Hi,

I am fairly new to Shanghai and would like to know if anyone out there has had experience in the proofreading/editing field. I have some experience, and have noticed that a lot of ad companies could REALLY use a native English speaker to review their work. Do these types of jobs exist here in Shanghai for an Expat with excellent reading/writing skills?? Or are most of the jobs taken by young (cheaper to employ) Chinese students with limited English backgrounds??

Sent you a pm.

Tuckertwo wrote:Hi, I am fairly new to Shanghai and ...

Yes, i can see that. One of the first things you should know about "English" texts, warning plates, information notices is this:
They are not at all intended to warn, inform,.. foreigners.
They are for decoration purposes only. They should show the Chinese customers that their shop, company, ... is international, global, huge, important,...
So, why bother about the sequence of words if the text is for decoration only ?

Agree with foreverinchina, most companies just don't see the use for grammatically correct marketing materials, ads etc. in English. For them hiring professionals or native speakers to proofread or edit those is a waste of money. Actually it hasn't even crossed their minds in most cases. There is probably a market for proofreading but it must be quite tiny.

My friend was employed for a company that set up some displays at a museum in Shanghai, and while there she noticed the horrific English explaining the various exhibits. She offered FOR FREE to tweak the English to sound like something that more closely approximates the language and she was rebuffed, with the museum officials (who probably don't even speak English) telling her they preferred the translation done by their staff.

I don't think the vast majority of companies care enough to pay someone to correct it.

Stark wrote:My friend was employed for a company that set up some displays at a museum in Shanghai, and while there she noticed the horrific English explaining the various exhibits. She offered FOR FREE to tweak the English to sound like something that more closely approximates the language and she was rebuffed, with the museum officials (who probably don't even speak English) telling her they preferred the translation done by their staff.

I don't think the vast majority of companies care enough to pay someone to correct it.

Also, sometimes I think they (the Chinese) think so highly of themselves with their 5000 years of "culture" and their mad English skills that they are just right about it and don't believe and/or care about your corrections. Surely you can't be right even if you are a native speaker...

I had a similar experience at the Science & Tech Museum. I think it's a face thing - some upper level manager has staked his claim on being the English expert. When you come in with offers to make corrections, you embarrass and undermine him. Just the other day someone whom I highly respect told me that he was leaving the mistakes in to make it seem more authentic. I don't get that.

foreverinchina wrote:

Tuckertwo wrote:Hi, I am fairly new to Shanghai and ...

Yes, i can see that. One of the first things you should know about "English" texts, warning plates, information notices is this:
They are not at all intended to warn, inform,.. foreigners.
They are for decoration purposes only. They should show the Chinese customers that their shop, company, ... is international, global, huge, important,...
So, why bother about the sequence of words if the text is for decoration only ?

You are totally correct there. Chinese companies and governments DON'T CARE for foreign consumers. Their target is their own big consumer base, not foreigners. Those are there just for decoration. Can't agree more.

I mean, chinese companies still use HANDWRITTEN agreements! So I am not too sure about the company part too... well, anyways, good luck.

Larger MNCs use proofreaders for internal memos, media releases, business plans, technical documentation, and more if the local team aren't up to scratch. If you have Chinese translation skills then you'll be in high demand.

But I'm not sure I want the menus changed. Just yesterday I was trying to work out what 'Semen Cannabis' was on a drink menu.

To me, this image sums up the majority attitude towards English signage in China:

(Source: http://twitter.com/stinson/statuses/2017361477)

OP After you've been in China a bit longer you'll understand.

As far as the Chinese are concerned, Kingsoft English rules. The translations are perfect and all they are concerned with is that you cooperate with them. Cooperate, by the way means that you buy from them.