Category Archives: Freelance translator

Yoga for translators | 21-DAY of Perfect Health Challenge by Deepak Chopra — Day 2

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Freelance translator doing yoga in Malasana pose
Yoga for translators – Malasana pose

Following the yoga for translators and interpreters series with mantras and manifestations, here’s day 2. The centering thought of day 2 of the 21-Day of Perfect Health Challenge by Deepak Chopra is “YUM”, which means “Balance is my true nature”.

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Spanish version

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Yoga for translators | 21-DAY of Perfect Health Challenge by Deepak Chopra — Day 1

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A female translator is doing yoga with her laptop on her lap
Om Bravam Namah — I’m absolute existence.

Here’s a new series about translators’ well-being. This series will cover mantras and manifestations to complete the 21-Day of Perfect Health Challenge by Deepak Chopra.

Day’s one mantra is “Om Bravam Namah”, which means “I’m absolute existence”.

The good thing about this series is that you can have your laptop with you! 🙂

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Spanish version

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Marketing Your Translation and Interpretation Business with a Powerful Quote by Warren Buffett

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As a freelance translator or interpreter, you know that your work goes far beyond simply converting words from one language to another. You’re not just a conduit for communication; you’re a bridge between cultures, a voice for the voiceless, and an integral part of business and international relations. But in a competitive industry, ensuring that your skills are truly valued by potential clients can be challenging.

Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most successful investors, once said: “Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” This simple yet profound statement has powerful implications for how you market yourself as a professional translator or interpreter.

Understanding the Difference: Price vs. Value

Let’s break this down. As a freelancer, you might often hear clients focus on price—asking for a discount or shopping around for the “cheapest” option. But here’s the critical distinction you should keep in mind:

  • Price is what you pay. This is the number on the invoice, the sum of your hourly rate or per-word fee.
  • Value is what you get. This is where your expertise, experience, and skills shine through. It’s the precision of your translations, the nuance you bring to your interpretations, and the reliability and cultural understanding you offer.

When clients focus on price alone, they often miss the true value that comes from working with an experienced and highly skilled professional. As a translator or interpreter, your value lies not just in the number of words you translate or the number of hours you work, but in the way you ensure that communication is clear, accurate, and culturally relevant.

Know Your Worth, and Don’t Settle for Less

Too often, translators and interpreters undervalue their services in an attempt to win over clients with lower rates. While being competitive is important, cutting your rates too much can send the wrong message: that your expertise doesn’t deserve to be compensated fairly.

Instead, I encourage you to embrace the mindset of providing value. Understand that your skills are an asset to your clients’ success. Whether you’re translating marketing materials, interpreting at a medical conference, or assisting with legal proceedings, your work profoundly impacts your clients’ ability to communicate effectively and avoid costly misunderstandings.

How Can You Market Your Value?

To successfully market your translation or interpretation business, it’s essential to communicate the value you bring to the table—not just your price. Here are a few strategies to do so:

  1. Craft a Value-Oriented Pitch – Instead of saying, “I charge X per hour,” try positioning yourself as a problem-solver: “I help businesses communicate effectively in [language] markets, ensuring accurate and culturally relevant translations that boost customer engagement.”
  2. Highlight Your Expertise – Share your background, specialized knowledge, and the results you’ve achieved. Have you worked with major brands, translated complex documents, or interpreted for high-stakes events? Let your clients know!
  3. Share Testimonials – Nothing speaks to your value more than satisfied clients. Collect testimonials that emphasize the quality and impact of your work.
  4. Set Clear Boundaries – Make it clear that you won’t compromise on quality for the sake of price. Stand firm in your rates and explain why the value you provide justifies them.
  5. Offer Packages, Not Discounts – Rather than lowering your rates, create service packages that emphasize the comprehensive nature of your work and the long-term benefits clients will receive by working with you.

