With our world rapidly getting smaller and international relations growing exponentially, accessing and sharing information written in foreign languages has become an everyday necessity. That’s why today, more people and businesses seek the services of professional translators and interpreters to facilitate their routine transactions and to help them grow.
To navigate in this multi-lingual environment, certain facts are required that can help in selecting services from linguistic industry providers. First, become acquainted with the terminology and the differences between translation and interpreting. Translation is written, whereas interpreting is the oral relaying of a message from one language into another. The second thing to know is that the language of the original message is called a source language, while the language into which the message is transmitted is a target language.
One of the most common misconceptions is thinking that translation or interpretation is a “word for word” process. Due to the nuances contained in each language, translating in this manner rarely makes sense. Skilled language professionals are trained to accurately and completely convey your ideas in a different language. A well translated text delivers all the content of the source document without omitting, adding, or changing anything, but it is read as so it was originally well written in a language of your target audience.
Different rules and skill sets are required for clear and efficient communication in written language translations as opposed to spoken language interpretation. This article’s focus is on translation, so let’s explore the commonly asked questions pertaining to written translation services.
What about Computerized Translation?
We are so accustomed to immediate information access that instantaneous translation with a single mouse click seems to be easily attainable. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If you’ve ever tried out this type of online or software service, you know that the results you get are not something that you would want to place in any form of business communication materials.
Without an intricate personal knowledge of the language, translation software generates words, but not phrases that have correct meaning. You might compare this to use of a dictionary that allows you to quickly find words, but without writing skills those words can be used improperly and fail to convey what you want to say.
Machine translations can be counted on for stress relief through a good hearty laugh.
Should you be in the mood for a little fun, go to [http://www.bromberg-translation-services.com/bloopers].
Can any Bilingual Person be a Translator?
This one is simple. NO. What if a bilingual person is an expert in the specialized field for which the translation text is needed? The answer is still, NO. Accurate translation is a combination of refined linguistic skills, specialized knowledge, and cultural competency, which a non-language professional rarely possesses.
How Do Translation Projects Work?
The best way to handle a translation project is with the guidance of a good translation project manager. On the surface, the project is seemingly simple, but it requires excellent organizational skills, deep knowledge of the industry, and an impeccable “language intuition”.
When a client needs a certain text to be translated into or from one or more languages, the
project manager uses the following steps to ensure that the project proceeds smoothly and are completed on time.
1. Determines the purpose of the text in terms of the following:
Area of specialization? (Is it legal, medical, chemical, automotive, etc.?)
Intended recipients? (Are they lay people or experts?)
Purpose of the project? (Will it be used for marketing or is it of a training or educational nature?
2. Finds qualified translators, proofreaders and copyeditors with expertise in the given area
3. Sets project’s timeline with key milestones to be met
4. Monitors project’s progress and uniformity in multiple languages
5. Facilitates communication between translators and clients
6. Coordinates independent proofreading and editing resources to refine document and arrive at a consensus on any areas where there are differing opinions
7. For larger and/or on-going projects: creates and maintains a glossary of terms
8. Submits the final product to the client in required format. Gets feedback from the client and arranges for possible corrections and changes.
As a client being aware of the steps that take place behind the scene in the “translation kitchen”, can help you understanding the importance of using professional resources. Doing so, can make your project proceed smoothly to conclusion, rather than developing unnecessary delays.
How to Find a Reliable Language Service Provider?
If you are looking for an individual translator, a good place to start is the American Translators Association at http://www.atanet.org. However, finding a reliable translation agency and using it as a vendor for all of your language needs, is worth the investment, particularly if you will have a large volume of projects and know that you will need to utilize multiple languages.
Other resources include the Association of Language Companies at http://www.alcus.org, and the Michigan Interpreters and Translators Network at http://www.mitinweb.org. (Here you can find both freelancers and agencies).
What are the Responsibilities of a Language Service Consumer?
1. Good translation starts with good original text! Make sure that your message is clear, your text is well written, and that is doesn’t contain an excessive amount of culture-bound terms, idioms, metaphors, and jokes. Those are very difficult to deliver in a foreign language in a way that will make sense to people with different cultural background.
2. Allow realistic deadlines. How long did it take to create your original text or develop your materials? Translating your manuals or brochures into another language or languages may not take as long, but planning for the process with a reasonable amount of time will save money on rush charges. If you have an urgent project and are prepared to pay to have it expedite you should prepare to be flexible, because your project manager may have to split it between several translators to meet your deadline. With the proper QC processes in place, this should not affect the end result.
3. Communicate with your language provider team members. Inform them about the purpose of your project and the intended audience. Make sure to provide them with meanings of specific industry jargon and abbreviations.
4. Be ready to answer questions and clarify ideas. An inquisitive translator, who takes time to gather in-depth information, is more likely to deliver a much better end result.
5. Remember that you usually get what you paid for.
As our world continues to shrink, growing your business globally may be the next step that you need to take. At that point, finding a reliable translation services provider becomes as essential as having a great insurance agency, shipping service or graphic design vendor. Today, successful business is a global business and effective communication in any language is the key.
Bromberg & Associates Translation Agency is a full range language service provider, DBE and WBE certified business, and GSA Federal Supply Schedule Award holder. The services offered cover all areas of the language industry: translation; interpretation (consecutive and simultaneous); web site translation and localization; multilingual desktop publishing and video production; language training; cultural training; interpreter training and performance evaluation. The company works with over 40 languages locally and 90 languages worldwide.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.brombergtranslations.com or call 313-871-0080.
Jinny Bromberg is the president of Bromberg and Associates, LLC Irina Jesionowski is the marketing manager of Bromberg and Associates, LLC
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