japanese to english translator needed!

[Edward Fowler]

Actually, I checked Kaya Publishing's website before writing my 
previous response, and learned that it is a non-profit organization.
My opinion remains unchanged.  The goal of an NPO, as it is for
any corporation, is to make money--but just not generate a profit.  
If NPO's were such poor financial risks, why, then, have they
become such a growth industry?  There is money to be made--not by
the organization, necessarily, but certainly by the executives who
run the show and are attracted to the business by high salaries.
Be that as it may, any business ("non-profit" or no) does indeed
make allowances in its budget for items deemed truly important.  
That brings me right back to my original observation about the
exploitation of groups like translators.  It is a heart-felt one,
because I, no doubt like many List Subscribers, have spent several 
years working as a translator and have battled in vain against the 
assumption that translation is an essentially mindless activity
which, because of its "mechanical" nature, need not take any time 
(because no "thought" is involved)--and thus the fiendishly short
deadlines that turn the assumption into a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Ted Fowler


On Mon, 1 Nov 1999, Aaron Gerow wrote:

> Wow! Lots of discussion on the always difficult issue of translation, 
> interpretation, and labor in a capitalist environment.  As list ownder, 
> however, I should remind people to calm down a bit, be civil, and be 
> careful about their use of words.  Also, do try to avoid jumping to 
> conclusions about others on the list (for instance, about people's 
> financial situation or status--I have been told, for instance, that Kaya 
> Publishing is non-profit).  Still, feel free to criticize, but let's 
> maintain a bit more etiquette.
> 
> Aaron Gerow
> Yokohama National University
> KineJapan list owner
> For list commands: send "information kinejapan" to 
> listserver at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Kinema Club: http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/Markus/Welcome.html
>