Language and translator(s)

Hi folks. I'm doing some social research about the UN presence in Cambodia in January. In a perfect world, I would speak Khmer - but I don't, beyond the conversational pleasantries I'm currently working on. Two questions:

1) What level of English is spoken, in the main centres and in rural areas? Any ideas about different language skills among different social groups - government officials, NGO workers, students, journalists, ordinary folks on the street?

2) Does anyone have any leads on translators (for hire)? Perhaps someone has a recommendation from a local language school or similar?

Thanks.

Amongst rural - virtually non existant. Amongst the other groups is not too bad. Not sure of which street but if you go riverside to the same same street as indochine 2 hotel there are translators who work for a very cheap price doing data translation and would probably do voice for you as well.

They are at the Norodom end of the street on the left hand side - its either the indochine 2 hotel street or one or two 2 streets either side, easy to find and they have big yellow signs out the front. (towards psar ja from psar kandal)

BTW - offer any good english speaking motodope 5 or 10 dollars for the day and they will do it for you anyway or better still a student.

Also heres some free info for your research on the UN - they are corrupt scumbags who don't care about anybody except themselves.

I would say that for main centers it is a mixed bag, frankly the majority do not speak as well as they think they do. There are some with excellant skills. There are many cambodians who know enough English to conduct minimal business transactions in the markets, banks and other businesses. I live in the country in Kampong Cham; my wife and I are teaching English to villagers, but outside of these students (who speak at a beginning level) there are no English speakers at all. Most, by the way, are learning English to escape from country life.

I would carefully vet anyuone who primarily translates written material from one language to another. Speaking skills are much more demanding. As for translators, it would help if you could be more precise about the situations and materials you are going to cover. If you have more backgournd information pm me and I will recommend a couple of Cambodians whose spoken English is excellant.

Cambodian country homestay: rana-cambodia.blogspot.com

Tanslation is a very complex thing . especially in the area that you are reasearching and i doubt that it be easy to find someone with the skill to translate in the area that you are talking about.

I think back to a very expensive work shop that a new (Cambodian) colleague of mine organised a few years ago. We had the whole kit and kaboodle of head sets and UNDP translators at some enormous cost. UNDP translator was hopeless - not because he wasnt a good english speaker but because he didnt have the technical vocab for the subject.

Some NGO workers will speak good English within their technical speciality. Some goverment officials will also be good - but not all..in fact a minority.

I disagree with #3 in the case of Cambodia it is more likely that people will speak better than they can read or write in English

I agree with #4, in the majority of cases the quality of spoken English is much better than written, however the problem that I have faced before is that the translation you receive is often designed to please. Often the interviewee will give you an answer that they think you want to hear or the translator will adjust their reply for the same reason. It is vital that the person doing the translating understands why you are asking the questions and the importance of getting a honest answer.

#1 “tightass” is not apt handle as he currently seems to be talking through it

I am returning to Cambodia next week and work with some people who understand the importance of good translation, if you email me your details of what you require and when, I will ask members of my team if any one would be free

cjmcsg@yhaoo.com

#5

Yeh, whatever know it all. I have used the the places I mentioned and was very happy with them - their english skills were very good and I have used them for several legal scenarios.

Why is it your having a go at me for offering some legitimate / factual help? Is it your one of these scumbag UN workers or perhaps, just as bad, NGO?

"Is the key to the office here?"
"Here no have key for office."
"Do you know who has the key?"
----puzzled look, a minute later
"You look for key for office?"

Receptionist of a 4** hotel catering to tourists in Siem Reap.

If you are trying to do professional work, do not use amateur interpretors like students or, heaven forbid, motodups. At the very best, a student might be good enough for a hack doing a puff piece on the Magic Turtle of Kandal of the Jungle Woman of Ratanakiri, or perhaps to translate a written document, but if you are doing serious research, they are not good enough. Their knowledge of English is narrow and highly variable, they interpret incorrectly, following cultural habits such as telling you what they think you want to here or omitting uncomfortable comments. In short, they are not professionals. Good interpretors (especially those that can do proper simultaneous interpretation) are hard to find. Good and cheap are almost impossible to find. I have had some luck by employing interpretors through agencies like Pyramid or Go Translation, which is very expensive, but then after you know a couple of them, privately contracting them or a friend of theirs at a much lower rate.

I would imagine a motodope or student would be all you would need for research on the UN presence - words like "corrupt", "self centred", "obnoxious", "lexus", landcruiser", "mercedes" are about the only words you will need translating.

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<hr>I would imagine a motodope or student would be all you would need for research on the UN presence - words like "corrupt", "self centred", "obnoxious", "lexus", landcruiser", "mercedes" are about the only words you will need translating. <hr></blockquote>
Yes, we get it, we already know you don't like the UN. Unless you have something more substantive to say, there is no need to beat your point to death. But to the question of the OP, if the intent is to do a professional research project, you'd be wrong about using motodups as interpretors. To do professional work, regardless of the topic, you need real interpretors.

Agree with much of what has been said above.

I am currently doing some field research among Cambodia's minorities (many of which don't speak Khmer which obviously complicates interpretation) and I don't think it is possible to do this with moto dups. Right now I am using a number of interpretors/research assistants from one of Cambodia's few credible research institutes, all of which have a long list of people not on their staff role but regularly hired on project basis.

The people I am using cost between 40$ and 50 a day and they are good value, as they all have substantial research experience related to my topis. I am toying with the idea of recruiting from among recent uni graduates to lower my overall cost. I have read a couple of fairly decent master thesis' on topics related to mine and I am confident that their authors are up to job.

In short, you could start by contacting various research institute to inquire about people with experience relevant to your topic, or relevant professors at the few decent universities to let them recommend some of their students with relevant research interest.

Agree with some of the above, that Cambodian's tend to be much better in spoken English compared to written, so if you want people with good drafting skills they will be very hard to find and expensive.

One of the problems is that people who have UN experience have also expectations shaped by this experience and it can be hard to meet those expectations.

Totally agree with #8. A motodop as a translator on a professional project would be completely useless for a professional project for the reasons given.

Or for a better example, get a copy of the movie "Lost in Translation" and watch the scene where Bill Murray is in a Japanese TV studio. The director is shouting and gesticulating, with hundreds of words in Japanese erupting from his mouth. Finished, the interpreter steps in and says only, "he wants you to move over here". And that's about what you'll get from a motodop.