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Poll: Do you see yourself as a "freelancer" or as an "independent professional"?
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Sep 12, 2012

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you see yourself as a "freelancer" or as an "independent professional"?".

This poll was originally submitted by Julian Holmes. View the poll results »



 
Mary Worby
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What's the difference? Sep 12, 2012

If asked, I'd probably say I was a 'freelancer' as it sounds more down-to-earth than an 'independent professional', which is more something you'd put on your CV. But I don't see a semantic difference between them.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
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They mean the same... Sep 12, 2012

... though personally I prefer independent professional as there's a subtle negative connotation to the term "freelancer".

PS Please, please don't kill the messenger!


 
Angus Stewart
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Professional Sep 12, 2012

Teresa Borges wrote:

personally I prefer independent professional as there's a subtle negative connotation to the term "freelancer".


I share similar sentiments to Teresa. Being a professional is a much more positive way to self-identify.


 
Lucia Moreno Velo
Lucia Moreno Velo  Identity Verified
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Freelancer = mercenary?? Sep 12, 2012

To me, "freelancer" would be the anglosaxon term while "independent professional" would be derived from Latin. Maybe I'm missing a nuance because I am not a native English speaker. You mean to say that a freelancer has something of a mercenary in it?

Hugs,
Lucía


 
Emin Arı
Emin Arı  Identity Verified
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Free Lancer Sep 12, 2012

The word of freelancer comes from 'Free' (no master but just money) 'Lancer' (Soldier, of course a pro) and was first used in 1820 to describe Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. That is what wiki says.

So both freelancer and independent professional are true term regarding definition. If someone hires you then you must be a pro otherwise why they should choose you.

No master at all! that is the best side of being freelancer.


 
Ty Kendall
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I see myself as.... Sep 12, 2012

..."an Independent Language Replacement Practitioner" ....kidding! ...but I do know translators who call themselves that...with or without sarcasm I'm not sure.

Joking aside, I wasn't really aware "freelancer" had any particular negative connotations, so I've never minded being referred to thus.

I suppose it depends who's asking. If I was
... See more
..."an Independent Language Replacement Practitioner" ....kidding! ...but I do know translators who call themselves that...with or without sarcasm I'm not sure.

Joking aside, I wasn't really aware "freelancer" had any particular negative connotations, so I've never minded being referred to thus.

I suppose it depends who's asking. If I was talking to friends/someone on a more down-to-earth level I'd definitely use "freelancer" because if I used "independent professional" I fear they would still be taking the **** when I'm 80.

I suppose you can avoid both in some circumstances by just using "self-employed" but there's something quite ungainly and inelegant about that expression, maybe it's the hyphenation.

Then there's "consultant" - but that's becoming ridiculously overused. Everyone's a consultant of something nowadays (consultant also has connotations of being a bit pricey, or overpriced).

Interesting article on the subject:
http://freelancefolder.com/is-the-title-freelancer-a-turn-off/

Connotations can be changed, maybe it's time to reclaim the term "freelancer".
Collapse


 
Susanna Martoni
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A professional Sep 12, 2012

Indipendent.

Yes, also freelancer.

Un libero professionista.
Un profesional libre.

The word "free" is crucial here.

[Modificato alle 2012-09-12 08:43 GMT]


 
LingoKat
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Freelancer Sep 12, 2012

As a non-native speaker of English I may be missing some subtle nuances, but I definitely prefer to call myself a "freelancer".

@Ty: Thanks for sharing the link. The author's final thoughts sum up nicely how I feel about being a freelancer.


 
Well I'm just a translator Sep 12, 2012

All these euphemisms like waste operative and language service provider and vendors and all that other tosh - who do they think they are kidding?

The other day I saw someone on here describing themselves as "a boutique LSP". That'll be a freelancer who sends out the odd job. FFS.


 
neilmac
neilmac
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Other Sep 12, 2012

Other, definitely other. Because I caught a whiff of trick question there and I don't like being pinned down. To all intents and purposes, I'd say they are the same. I suppose you could say I'm whatever you want (or pay) me to be, although some of my behaviour (like telling clients to take a hike) is extremely unprofessional.

 
Gennady Lapardin
Gennady Lapardin  Identity Verified
Руска Федерација
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One of the approaches Sep 12, 2012

One of the approaches is that the words have meaning.
From this point of view, what's the difference between "freelancer", "hawk", "tiger", "independent writer", etc?

[Edited at 2012-09-12 09:08 GMT]
A very very small tiger, size 0.01 dollar per source word or even less

[Edited at 2012-09-12 09:31 GMT]


 
Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
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@ Neil Sep 12, 2012

Isn't that called OCT ("Ongoing Client Training")? Surely there should be some money available from the Fundación Tripartita or whatever it's called nowadays, to learn how to do this?



Noni


 
Yvonne Gallagher
Yvonne Gallagher
Ирска
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they mean the same Sep 12, 2012

is what I voted.

I generally use "self-employed" and add "as a translator" if I am asked but would never use "independent professional" and don't really see any negative undertones with "freelancer" other than possibly every Tom, Dick and Harry being one in these recessionary days.

I think "self-employed" implies a more professional approach but I could be wrong!

[Edited at 2012-09-12 09:54 GMT]


 
Simon Bruni
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We are all medieval mercenary warriors Sep 12, 2012

Lucia Moreno Velo wrote:

To me, "freelancer" would be the anglosaxon term while "independent professional" would be derived from Latin. Maybe I'm missing a nuance because I am not a native English speaker. You mean to say that a freelancer has something of a mercenary in it?

Hugs,
Lucía


From the Online Etymology Dictionary:

freelance
also free lance, free-lance, "medieval mercenary warrior," 1820 ("Ivanhoe"), from free (adj.) + lance; apparently a coinage of Sir Walter Scott's. Figurative sense is from 1864; specifically of journalism by 1882. Related: Freelancer. The verb is first attested 1903. Related: Freelanced; freelancing.


 
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Poll: Do you see yourself as a "freelancer" or as an "independent professional"?






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