Translation Software

[tim 360]

Well catzenmouse for me it was rather easy.  I had a very nice married Ukrainian Lady who I had a dialogue with from another board do it for me.  Through emails she told me alot about her country and life there and problems (small ones) about moving to her new country with her husband.  It was a sort of cultural exchange since my great grand parents were from Russia and I wanted to learn more about life there and what reality was for the average person and how it compares with the west.  Her husband was also very intelligent guy and offered me alot from his viewpoint as a westerner. 

I asked her if she knew anyone who could do some translations for me and she gladly volunteered herself for free.  Free was too one-sided so we made a deal that I would Paypal her whenever I felt I should.  There is no reason to be cheap to a good person.  And she had a nice network of friends and family in Ukraine who could check on things and do postal mail.  It was excellent and having a Russian lady reading and translating sure did seperate the wheat from the chaff rather quickly.  She could smell a weasel from a mile away.

Now,  I have former FSU female married friends who do it if need be, My 2 kopeks worth,  Do vstrechi, Tim360

[catzenmouse]

It seems that I have not made myself clear here. I was asking for references/links/names that a newbie could use to help out with the translation process as an alternative to the electronic translators that are often used or for the agency translators who are not necessarily on your side.

Ken

[Turboguy]

Ken,  I think your question was an interesting one and I think it could be tough for a lot of people.
How about giving us some information on what to do? This would be very beneficial for newbies to know.

Scenario:
 John Customer has been writing to a few girls and is going to meet them in CityName, Ukraine. He has never been to the FSU before and does not speak the language. He is not very worldly so does not know about places like RWD.

 Aside from the agency he has been dealing with how does he go about finding a good translator who is not an agency shill?

I have been at this a long time and never even had the thought of there being a forum to discuss these issues until a few weeks before I found my way here with a little help from Dan.  I am sure there are lot of guys writting gals who never think about there being a forum.

There for Ken's question becomes a lot more challenging for a lot of people.  I have a feeling a few might google a solution.   I think for the most part they are going to rely on the gal to find one.  That may be good or bad.  My early, pre Internet trips the gals found the interpreters and I paid for them.

[Turboguy]

Ah, so you are looking for a list of peopel that someone might contact for translations.  I have a few I can give you.  Right now I have to go out.

[Stirlitz]

The first two are good ideas and useful to those who might need it. Just trying to get some information that you might be privy to like an association or the search parameters you mentioned.

No need for the attitude. Since you are a translator I thought you might have some tips.

That is the only general advice I can think of now.

There is also a message board of Russian translators but unfortunately it is in Russian so it will be of no use. However, if someone needs an interpreter in areas which I do not cover, they can ask me to post an ad there for free.

Sorry for sounding irritated but when I imagine that average stupid person who does not know how to use simple things like Google…

[Turboguy]

I had a friend on a Romance tour a year and a half ago who did not know how to get on the internet.  I went with him to the Internet cafe and helped him get to his hotmail mailbox.

For the rest of us, some people might not think to do an internet search.  I could probably use an interpreter in Novisbirsk in 10 days but never thought about using Google to find one.  I just was relying on the gal I am meeting to come up with one.  Otherwise we rely on my Russian and a machine.

[catzenmouse]

That is the only general advice I can think of now.

There is also a message board of Russian translators but unfortunately it is in Russian so it will be of no use. However, if someone needs an interpreter in areas which I do not cover, they can ask me to post an ad there for free.

Sorry for sounding irritated but when I imagine that average stupid person who does not know how to use simple things like Google…

No worries Stirlitz. I too can be easily irritated by stupid questions from stupid people. When I read this topic I thought about those people just getting into this adventure and wondered how they would go about finding a good interpreter so I asked how one would do it. Was thinking ahead to add something to the FAQ section for future newbies to have a reference and an easy "How To" so they would not end up getting shafted by an agency interpreter who was looking to make a few extra bucks or to push them towards more services for the agency.

Ken

[Stirlitz]

Another suggestion is to ask your g/f to look for an interpreter, but it only makes sense if you are talking to her outside the agency which is rarely the case with newbies. In my experience I have been contacted by women who were expecting a visitor and wanted to take care of the interpreter because they did not really like agency interpreters or there was no agency at all.

[Admin]

The Wiki? Let me tell you, last Sunday I was up in Asheville with
my daughter Mackenzie. I did stop at one of two Russian stores in
the area. A day later, I went to submit the new info in Wiki, and
found my prior submittals had been deleted. I'm holding off on
Wiki entries for the time being...

Vaughn,

I know there has been some rearranging - but I do not think ANYTHING has been deleted from the Wiki.

If you send me a PM with a few details, I will look into it.

- Dan