A Simple Step to Market Your Business

Now that you understand the importance of communicating your value, I want to share a simple yet powerful tool that can help you stand out: the Value Marketing Card. This card allows you to distill your expertise and your unique value proposition into a concise, visually appealing format that you can easily share with potential clients.

By using the Value Marketing Card, you’re not just telling clients what you do; you’re showing them the true value of working with you. This card serves as a reminder that your services are an investment—one that will pay off in clarity, accuracy, and cultural understanding.

Ready to elevate your freelance business and market your true value? Purchase your Value Marketing Card today and start presenting yourself as the high-quality professional that you are. Don’t let clients focus only on price—let them understand the lasting value you bring to the table.

By knowing your worth and using smart marketing tools like the Value Marketing Card, you’ll attract the right clients who are willing to pay for the top-notch services you provide. After all, when clients see your value, the price becomes a secondary consideration.

Take the First Step Today!

Take charge of your business and shift the focus from price to value. Purchase your Value Marketing Card now and start showcasing the incredible skills you bring to every translation and interpretation project.

Your clients deserve the best, and so do you.

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Manifesting Good Vibes for 2025: A Special Card for Translators and Interpreters

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As 2024 approaches, we’re given the perfect opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and set intentions for the one ahead. For translators and interpreters, whose work bridges worlds and creates connections, attracting positivity and abundance into our lives isn’t just about manifesting—it’s about aligning with the energy we wish to bring into our work and personal journeys.

What better way to start 2025 on the right foot than by sharing and embracing positive affirmations? This holiday season, send this Christmas tree made of empowering words, adorned with the affirmation:

“I don’t chase, I attract. What belongs to me will find me.”

This simple yet powerful mantra reminds us that everything meant for us—whether it’s fulfilling projects, supportive clients, or personal growth—will naturally flow into our lives when we’re open to receiving.

Why Send a Card?

Sending this card isn’t just a thoughtful gesture for your clients, colleagues, or fellow linguists; it’s also a way to spread positive vibes. By sharing this affirmation, you’re helping to uplift the translation and interpreting community while setting the tone for a year filled with abundance, peace, and purpose.

Attract Good Things in 2025

  • For Your Career: Use the card to remind yourself that the right clients and projects will find you, and trust that your talents will be recognized.
  • For Your Community: Send it to colleagues and friends to inspire them with this message of calm confidence.
  • For the World: A small card can carry a big message—let’s spread kindness and gratitude far and wide.

Get Your Cards Today!

Celebrate the season with intention and send positive affirmations to set the tone for 2025. Order your cards now to bring smiles, good energy, and optimism to everyone you send them to—and to yourself!

As translators and interpreters, we already have the gift of creating understanding across languages and cultures. Let’s extend that gift into the new year by attracting all the good things that belong to us.

See more cards here,

Here’s to a 2025 filled with positivity, abundance, and success!

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Christmas cards for translators and interpreters

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December is here, and the holiday season is just around the corner! It’s the perfect time to share a new collection of season’s greetings cards designed especially for translators and interpreters.

As we wrap up the year, let’s take a moment to relax, reconnect, and spread some cheer. Why not send a touch of humor to your colleagues? A lighthearted card can be just the thing to help them unwind and smile during the busy holiday season.

Let’s celebrate the season together—one cheerful card at a time. Wishing you and your colleagues.

Happy Holidays!

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To purchase one of these cards simply click the “buy now” button and follow the purchase process. Don’t forget to enter the purchase code in the comment section and/or send an email to translatorfun @ gmail.com to indicate the purchase code or title of the card you’ve just purchased.

Once payment is received, the card without watermarks will be sent to the email address you entered at the time of the purchase. All cards can be customized (your name can be added). If you are a company, your logo can be included.

Breaking the AI Myth: Why Human Translators Will Always Be Essential

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[Sponsor’s guest post]

This article will take a deep dive into the misconception that AI will replace human translators. It will provide data and insights into why AI can never fully replace the nuanced understanding and cultural knowledge that only humans bring to translation.

