Posts Tagged ‘Translation’

As we ring in the new year (Happy 2009!), I thought it fitting to provide the list of tips that the AIIC (Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence) for any of my readers who are embarking on a new career as an interpreter to coincide with the start of a new year. This is the foremost organization in the field and the tips are essential for anyone looking to make a strong start in their career. I should note that I am not a member of the organization, but I do often check on their site for interesting articles related to people with interests in multilingual issues. Many of the tips apply to all fields in translation, not just interpretation, so it’s a plus for all to click on the link and make sure they are getting the most out of their career.

http://www.aiic.net/ViewPage.cfm/article2305.htm

What kind of person might naturally be a good translator? Maybe this seems like a silly question but I, having been exposed to linguistic diversity relatively late in my life, sometimes find myself envying those who have been exposed to greater linguistic diversity and have an apparent facility with language learning and, especially, the use of different languages, and I have thought that such facility would make someone a good translator. Upon greater reflection, however, the facility to use different languages is far from the only skill or characteristic important for translation. Another important characteristic  is attentiveness or sensibility to audience and situation – that is, the facility to use different language appropriately in accordance with a particular audience and situation.

Might there be certain individuals or groups of individuals who naturally have a highly developed sensibility to audience and social situation, without having formal translation experience? The logical response as to who these individuals might be is those individuals who frequently have to adapt their speech or change their language for different audiences and contexts.

The first group of such people I can think of is politicians, who have developed the capacity to change not only their accent or register, but even their discourse. Politicians, however, are unlikely to begin translation careers. Another group I can think of, however, is bidialectal African-American English (AAE) (or Ebonics) speakers. Bidialectal African-American English (AAE) speakers, who naturally speak a minority social dialect, are especially aware of and used to choosing between AAE and SAE according to audience and situation. AAE speakers are especially attentive to audience and situation because their native tongue is generally stigmatized in the larger U.S. society, and the consequences of inattentiveness may be severe (unemployment, poverty, neglect, injustice). Since there is relatively little demand for AAE-SAE translation, these speakers would have to be proficient in another language, such as Spanish or Chinese, which has a lot of demand for translation to English – SAE English that is.

Any other “natural” translators??

As a translator, I have asked myself this a thousand times while I was going to school and I had to work out the answer when I got my degree. Right now I am going to outline some advantages and disadvantages of both situations so that everyone can come to the conclusion that makes the most sense for them.

Autonomy

Being an autonomous, or as it is referred to in the industry, “freelance” translator in an interesting choice from the point of view of comfort and organization of your time. Since you don’t have to go to an office at a specific time, you can work comfortably from your own home and decide the schedule and working conditions for yourself. It also the important advantage of income: once you have established yourself in the market, the jobs you will receive will allow you to earn more than with a monthly salary at a company.

On the other hand, independence has its price. When there is a lot of work and you are tempted to take on more, it is hard to know where to draw the line and decide, for example, to take a break instead of working all weekend. We also shouldn’t forget that unfortunate circumstances can always arise when it comes time to collect on a payment, since the translator him/herself is the one responsible for the organization of how much he/she has worked and how to receive the money that is owed.

Lastly, one of the essential topics for this subject is the social aspect. Working alone at home can be productive, since you are relaxed, but we can’t forget that a group setting is what nourishes us and helps us grow.

Direct employment

As far as direct employment, without a doubt its greatest advantage is security, both in the source of work and in the simple fact that you know there will be some money coming into your account every payday. Likewise, some people enjoy having a structured workday and the ability to check out of their professional responsibilities when the end of the day comes. Another irrefutable positive aspect of direct employment are the benefits associated with most jobs, such as a health care plan, among other things.

However, this working relationship takes away some of our freedoms as far as the chance to make certain decisions and, as a result, limits us. In certain working environments it is difficult to grow, whether in regards to salary or professional development. Additionally, having a set schedule presents difficulties in solving personal situations, whether they involve going to an office to file some paperwork or taking a nap after lunch.

And now revisiting the social aspect, it is the greatest advantage of working as a direct employee, from my point of view. Group work is completely gratifying, as it allows us to learn and, at the same time, to share our knowledge. This setup keeps us from being isolated, which is a vice that is all too common in our profession.

