Each scenario introduced here is followed by two examples of how a user might use our network, and the expected results. These scenarios were kindly suggested by our member Eduard Montgomery M. Costa (Brazil).

Scenario 1: You are a member and are seeking volunteer or paid help to translate or prepare a paper, book, etc..

Example 1a. You provide minimal profile information, and post a request for help with translation from language A to B, in the forum for translation requests. The subject or project are not described at all.

Expected result: None.

Example 1b. You provide detailed profile information, indicating work status, research experience, and previous publications or theses. You also post a request for help with translation from language A to B, in the forum for translation requests, and describe the subject matter, size of job, and target publisher. You also express a wish to send a sample or trial text first, the standard of translation required, approximate deadline, need or otherwise for specialist knowledge of the subject, and whether or not a learner volunteer or experienced volunteer, or paid professional translator is needed. Finally, you also indicate that the translator will be fully acknowledged in the eventual publication.

Expected result: Someone may find your request by chance, or while looking for translation work or opportunities to gain translation experience, or you might send a link to the request to a translator you know (thus increasing your chances of finding help, by using more than one approach). A translator can reply to the message inside the forum, or in the translators' group page, or on your profile page, or might contact you directly using the private mail system inside the Research Cooperative, or by using our usual email address if you have shown that on your profile page.

To further improve the chance of finding a suitable translator, you can do any or all of the following:

(i) Search the forum for Translation offers to see if any suitable translators can be found there.

(ii) Make sure that your privacy settings (in My page) are set to allow everyone to see your messages, and replies to your messages, and notification of replies to your usual email address (these are the default options).

(iii) Make an initial request for help a long time before any help is actually needed for a specific project. If this is done, time can work for you rather than against you.

(iv) Join the translators group within the Research Cooperative and report the request to the group, in full, or with with a link to the original request in the forum for translation requests. Even if translators in the group cannot help, they may be able to recommend someone who can help.

(v) Search member profile pages for researchers or translators who might have a personal interest in the translation subject, and ask them directly if they can help. When asking someone directly, without the help of an introduction, it is best to give the Research Co-op page address (URL) for the public request you have already made.

(vi) Look for an agent in the forum for agent offers, or request the help of an agent in the forum for agent requests. Agents are other members of the network who will try to find someone able to respond to the request, inside our network, or beyond. Agents may be volunteers, or may require payment.

(vii) Look outside the Research Cooperative for help, but use the link addresses (URLs) of your profile page and your translation request as part of the information that you send when contacting researchers, translators, or translation companies outside our network.

Scenario 2: A publisher is interested in publishing a book in a certain country, and is looking for suitable language translators.

Example 2a

Publisher goes to the Groups menu and finds the link "Add a group". When adding a group, the publisher can use the name of the company as a title, add summary and detailed descriptions of the company, and links to a company website. The message board can then be used to post requests for help with any area of publishing work, including translation. The publisher can also invite members of the Research Cooperative (researchers, translators, and others) to join the group to discuss subjects of mutual interest, thus raising awareness of the publisher as a company.

Expected result: Translators may eventually find your group page and your message concerning translation, and contact you. A fast result cannot be expected without being more pro-active, but setting up a page for your company may be a good longer-term strategy for building an academic and practical support network for your company.

Example 2b

Publisher forms a group as described above, and then announces this group in the forum for Member projects (see top page list of forums), and in all the other groups that are relevant for the publisher (see main menu for Groups).

Expected result: The publisher will quickly begin to attract some attention and interest among our members.

To improve the chance of making a connection with a suitable translator, the publisher can do any or all of the following:

(i) Search the forum for Translation offers to see if any suitable translators can be found there.

(ii) Make sure that the publisher's privacy settings (in My page) are set to allow everyone to see all messages, and replies to those messages, and notification of replies to the publisher's usual email address (these are the default options).

(iii) Prepare the Group page and an initial request (in the forum for translation help) a long time before any help is actually needed for a specific project. If this is done, time can work for you (the publisher) rather than against you.

(iv) Search the member profile pages for researchers or translators who might have a personal interest in the translation project, and ask them directly if they can help. It might be best to look for translators working in the same country as the publisher, or in the country where the book will be distributed. When doing this, it is best to show that a public request has already been made, and to give the page address (linking URL) of the request.

(v) Look for an agent in the forum for agent offers, or request the help of an agent in the forum for agent requests. Agents are other members of the network who will try to find someone able to respond to the request, inside our network, or beyond. Agents may be volunteers, or may require payment.

(vi) Look outside the Research Cooperative for help, but use the link addresses (URLs) of your company profile page and your translation request as part of the information that you send when contacting researchers, translators, and translation companies elsewhere.

In summary, for any kind of request, to find help effectively, please be proactive and use all suitable areas of the Research Cooperative network.

The Research Cooperative has no budget to employ staff who can help members. This is why we have forums for Agent offers and requests.