Breaking the AI Myth: Why Human Translators Will Always Be Essential

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a widespread belief that human translators are on their way out, destined to be replaced by intelligent algorithms. But is this really the case? 

In this article, we’re going to debunk this myth, explaining why human translators are still and always will be essential. We’ll explore the nuances of translation that require a human touch. You’ll also see how AI is enhancing the role of professional linguists instead of replacing them.

The rise of AI in translation

AI translation technology has advanced from simple rule-based systems to sophisticated Neural Machine Translation (NMT), making translation faster and more accessible. Tools like Google Translate and DeepL offer quick, often accurate translations across many languages.

Despite these improvements, AI still falls short in understanding context, cultural nuance, and emotion. As Rachelle, Head of AI at Tomedes, says, “AI has transformed translation but can’t replace the cultural and contextual insights humans bring.” Human translators remain essential for adding the depth that AI alone cannot achieve.

AI and human translators’ collaboration can enhance the quality

Many think AI and human translators are in competition, but the best results happen when they work together. Picture AI as the rhythm in an orchestra, setting the basics, while human translators are the soloists, adding depth and nuance.

In translation, AI can handle repetitive tasks like drafting translations or processing large volumes of text, freeing human translators to focus on creativity, context, and emotional tone. For instance, AI might translate a technical manual, while a human ensures that safety warnings are adapted to each culture’s urgency and seriousness.

This partnership boosts efficiency for freelancers and in-house teams. It lets translators concentrate on making language vibrant and meaningful.

The Case for Free AI Tools in Translation

Free AI tools are transforming the translation industry by providing advanced technology at no cost, enabling smaller players to compete with larger Language Service Providers (LSPs).

Benefits of Free AI Tools:

  • Cost Savings: Freelancers and small businesses can reduce expenses by using free tools like MachineTranslation.com, allowing them to be more productive without the high costs of traditional software.
  • Accessibility: These tools provide small players with the same technology as large LSPs, enabling them to deliver high-quality translations and compete effectively.
  • Efficiency: Free AI tools automate repetitive tasks, letting translators focus on complex aspects of translation, increasing both productivity and quality.
  • Scalability: Small businesses can easily expand their capacity, using AI for first drafts and humans for refinement, managing higher demand without compromising quality.
  • Inclusivity: Free AI tools remove financial barriers, making advanced technology accessible to all and fostering a more inclusive industry.

How Tomedes is leading the way in free AI translation tools

Tomedes is setting a new standard with free AI-powered translation tools that boost efficiency without financial strain. Tools like MachineTranslation.com and AITranslator.com streamline repetitive tasks, letting translators focus on high-quality refinement. Freelancers and small translation companies now have the tech to compete with large Language Service Providers (LSPs), efficiently handling high-volume projects and serving global clients.

Our free AI translation tools empower freelancers and small companies to produce initial drafts quickly, especially for large projects like website translations, while human review ensures cultural accuracy and quality. However, while AI is valuable for routine tasks, human oversight remains essential for specialized or nuanced content. Translators should use AI tools as aids, not replacements, especially for complex projects that demand cultural and emotional precision.

As AI technology evolves, free tools will offer even more sophisticated support. By balancing AI’s speed with human expertise, translators can deliver accurate and resonant work, ensuring the best outcomes for clients and pushing industry standards forward.

How AI improves translation efficiency and reduces operational bottlenecks

Translation projects often face bottlenecks, especially in high-volume, multilingual tasks. Here, AI can greatly improve efficiency. By automating initial drafts, AI reduces timelines from days to minutes, giving translators more time to refine accuracy. Project managers can quickly assign drafts, speeding up workflow and ensuring consistency.

Corporate localization teams also rely on AI for efficiency, especially when translating large volumes like product descriptions across many languages. AI handles the initial translation, allowing human translators to refine it for cultural fit and brand tone. This blend of AI speed and human skill results in faster, more accurate, and cost-effective translations that meet deadlines without compromising quality.