So what is the right choice?

How do we decide? That decision with be the result of many factors: our age, our economic situation, our confidence in ourselves, the translation market where we live, the path we want our career to take, our goals, and, fundamentally, our own will.

In the specific case of translation, localization refers to how a language is adapted to a specific country or culture so that the target audience understands the text on a native level. Not only are the words themselves localized, accounting for spelling differences and disparities in word usage, but aspects such as date and number formats, currencies, measurement systems, phone numbers, images, etc. are also adapted to the target country or audience so that the text fits in perfectly with the culture.

Localization is a fundamental service for businesses looking to expand globally. Not only will these businesses need to have their material translated into several different languages, but they will also need to have their material localized if a product or service is to be used in a specific region. This is often times included in the translation process, although clients will need to specifically indicate that they are requesting this service as well as the flavor for the target language(s). For example, if a company in Spain wishes to translate their material for English-speaking markets, they will need to consider which flavor of English they will use. If their product or service will mainly be used within Europe, it is likely that they will use the U.K. flavor of English due to the number of these English speakers within the region.

One of the main advantages of this service is the personalized attention to your clients, as you are able to communicate with them in a language they understand.

Waste Reduction

Trusted Translations’ goal is to use Internet technology to decrease its printing costs and improve its overall environmental performance in several ways.

• Limited use of mail courier services – Try to encourage clients who insist on sending and receiving hard copies of materials to consider using alternative delivery methods when using our services.  In addition to decreasing the use of printers and other materials such as CDs and DVDs, this also reduces the pollution and use of non-renewable resources that result from freight services.
• Fax to email service – Trusted Translations has implemented Internet Fax Services.  This service automatically converts all incoming faxes into digital files and delivers them to us via email.  This avoids the use of any paper and ink for incoming faxes.  The Vonage Fax service allows for outgoing faxes directly from PDF or Word, hence, avoiding have to a print a document to fax.
• Intra-staff communications – All internal communications should be distributed electronically.  For instance, instead of printing and posting new internal policies, we will upload them to our internal Wikipedia (“TTPedia”) and management will send out an email with a link to the new policy.
• Project-related reference materials – Try not to print any project-related files unless absolutely necessary.  In order to avoid duplicated copies when these project-related hard copies are deemed necessary, please pick up documents that have been sent to the printer without delay.

In-House Recycling Program

• Facilities will be put in place to promote an in-house recycling program of all reusable and reducible office byproducts. Paper, glass, tin/aluminum, plastic containers and plastic bags will be separated.

Trusted Translations is following the 10 Elements for Improving Environmental Performance and Compliance issued by the enforcement working group under the auspices of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).

Frequently, we are faced with the task of determining whether or not the translation we revise is good or bad. As professionals, our opinions should be well-grounded and not a result of our mood at that time or the friendship we have with the translator who delivered the product.

There are some objective factors that will help to clearly determine which translations do not meet minimum quality standards.

1.    The translation must have all paragraphs and sentences from the original document. For example when there is a list of synonyms, such as “home, house, dwelling”, all synonyms must be translated. Otherwise, the translation would be incomplete and would not contain all the ideas expressed in the original document.
2.    The translation should not blatantly modify the purpose or meaning of the original document. This involves avoiding bringing errors in the original into the translated document and translating too literally.
3.    Before delivering the translation, the translator should read it to make sure that it complies with points 1 and 2 above and to correct spelling and grammar errors. Automatic spelling and grammar checkers are very useful for this.
4.    The translation should have a fluid writing style that is easy to read, and thus, understood. In this way, the message is effectively delivered. It is worth noting that language preferences don’t necessarily constitute errors.
5.    Before delivering the project, the translator should check to make sure that all the project’s files are delivered, thus preventing having to make a second delivery. It is always important for the translator to deliver the file on time, so that the document can continue with the edition process in a timely manner.
6.    And finally, and perhaps most importantly, everyone involved in the project should communicate and clarify doubts as soon as possible and as professionally as possible.

Even though these problems may arise while working on a project, it is important that we use point 6 in order prevent or correct the errors listed above.

