The Tao of the Guerrilla Translator: Difference between revisions
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Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, we’d like to highlight four distinct areas in the process. They are as follows: | Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, we’d like to highlight four distinct areas in the process. They are as follows: | ||
'''1: Content curation, assignment of operatives''' – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator reads something outstanding and | '''1: Content curation, assignment of operatives''' – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator reads something outstanding and wants to share it with the group, and consider whether and how to organize this material as a project. | ||
'''2: Pre-production, translation and | '''2: Pre-production, translation and copy editing process''' – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator inputs the material into our workflow system. Authors are contacted for permission and the material is translated and copyedited. This is the stage where additional tasks related to the project get identified, the necessary materials collected, and everything poised and placed for eventual action (images, extracts, additional needs, etc.) | ||
'''3: Formatting, proofreading and publishing''' – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator takes the translated | '''3: Formatting, proofreading and publishing''' – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator takes the translated and copy edited text and formats it for publication in our web-magazine, and, before releasing it to the world, proofreads it one (hopefully) last time. | ||
'''4. Social Media, post-production and re-publishing''' Wherein the Guerrilla Translator promotes the hell out of the great task | '''4. Social Media, post-production and re-publishing''' Wherein the Guerrilla Translator promotes the hell out of the great task she has accomplished, ties up any loose ends in this tale, and gives the project new life (and maybe lucrative sequels) by working to have it republished in different specific outlets. | ||
== Content curation, assignment of operatives == | == Content curation, assignment of operatives == | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
=== Sharing it on the Reading blog === | === Sharing it on the Reading blog === | ||
=== Approval and team assignment === | === Approval and team assignment === | ||
== Pre-production, translation and | == Pre-production, translation and copy editing process == | ||
=== Creation of a project Trello card === | === Creation of a project Trello card === | ||
=== Contacting Authors === | === Contacting Authors === | ||
=== Preparing for the next steps === | === Preparing for the next steps === | ||
=== Translation guidelines === | === Translation guidelines === | ||
=== From translation to | === From translation to copy editing, back to Trello === | ||
=== | === Copy editing Guidelines === | ||
=== Making the final copy === | === Making the final copy === | ||
== Formatting, proofreading and publishing == | == Formatting, proofreading and publishing == | ||
Revision as of 18:25, 19 July 2014
Overview
Welcome to the Tao of the Guerrilla Translator! The TotGT is a step by step itinerary describing the full journey of a translation project. The Tao is primarily centered on our pro-bono translation work and for material destined to be published in our web-magazine. On the other hand, much of the procedure described herein can be applied to the paid translation work we take on as an agency.
How to use this guide
Each of the different sections below thoroughly detail the different steps a “project” takes, from reading an article and considering it for translation/curation, through translation and copyediting, to formatting, publishing and promoting it. We will be looking both at the workflow tools we use and the protocols we employ to optimize their usage.
Every section in this page contains a brief overview of each step in the process, as well as links to more thorough wiki entries describing the concrete aspects of each section. All sections will be accompanied by short screen-cast videos (once completed) explaining these processes. Keep in mind that the figure of the “Guerrilla Translator” described herein will be akin to the Hero with a Thousand Faces. We will show the Guerrilla Translator taking on different roles (curator, translator, copy editor, etc.) although in reality, some of these processes will be carried out by different persons within a project.
Finally, given the variety of material we have, this is not a one-size-fits-all guide. There will be exceptions, projects with different needs, and changes made to the procedures over time. The intention here isn’t to present an inviolable template, but an expedient way to make yourself familiar with our method. Once you feel comfortable with what we have outlines, you will likely expand on it and adapt it to both your own needs as a Guerrilla Translator as well as to the needs of each project. For this itinerary we have, as a working example, chosen a Standard Translation with no video content.
Is everybody in? The ceremony is about to begin….
Main steps in the Tao of the Guerrilla Translator
Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, we’d like to highlight four distinct areas in the process. They are as follows:
1: Content curation, assignment of operatives – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator reads something outstanding and wants to share it with the group, and consider whether and how to organize this material as a project.
2: Pre-production, translation and copy editing process – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator inputs the material into our workflow system. Authors are contacted for permission and the material is translated and copyedited. This is the stage where additional tasks related to the project get identified, the necessary materials collected, and everything poised and placed for eventual action (images, extracts, additional needs, etc.)
3: Formatting, proofreading and publishing – Wherein the Guerrilla Translator takes the translated and copy edited text and formats it for publication in our web-magazine, and, before releasing it to the world, proofreads it one (hopefully) last time.
4. Social Media, post-production and re-publishing Wherein the Guerrilla Translator promotes the hell out of the great task she has accomplished, ties up any loose ends in this tale, and gives the project new life (and maybe lucrative sequels) by working to have it republished in different specific outlets.
Content curation, assignment of operatives
Selecting material
This is how every