DZiW wrote:
> I think a more apt analogy for a translator would be something like a nail technician...
Chris, could you elaborate? For I think such an attitude is one of the reasons why clients so often (mis)take translators for low-paid MT-technicians a-la poor-man's Google Translate. Nevertheless, I do believe that most translators have got to recreate the idea equivalence from a source by means of a target, considering proper nuances, right contexts, aligned perspectives, and relevant aspects--it's no elementary mechanics (perhaps, unless it's about a rush provisional or word-for-word translation/verbatim).
Why value a translator who doesn't respect himself?--Just another nail in the translation field to get low, face down.
IMO
Your last statement came all out as mangled English, DZiW. We usually say another nail in the coffin [of something already discussed]. And the “to get low, face down” is very confusing. Could you explain more?
I agree with Chris in the analogy department. Those analogies may make us feel better about ourselves (“I'm a trained or experienced translator, unlike some nail technician or a plumber without bond or license”), but most customers don't get that and don't even care. I find it risible to discuss analogies in general because many times we are resorting to anecdote and assumptions about clients and translators in general.
Like some colleagues already said here, it's a different path for everyone. As long as a translator writes very well in all the languages she is working as such, I don't find her lack of a specific translation training or a diploma a hindrance or a disadvantage.
As for business skills, anyone with a professional occupation needs to develop them. There is no need to pooh-pooh translators who don't share your business skills or experience.