So, with that being said…let’s get to work!

“Many critics, no defenders,
translators have but two regrets:
when we hit, no one remembers,
when we miss, no one forgets.”

-Anonymous

This is a well-known verse among translators, but is it really true? Are translators really given due credit for their work or are we destined to deliver translation after translation without the thanks we deserve?

Our task is difficult for various reasons, but the underlying challenge in our work is to deliver a final product that not only reflects the source document as much as possible, but also ensures that the language used makes perfect sense to a native speaker. However, when clients request translations, how many of them really understand the effort that goes into finding the intricate balance between these two issues?

Aside from the fact that without translators, our world would not be as globalized as it already is, many people are still hesitant to use translators as they have the power to change the entire meaning of a phrase by modifying a single word. Unless a client is bilingual in both the source and target language, complete, blind trust is placed in the hands of translators to accurately deliver the message of the document in another language.

So, is this just the nature of our job? What do you think?

In our daily task as translators, we face several different possibilities for the translation of a text, so, what is the best option when there are multiple possibilities? Some may have a more sophisticated style, some were already used by others in works published on the Internet, and finally, some are found in dictionaries or glossaries.

In the case of dictionaries, the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española has a prestigious reputation within the Spanish language, but is it the bible for all correct words and expressions in the Spanish language? Certainly, specialists from different areas will find that words that are frequently used by them do not appear in this work of unquestionable, though incomplete, excellence.

It is worth mentioning that only a dead language that no longer has people that regard this language as their mother tongue can have a complete word listing  (for example, Latin, ancient Greek, Iberian and Celtiberian languages, etc.). But in the case of living languages, people are the ones who propel languages to evolve, thanks to the creation of daily expressions for communication. The specialists are the ones who create daily expressions to describe diverse inventions and devices appearing on the market. Then, these expressions are accepted and incorporated into the dictionary.

As freelance translators, it is at times difficult to start your own business and increase your work flow and client contacts. Here are some helpful tips to help get your business up and running.

First, it is important to have a clear idea of the services you offer, your target market, and area of expertise. For example, if you only translate from English/Spanish, concentrate on finding potential translation buyers who also share the same target markets within your field. Later on, you can find other freelance translators to work with you on projects outside of your languages and expertise.

If you want to include services outside the translation process itself, such as Desktop Publishing or Transcription services, think about partnering up with other specialized providers to complement the services you lack.

Next, get your name out on the market. Consider developing your own website and publishing material about your services, whether in brochures, business cards, etc. There are also many freelance translator databases where translators can network and post jobs such as Translators Café, or Go Translator. Joining these communities will help you see what those around you are doing as well.

Recruiting clients directly can be difficult, especially since you will be competing with larger translation agencies. However, being consistent with the rates you offer, turnaround times and quality will all help to build a long-lasting relationship with a client and will encourage your clients to recommend your services as well.

If you haven’t already done so, consider investing in workshops or seminars within your area of translation to make sure you stay current in your field. Some other common workshops that are helpful for freelance translators are in the areas of CAT tools and office management skills.

Good luck!

The term Spanglish came into existence between 1965 and 1970 and refers to any expression in Spanish that borrows parts of English, especially as substitutions of Spanish words.

The most common fields that use and abuse Spanglish are areas related to technology, since most of the products introduced into the market are in English. These terms are commonly used by industry experts and when professionals from other languages need the translation of a text, they don’t want a translation that is so foreign to them for a concept in English that has become widely recognized. They prefer terms that are familiar over terms that are perhaps more correct in their own language.

This is how we have coined words such as resetear (reset), zipear (zip), formatear (format), tipear (type) and bacapear (backup), for example.

As translators, we are frequently horrified when reading text in Spanish that “sounds like English” precisely because they mirror the original in English. We find ourselves saying, “I would never translate like this”. However, the problem is that at times, some clients present us with a dilemma. We can either respect their wishes and use their preferred terminology even if it sounds like English, or translate and follow our own linguistic criteria, creating a text that is less literal but sounds more natural.

As a product of this balance between keeping the client happy and respecting linguistic rules, Spanglish has emerged on the translation market as a linguistic invention situated halfway between English and Spanish. While it has proven to be very useful for clients, reading Spanglish, however, becomes a nightmare for Spanish-speakers who try to conserve the beauty of such a rich romance language as is the Spanish language.

