“It is the task of the translator to release in his own language, that
pure language that is under the spell of another, to liberate the language
imprisoned in a work in his recreation of that work”
Are you taking your business worldwide? You are if you own a
website on the internet. Technology has allowed for the adoption of
international transactions, and it is important that your web content, and all
customer oriented documents, such as brochures and user manuals, are accessible
and readable in other languages so that your company can reach a wider
audience. Conducting business internationally is within your reach, with the
simple implementation of translation services.
Translation services are becoming extremely popular in
today’s global market, as it helps in cutting across language barriers and
interacting with people in other countries. As with any service, a thorough
investigation and research prior to choosing a translation company will benefit
you in many ways and ensure a positive and successful experience.
●
Set expectations with the translation company
It is important for them to
understand who your target audience is, and what type of document you are
having to translate. E.g. translating a brochure or website content for a niche
market requires a different set of translation skills as opposed to translating
an installation manual
●
Check the capabilities of the translation house
●
Quality Control
Ensure that the company houses a
translator, and an editor (a qualified linguist) who proofreads to document for
errors. Obtain a guarantee that multiple revisions are included in the service
until satisfaction in the document is delivered
●
Conduct a test translation
Send a paragraph or two to several
translators/translation companies for a mock translation prior to committing to
a specific translation house. This “test” translation is a way to demonstrate
the quality of their work. The review of the work should be conducted by one
who is fluent in the foreign language, fully understands the industry
terminology, and knows the target audience.
●
Verify prices and deadlines
Most companies charge per source
word. Obtain a few quotes before making your selection. Verify that the company
you choose can meet your deadlines, including formatting the final document and
translating the image descriptions.
●
Check the availability of the translator
Once you have chosen the specific
translator house, ensure that your documents will be worked on by the specific
translator who conducted the trial testing.
This offers guidelines and saves
all parties time when translating and proofreading. When receiving the
translated document, review it to ensure that industry related terminology,
style, document layout, look and feel are identical to the original text.
Finding the right translation provider that can reliably
deliver high-quality translations can be a daunting task. Take the time to
check them out as this will save you time, money and headaches. If you are unable to do the translation work
yourself, think twice before outsourcing the work as it can be more harmful for
your business than beneficial if not done correctly. Most importantly, you will
want to insure that you are working with a full-service company that offers
quality work, multiple language translations, and offers superb customer-client
relationships. Ultimately, those are key!
* Quote by Walter Benjamin
