And Money Should Grow On Trees
photo credit: Keith Bacongco
I was reading this very interesting article on Google’s new Translation Center, when my eye was drawn to the last comment:
Machine translation is still far from being perfect, and regular translators are very expensive. In a flat world this service should cost next to nothing.
I’m always amazed to see how people will easily discount other professions, simply because they stand in the way of money. As if translators were making indecent heaps of it, anyway.
I have a much simpler answer to their problem. In the flat world of wishful thinking, I’d like money to grow on trees. Alternatively, medicine should be a free service, er… no, better still, nobody would need medication or surgery, bread should appear in bread baskets and nobody would have to buy it, neither would we have to pay for water, electricity, and cars would run on air, instead of insanely expensive fuel.
Let me be extra-adventurous, I’m dreaming of a really flat world, that would be rid of psychopaths, dictators and idiots. It doesn’t cost anything to ask, anyway.
Tags: Translation
August 6th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Fabulous commentary on such a difficult issue… As a “development” professional, I have helped organizations raise LOTS of money, create strategic plans, provide services to expanding markets and all the while am forced to justify charging for my services instead of “volunteering” my assistance.
My philosophy on this has become that if you give yourself away, that’s the value that’s placed on you and your services. I rarely “volunteer” these days as I like spending my time with people who value me as much as I value them.
Oh, and when I need translation services, you’ll be the first person I contact ;~)))