The unmatched value of human cultural insight and emotional understanding

Human translators stand out for their cultural insight and ability to convey emotion. Language reflects culture and history, and while machines can translate words, they often miss the emotional depth. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” means heavy rain, something a human understands while AI might misinterpret without context.

Human translators excel at capturing the right tone and adapting content for cultural relevance. In business emails or customer support, they ensure the tone is suitable—professional yet empathetic. In literature, translators bring creativity to make the work resonate, capturing nuances that AI cannot. For ads, human translators adjust humor and references to fit regional norms, ensuring messages land appropriately without offending.

Why human oversight is critical in addressing AI’s limitations

AI translation tools have undeniably advanced, but they still have significant limitations that necessitate human oversight. Here are some of the most critical challenges of AI in translation:

1. Mistranslations with serious consequences

AI tools can create mistranslations with serious consequences, especially in healthcare and law. Accurate translation of patient info, dosage instructions, or legal terms is vital. Mistakes here could lead to incorrect treatments, legal issues, or regulatory problems, risking lives and businesses. Human oversight is crucial for accuracy and safety.

2. Inability to understand evolving language trends

Language is always changing, with new slang and expressions constantly emerging, especially from social media. Human translators adapt to these shifts faster than AI, which often lags behind. This quick adaptation is crucial in fields like marketing and media, where relevance is key. AI struggles with evolving language, so its translations may not connect well with modern audiences.

3. Difficulty with ambiguity

Many languages have words with multiple meanings, and AI often struggles to pick the right one without context. For example, “bank” can mean a financial institution or a river’s edge. Without context, AI might choose the wrong meaning, leading to confusion. Human translators use intuition and context to ensure accurate and clear translations, avoiding costly mistakes.

4. Lack of cultural sensitivity

AI can’t grasp cultural nuances, which are essential in content like marketing, literature, and PR. Human translators ensure content is culturally appropriate, resonating with audiences and avoiding offense. For example, an ad slogan might work well in one culture but be confusing or offensive in another. Only human translators can adapt content to be effective and respectful across cultures.

5. Limited ability to convey emotional tone

Language conveys emotions, intent, and tone, not just words. AI tools may translate words accurately but often miss the original emotional tone, especially in literature, poetry, and marketing. A heartfelt message might come across as robotic, losing its impact. Human translators capture the intended emotion, ensuring the message resonates with the audience.

6. Challenges with specialized terminology

In fields like law, medicine, engineering, and finance, precise translation of specialized terms is essential. AI tools may struggle with complex, industry-specific vocabulary. While AI can help with initial drafts, only expert human translators ensure correct, consistent terminology. Misinterpreting a technical term could lead to misunderstandings, compliance problems, or safety risks.

7. Contextual awareness

AI lacks true contextual understanding. While it has improved through machine learning, it still can’t match human comprehension. Context is crucial for translating idioms, metaphors, and unique phrases. Human translators use their experience, cultural knowledge, and context to ensure translations capture the original message accurately.

8. Ethical considerations and bias

AI systems, trained on large datasets, can sometimes learn and reflect biases, leading to biased or inappropriate translations on sensitive topics like gender, race, or culture. Human translators can spot and correct these biases, ensuring translations are fair and sensitive. Relying only on AI risks perpetuating stereotypes or causing unintentional harm.

Conclusion

AI has transformed translation, making it faster and more cost-effective, especially for basic tasks and large volumes of text. However, human translators remain essential, bringing cultural understanding, emotional intelligence, and the ability to convey the true essence of the original message. At Tomedes, we combine AI’s efficiency with human expertise to offer tailored language solutions that meet unique needs. 

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Celebrate International Translation Day

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Coffee day for translator
Translation day means coffee day
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On this special day, we celebrate a profession that bridges cultures, connects people, and makes the world a smaller place—Happy International Translation Day! Today is all about recognizing the hard work, dedication, and skill you all bring to the table (and the coffee shop, let’s be honest!).

