I recently did a proofreading job with a twist. At the start I was given three files: 1) the original German text; 2) an existing English translation of it; and 3) another English translation of it by someone labelled as an expert in the field – with the word “client” in the filename. For the record, whoever the “client” who wrote the text of the third file was, they did an excellent job; the text I read in the third file was in many respects better (if you will excuse me for generalising) than that which I read in the second file, and not just because they had a solid grasp of the relevant terminology. Indeed, I was quick to note that they went into details about certain points which were not specified in the original German version. I soon agreed that I could take this unknown “client’s” English version of this material on good authority.
I was supposed to make my corrections in the second file while looking at the third for guidance here and there. Originally I was going to compare all three files while making the amendments I agreed with the project manager that I would make, in the second of the files mentioned above. However, I admit that I lost the plot: I just let it become an exercise of comparing the second and third files. But that’s not to say I never consulted the first file, the original German text, for reference pursuant to proofreading alteration decisions that I would make. Basically, the more I saw similarities between said second and third texts, the more I became convinced that I knew all of what to (basically) expect in the original, and only that. I mean, I wanted to have some trust in my fellow translators. Indeed, I myself have hired other professional translators to do work for me, as part of my own marketing as a self-employed translator.
In any case, I made plenty of changes to the second file, some of it being repetitions of what I read in the third file, with just a bit of rewording on my part which had nothing to do with the text in the third file where I turned to the first file for reference. And this altered file is the file I sent off as my work. While I hate myself for forgetting to refer to the original German version throughout my work in this project, I think I did a satisfactory job all the same. Let me know what you think.