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Poll: Do you ever feel emotionally drained by translating highly sensitive subject matter?
Haria hasi duena: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
WEB GUNEKO LANGILEAK
Jun 26

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ever feel emotionally drained by translating highly sensitive subject matter?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:24
Bazkidea (2007)
Ingelesatik Portugesara
+ ...
Heavy topics stay with me all day Jun 26

When I was working as a sworn translator in Belgium, I had to deal with several cases that affected me for days on end: domestic violence, incest, and rape.

Thayenga
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Danimarka
Local time: 16:24
Bazkidea (2003)
Danieratik Ingelesara
+ ...
Sometimes the background research affects me more than the basic text Jun 26

Often the text I translate is a tiny piece in a much larger puzzle, and then it does not affect me so much - a divorce on the grounds of violence without details, or whatever.
Sometimes I have had whole case histories, and several instalments, and then I have gone round with them for days and never forgotten! The first was a young man who mercifully recovered almost completely from horrifying burns.

Another was a long series about the victim of a traffic injury, who struggled... See more
Often the text I translate is a tiny piece in a much larger puzzle, and then it does not affect me so much - a divorce on the grounds of violence without details, or whatever.
Sometimes I have had whole case histories, and several instalments, and then I have gone round with them for days and never forgotten! The first was a young man who mercifully recovered almost completely from horrifying burns.

Another was a long series about the victim of a traffic injury, who struggled through rehabilitiation, but then had to fight with ridiculous regulations in order to come back to work part time with an employer who could accommodate special needs. Unfortunately there were far too many of these stories, when I checked the rules ...

And then there was a series of dental records that kept coming back - that really hurt!

On a happier note, I also go round in a good mood when I have a success story to translate - like the career of a lad who left school the minute he could get away. He took a job on a farm, where he started repairing the machines. He ended up as the CEO of a large and successful company, but there were some bumps along the way!

I still translate occasionally for a fund that supports work with children and cancer patients, and I think a lot about the stories that come up.

[Edited at 2026-06-26 11:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
Luca Adie
Luca Adie
Alemania
Local time: 16:24
Alemanatik Ingelesara
+ ...
... Jun 26

I've dealt with a lot of death certificates, but it's very much forgotten about when I'm onto the next text.

One transcription and translation project for UK courts stuck with me: a group of Spanish businessmen who were being investigated due to fraud - the way they talked about women and money made my mouth drop. Apparently 3 million is loose change. I won't repeat their misogynistic nonsense.
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 15:24
Ingelesatik Portugesara
+ ...
Yes Jun 29

Yes, I regularly translate legal reports involving child abuse, and yes, it can be emotionally draining.
 


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Poll: Do you ever feel emotionally drained by translating highly sensitive subject matter?






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