Why every translator on this planet thinks I have to read a book with a hand calculator near-by?

For example the book says: “They have to travel 36 miles”

And the translator diligently adds a note: “Mile: Anglo-Saxon unit of measurement for distances. One mile equals about 1,609 meters.”

Great! Just great!. Now, my dear reader, take your trusted calculator and compute: 36 miles are about 57,904 meters. One more step and you are enlightened: about 58 kilometers.

This goes on and on and on. You have to worry about inches, nautical miles, pounds and so on.

Why not simply give in the note the full amount in metric units? Or, even better, modify the text to use metric system?

I think the quality of the translation will not be affected in any way by making these small modifications in the text

PS: In the same time I love translators and I thanks them for their very hard work behind the scenes.

Repost from the CIO Mind

I usually visit a major bookstore twice a month. Since about spring 2004 I only found 2-3 new books in science fiction or fantasy. Because of this I was a loyal customer of airport bookstores. All the airports bookstores have some books in English (even a small French one).

Starting this summer I noticed an increase in number of sci-fi & fantasy books published. But today surprise: I found 20 (twenty) new books.

This is a very good sign. Editors start translating and publishing science fiction books again.

Names and websites (where available) of publishing houses:

Cartea de Buzunar
http://www.cdb.ro

Nemira
http://www.nemira.ro

Tritonic
http://www.tritonic.ro

Paralela 45
http://www.edituraparalela45.ro

Minerva
No web site found

Lucman
http://www.lucman.ro

I started this blog (unlike this one) as a lone wolf exercise, like diary: me and my books. I did not think about readers. Nevertheless I got some.

I published some articles (mostly technical) and I speak regularly at industry events, but a reader leaving a comment on the blog it’s different.

It is a very personal experience. It is nothing like “I saw your article on …”.

Probably that’s why “everybody” blogs.

I usually visit a major bookstore twice a month.
Since about spring 2004 I only found 2-3 new books in science fiction or fantasy. Because of this I was a loyal customer of airport bookstores. All the airports bookstores have some books in English (even a small French one).

Starting this summer I noticed an increase in number of sci-fi & fantasy books published. But today surprise: I found 20 (twenty) new books.This is a very good sign. Editors start translating and publishing science fiction books again.

Names and websites (where available) of publishing houses I “meet” today:

Cartea de Buzunar
http://www.cdb.ro

Nemira
http://www.nemira.ro

Tritonic
http://www.tritonic.ro

Paralela 45
http://www.edituraparalela45.ro

Minerva
No web site found

Lucman
http://www.lucman.ro

I decided to move here all science fiction & fantasy related posts from my other blog (CIO Mind).

Enjoy!