As you go about your day, take a moment to celebrate the incredible impact you have on communication. Whether you are transforming complex legal documents into accessible language or helping a business navigate international waters, your expertise is invaluable.

Why not take a little break today to exchange cards with your fellow language enthusiasts? A simple gesture can brighten someone’s day and strengthen those essential connections within our community.

Speaking of coffee, it’s no secret that many translators and interpreters rely on a steady stream of caffeine to power through those late-night deadlines and endless glossaries. So, in honor of this special day, let’s raise our mugs (or cups, or thermoses) to one another and celebrate our shared love for language—and coffee, of course!

In the spirit of camaraderie and caffeine, the next round is on me. Just make sure you don’t spill it while you’re translating!

Cheers to all of you, and happy International Translation Day! Let’s keep translating the world, one sip at a time!

Drink up.

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Vote for Translator Fun: Best Translation Blog Nominee

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Vote for translator fun
Translator Fun has been nominated as one of the best translation blogs

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you all—this blog, Translator Fun, has been nominated for the ProZ.com Community Choice Awards 2024 in the category of Best Translation Blog!

This recognition means the world to me, and it’s all thanks to this amazing community of interpreters, translators, and language enthusiasts who have made this blog what it is today.

Back in 2011, when I published the first cartoon on this blog, I did not even dare to imagine it would get this far.

Why Vote for Translator Fun? If you’ve enjoyed the content, tips, and insights shared on Translator Fun, this is your chance to show your support. Whether you’ve been entertained by the humorous takes on translation mishaps or found value in the content created for you, your vote would be appreciated.

How to Vote: Voting is simple and only takes a few seconds. You don’t have to vote in every category—just skip to the ones that matter to you. Here’s how you can cast your vote:

  1. Visit the voting page: Click here to vote.
  2. Scroll to the Best Translation Blog category and select Translator Fun.
  3. Send your vote!
  4. Enter a valid email.

Every vote counts, and your support will help us reach even more translators, interpreters, and language lovers out there. Let’s keep the fun in translation going strong!

Thank you so much for being part of this journey. Your enthusiasm and support inspire me to keep creating content that resonates with this wonderful community.

Happy translating (and voting)!

Warm regards,
Romina Bona
Creator of Translator Fun

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Empowering Interpreters: The Courage and Stamina Behind the Job

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Interpreters deserve compliments
What every interpreter should tell themselves
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I’ve just completed a four-day interpreting assignment for the WIKIMANIA 2024 event in Katowice, Poland, organized by FOSSASIA. I had the honor of interpreting via streaming at the Ohrid Spanish room. The event was magnificent covering many interesting topics from technology, community health, research, legal & advocacy, governance & strategy, and so on. Useful information related to all the project pages on MetaWiki such as Wikimedia, Meta, MediaWiki, Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikinews, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, Wikiversity, Wikisource, Wikivoyage, Wikijunior, Wikispecies, Wikifunctions, Incubator, and Sep11wiki.

After the four-day interpreting experience I shared with one of my closest friends, Sole, and with Diego, a professional young colleague from Chile, I could not help but wonder how we managed to do that.

I never get tired of telling people that interpreters are gifted people who do an extraordinary job. Diverse skills and qualities required for the job: it takes courage to sometimes face the unknown. It takes stamina to keep up with the speakers’ pace. It takes determination to do it right. It takes perseverance to keep doing it no matter what goes around. It takes hard work and preparation to reduce the occurrence of surprises. It takes resilience to overcome the challenges ahead. It takes so many skills and traits that each of us should remind ourselves over and over again that we are f* awesome!

My fellow interpreters, bravo!

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Unique Wedding Card for Translators | Special Gift Ideas

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A translator at a wedding
Wedding cards for translators
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Do you know a translator who is about to tie the knot? This card may be just the right present to congratulate them on the special occasion.

Translators can overlook a wide range of faults, but never a typo. Right?

Send this card to the bride and groom-to-be translators to help them relax in preparation for the big day.

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