Sunday, January 22, 2006 How to Get a High Quality Translation? Ordering a human translation can be a daunting task, especially if the target language is completely unknown to you and when quality is important. The following are some guidelines and tips which you can use to maximize your chances of getting good results: Use professionals. Lots of people know two, three or more languages fluently. But that does not make them good translators. Just because you have someone in your office who is fluent in Spanish, does not mean that you should turn over that key translation to her or him. Professional translators are people that make their living at it, that have done many similar translations and know the terminology, that have software tools that make their work more consistent and efficient, and that live up to the delivery commitments. Use Native Language Translators. Always use translators that are native in the target language. For example, when translating to French use a French native. When translating to German, use a German native. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, Vladimir Nabokov, the famed author of Lolita, translated some of his own books from Russian to English, and even wrote novels in English (Nabokov was a native Russian speaker). But is your translator a Nabokov? Probably not, so better stick to this rule. Use in-Country Translators. Try to use translators who live in the target country for which your translation is intended. Language is an evolving entity, with new words introduced into the language lexicon as dictated by the era. For example, consider the computer and cellphone buzz words that were unknown terms 10 years ago, and that are common now. Someone who is not living in the country and is not living the language may be using language that is outdated. Where is the Target Country? Find out where the translation is to be used. Just specifying a language is insufficient. Spanish, for example, is used in dozens of countries and varies depending on the region. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, Portugal and several African countries. English is used in the UK, English and Canada and varies in each country. And there are many other examples. Use Experts. Use translators that specialize in the area of the translation material. If it is legal material, like a contract, use a legal translator. If the material is technical, check that the translator has trained in the specific field. There are many good industry experts who are also translators. There are qualified Medical Doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. who are also language experts. Is Certification Required? Does the translation require certification? What kind? There are accredited translation organizations that provide certification. The American Translators Association (ATA) (http://www.atanet.org) provides certification in some language pairs. Other accredited translation organizations, such as the Japanese Association of Translation (JAT) (http://www.jat.org/) offer memberships but no certification. In certain countries in Europe, courts require sworn translation by certified translators. Check if certification is required before you get the work done. Sadly, you can have a perfect translation but if certification is required and the translator is not certified, the translation may be useless. Check the Quality Procedure. A good translation company should have a proven methodology in place to guarantee the quality of the translation. Check our quality policy at http://www.global-translation-services.com/aboutus.asp?element=1. Don't bargain excessively. Good things don't come cheap. The same holds true in translation. 7:21:25 AM    comment [] © Copyright 2007 Global Translations.

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