If I were consistent enough to have a core business instead of dabbling in too many things, it would be translation – at least, it is my steadiest source of income. If you happen to be looking for a Spanish-English translator, I hope you don’t need a detailed CV as I haven’t updated it in a long while, but here is a kind of mini-profile:
Languages: Spanish to English. Accepted good practice is to translate only into your native tongue, so under normal circumstances, I only translate from Spanish to English. I occasionally translate into Spanish, but there needs to be a good reason. I have varying degrees of proficiency in other languages – French, Portuguese, even Latin – but don’t work with them.
Specialities: air traffic control; civil engineering tenders; radar systems; presence and access control, etc. The full list is very long, as I have been translating professionally since 1991, approximately. Inevitably, I have worked with most language areas, though the bulk of the work that comes my way is technical.
Availability/Output: I am usually available for translation work. I turn out around 3,500-4,500 words a day comfortably and can accept up to 2,000-2,500 words a day from a single client, more when a relationship of trust has been established.
Rates and Payment: normal Spanish rates, by which I mean rates in Spain, that being where I live and have to buy my groceries. I rarely haggle, but the better the rate you offer, the more likely I am to be available. Payment on delivery would be nice, but the truth is most people pay me at 45-60 days.
Contact: send queries to jgross52 AT gmail.com, please.
And now, for your edification and amusement (if you are interested in language at least), the following are feeds from some of the sites I browse regularly to keep up to date or put myself in a translation frame of mind (this page is about the translation business – you’ll find more general, usually lighter articles about linguistics and language on the Language Stuff page). If you know a site related with translation or the translation business that would be in good company on this page, do drop me an e-mail or, better still, a comment.
Musings from an overworked translator
Chicago Manual of Style proofreading question
Grant Hamilton shared this gem with the ATA Business Practices listserv this morning. It made me smile, so I wanted to share it. I read this yesterday on the Chicago Manual of Style website and thought you might enjoy it, too: Q. How do you recover from a real proofreading blooper—the kind that has everyone in gales and is terribly … [Link]
LinkedIn has changed its privacy conditions
I received the following very helpful message from a contact and am forwarding it for your awareness and consideration. By following the simple instructions you can opt out. “Without attracting too much publicity, LinkedIn has updated their privacy conditions last summer. Without any action from your side, LinkedIn is now allowed to use your name and picture in any of … [Link]
Translating is an Art
The vendor-client relationship in real world situations
Posted in english, humour, marketing, rates, video 
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Translator or interpreter?
A lot of people don’t seem to know the difference between a translator and an interpreter. In fact, many people don’t even know there is a difference and think the terms are synonymous. They’re not. Dictionaries don’t seem to be very helpful either when it comes to explaining the difference. Here’s what the Oxford Dictionary of English has to say … [Link]
Translation Journal Blog
Who Goes First?
The other day I needed a gallon of milk, so I stopped by my favorite convenience store, picked up a gallon of low-fat, and headed toward the cashier. When it came to my turn, I told the cashier: "I'll pay $1.20 for this." She pretended not to hear me, but answered, in a polite but firm voice: "Two-ninety, please." I … [Link]
Translation Industry Survey
The final results of this survey can be viewed at http://translationjournal.net/journ~ Thanks to all who responded. 
Engrish.com
California Cat in the Hat is too cool
That’s not vogue fever… those are withdrawal symptoms… Photo courtesy of Mie Lilje and William Vest-Lillesøe. Barbie-knock off found in Estonia (made in China).
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If you’re smart, you’ll bring a bib.
Formerly “Gruels for fools who drool.” Photo courtesy of Kitty and Lee Cannon. Found in Shanghai, China.
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Translation Guy
Circle of Trust: Editing Translation
Its tough to buy a translation when you don’t speak the language. Correction. It’s easy to buy, its just tough to know what you bought. Now you can always hire someone else to check it for you, like another language service provider, or do a language managment thing for youself to tell you if its [...] [Link]
Language Secrets Detected with Ultra-Sound
Linguists are using the latest medical equipment to save languages. By using the kind of portable ultrasound device used to monitor the health of unborn children, researchers are able to see and record the shape of people’s throats as they speak. This new field technology has allowed scientists like Amanda Miller of Ohio State to [...] [Link]
Thoughts On Translation
A few financial management tips
After working all day on my business taxes (year-end and fourth quarter…I need a mocha!), my thoughts are firmly stuck in the financial realm. So let’s stick with that topic and talk about some tips for managing your freelance finances. Some of these are US-specific and some apply worldwide, so especially if you’re an overseas reader, feel free to contribute … [Link]
Webinar on remote interpreting
On January 25 at noon New York time (the same time as the Speaking of Translation question and answer call), my good friend and colleague Cris Silva is presenting what looks like a fabulous webinar for ATA, on webcast and telephone interpreting. Cris does a lot of remote interpreting for high-profile events, so I’m sure that this webinar will be … [Link]
Beyond Words – Language Blog
ALTA Language Services Becomes An Employee-Owned Company
I’m happy to announce that ALTA Language Services has been sold to its employees through a leveraged ESOP. In December, the company closed the transaction that acquired 100% of the company’s stock from the departing owners, Abe Revitch and Rosine Sauvage. In discussing the decision with Abe and Rosine, both felt strongly about preserving the culture and team atmosphere that … [Link]
Top 10 Languages Tested in 2011
Beyond Words Language Blog readers might know ALTA primarily as a translation company, but we are also national leaders in the Language Testing sector. Our leadership in medical, government, and corporate language testing keeps us busy with interesting projects for clients and partners. In the last year alone, we worked with Walmart, Kaiser Permanente, International SOS, major US airlines, financial … [Link]
Archive
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