoz is sometimes my last port of call, but usually not my first. My first hit is always IATE and then my other ports of call are: Eur-Lex, BDTT, Linguee/DeepL, WordReference, dict.cc, Termium, PONS.
I used to swear by IATE for certain things, but they "upgraded" it some years ago and I've found it pretty useless since then. Maybe it's my fault and I'm not entering the queries properly or something, but I find the current interface not very user-friendly.
| | | | | I used it more in my early years, now I use it as a wild card when I'm stuck | Aug 16, 2021 |
For my language combinations, some of the more competent colleagues are nor as active (or they have retired) so I haven't asked a question there in years.
I do use the search function, though, usually En or It to *any language* when I'm totally stuck, just to see what the translation may be into other languages and thus highlight possible solutions in the my own target language.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 18:14
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
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| Nothing at all. | Aug 16, 2021 |
I don’t ask questions on Kudoz and don’t take it seriously. I have other resources to clarify terminology and as a last resort, discuss it with the client (rarely needed).
[Edited at 2021-08-16 17:32 GMT]
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Thomas Pfann
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:14
Member (2006)
English to German
+ ...
| It's not always a waiting game! | Aug 16, 2021 |
Mario Freitas wrote:
... but unfortunatelly, we have to wait a couple of hours, at least, before we get good answers.
Not always! Sometimes answers are immediate - even before the question is submitted. Over the years, I had quite a few questions which I never posted; just entering the context and phrasing a meaningful question led to a lightbulb moment and the answer occurred to me.
But yes, KudoZ would usually be the last resource. It can also be helpful for brainstorming ideas when it is not about finding a correct term but a nice and creative turn of phrase.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 11:14
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Complementary | Aug 16, 2021 |
The KudoZ network is a good complementary resource to get help from multiple languages. They will fulfill our language demands in an urgent situation, that's for sure.
| | | | Laureana Pavon
Uruguay
Local time: 14:14
Member (2007)
English to Spanish
+ ...
MODERATOR
Lingua 5B wrote:
I don’t ask questions on Kudoz and don’t take it seriously.
You don't take KudoZ seriously yet you've answered hundreds of questions
Personally, I use KudoZ as a last resort.
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