In my work as a translator, I often hear people, due to an understandable unfamiliarity, tell me that they once again needed an “oral translation”. I then deduce that the concept of “interpretation” is not well-known and that is why people who are not part of this small world of translation tend to be so [...]
Archive for October, 2009
What is Interpretation?
Friday, October 30th, 2009Further Thoughts on Localization
Thursday, October 29th, 2009Were you perhaps under the impression that localization meant customizing your message (website, documentation, sales material, etc.) to a foreign language-speaking market abroad? Well, despite the fact that this assumption is generally applicable, it is not entirely true.
The reality is that in countries with high levels of diversity, localization may imply adapting your message for [...]
Translations for India
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009India’s market is one of the largest in the world, with over 1 billion people and a growing economy. However, given the scope of its population and its millennia-long history, the demographics cannot be categorized clearly and easily, which is also true for its neighbor China.
First, the Constitution establishes that all federal government business, including [...]
What is Trados?
Saturday, October 24th, 2009When you are looking to pay for a professional translation, the is a good chance you will come up against a magic word: Trados.
What exactly are they talking about? It’s actually quite simple: it is a very popular translation software that helps translation clients in a great way. The program creates translation memories of the [...]
Last Minute Changes During Translation Projects
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Everybody knows that the rhythm of today’s business world means that business leaders often need to send off documentation for translation that will undergo subsequent changes or revisions.
Will these people receive translations of documentation that is already obsolete within their company?
Not at all—our system of fluid communication with clients and the flexibility of our work [...]
Language Map of Europe
Friday, October 23rd, 2009The map of Europe posted above is an excellent example of why localization is so important. Translators and companies who are looking for translations should not use this as a hard-and-fast, exact representation of where the dividing lines are drawn for the languages of Europe. Instead, take a moment to consider what it is really [...]
Internationalization First, Localization Second
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009In the present day and age, a large volume of translation projects are requested by customers that are intent on localizing their products, sales pitches, marketing materials, etc. There is a tremendous need to break into new markets, and that means that localization is a primary concern for tranlsation agencies.
Of course, localization can be a [...]
How Much Do Translations Cost?
Friday, October 16th, 2009The price of a translation cannot be estimated based on such imprecise factors as the number of pages in the project, as some pages may be full of and others practically devoid of text.
To calculate the price exactly, it’s necessary to consider number of source document words and the complexity of the subject matter, as [...]
Do We Need Certified Translators?
Friday, October 16th, 2009Let’s say that you are dealing with some important paperwork between two languages (a birth certificate from a different country, perhaps) and suddenly the man on the other side of the desk says, “This document has to be translated by a certified translator.” What do you do then?
Well, first of all, don’t panic. It’s important [...]
Good Results Demand Better Communication
Thursday, October 15th, 2009The more translation projects I have been involved with, the more I realize that communication is a fundamental aspect of translation–not only on the translator’s behalf, but that of the client as well!
Indeed, let this serve as notice to all present and future translation buyers (particularly regarding voluminous, complicated documents): have a member of your [...]
More on Proofreading
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009In my last post I covered how a professional proofreading covers the aspects of style, cohesion, and grammar in a work of any size. There is one other aspect that I failed to mention that definitely does deserve a mention: clarity. Translators and, to a lesser extent, editors can easily get lost in the content, [...]
What’s the Minimum Number of Translators Involved in Each Translation Project?
Friday, October 9th, 2009Some clients may not be aware of it, but each translation project—no matter how small—involves the work of various translation professionals.
The “translator” is the professional that works with the source text on the first round, applying a determined work methodology learnt during University studies. In case of a very large project, several translators will partake.
Subsequently, [...]
Why Human Translators Still Have a Job
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009Humans and machines don’t always get along: the former are often envious of the latter’s ability to perform tasks with greater efficiency, consistency, and more precise results. The antagonistic sentiments which many people have harbored for machines stretch back many years, and in particular any time machines or technology in general have displaced human workers, [...]
What Does Proofreading Really Mean
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009The term “proofreading” is bandied about in our industry when dealing with translations or simple publications of writings in one language that are not translated. Yet many of the people I have encountered have no real training in the craft, so it is important to establish exactly what a professional agency would be looking for [...]
Translation Buyer Consideration
Friday, October 2nd, 2009Some translation agencies try to find sly methods for making their customers pay more for the services being offered. The ploys can be incredibly simple, or sometimes they can be sublimely complicated.
One thing which translation buyers should keep an eye out for when choosing which provider to go with is how the price tally is [...]