Today, clients commonly deliver files in PDF format for a price quote for translation, edition and proofreading services.

This format, which is very practical for sending a file through the Internet, cannot be edited, and thus, when the translation, edition and proofreading services are purchased, it would be helpful if the client would send the original document in an editable format, whether in Word, Excel, InDesign, Quark, Publisher, etc. so that the translator can easily work with the same format of the original document, without having to read the PDF with some conversion program.

If this original editable document is not sent, graphic design services have to put in an extra effort to recreate the file, which will likely be reflected in the translation costs billed to the client.

Therefore, in order to reduce costs for the client for graphic design services and in order to facilitate the translation process, ideally the client would send the freelance translator or translation agency the original editable documents for translation, edition, etc.

For many agencies and translation service providers, the process of translation for client delivery involves more steps than simply the translation. It typically requires both an edition and proofreading stage before the document is ready for delivery. However, as translation is the first step in this process, also known as TEP (translation-edition-proofreading), delivering a quality translation from the start is essential for the other steps to run smoothly.

For this post, we have put together some simple tips that will help the translator deliver a higher quality product and thus facilitate later revisions:

1. Before agreeing to a translation, be sure to revise the document first and make sure that you feel comfortable both with the subject matter and language flavor.

2. Also, make sure you are familiar with the file format or requested translation tools such as CAT tools.

3. While translating, use any reference material, style guides or translation glossaries sent to you so that your terminology and style are consistent with other documents for the same client.

4. While you are working, have dictionaries or other online resources specific to the topic you are translating at hand for easy reference.

5. Contact the project manager or client immediately if you foresee any problems with the document.

6. When finished translating, read over the document once more to make sure that the text makes sense and there are no errors.

7. You should always look at your translation as if it were the final product, and don’t count on editors or proofreaders to fix your mistakes.

8. Be sure to run a spelling and grammar check before delivery.

9. Check the translated document against the source for any missing text or formatting issues.

10. With your file delivery, be sure to include any notes or comments for the client or for the editors about the translation.

From the beginning of time there have always been conflicts between mankind, and in order to settle these matters without violence or reprisal, these parties come together before the courts so that an impartial third party can analyze the evidence presented by both sides and ascertain their claims.
Without any kind of personal or commercial connection to either of the parties, this impartial third party must analyze a variety of evidence and as such, must use the assistance of individuals specializing in diverse matters.
These specialists are the experts, and in our case, translation or interpretation experts. Their task is to translate documents or interpret declarations so that the judge(s) involved in the case can analyze and understand the extent of the presented evidence or other matters that are essential for its resolution.
Similarly to how translators with the necessary experience and background are required in the business world, translators must also have the proper academic certification and experience in the case of legal translations, since only legal translators can act as experts. Aside from translating and interpreting, their task also includes presenting the corresponding documents according to the file’s procedural status.
As such, translators and interpreters who wish to work in this exciting field must be further trained in the specifics of this discipline.

Today, national markets are just not enough when it comes time to market businesses’ products and services. Although a company may be successful on a national level, the competition is already massively prepared to compete abroad and thus increase their chances of attracting new clients.

As a consequence, in order for a business to reach new markets, it is necessary to have one new essential characteristic: polyglotism. Within the framework of this new essential requirement for companies is the need for translation and interpretation services which are fundamental in order to compete within the same national market in order to provide a full service offering.

As translators, we frequently work on high-volume projects, but keeping consistency within one or several documents can be tricky. In order to delivery a quality product to the client, we need to use the CONCORDANCE function within the TRADOS CAT (computer-aided translation) tool, which is widely used, or should be, among translators.

In order to apply this function, do the following:

1. Highlight the expression you want to search within the translation memory:

2. Click on the CONCORDANCE function in the TRADOS bar:

3. The translation memory will display the other occurrences of the expression you highlighted within this document or within the other documents used with this same translation memory:

If we make it a habit to utilize this Trados function when translating or editing, all documents that we deliver to the same client will always be consistent in the terminology.

With all the new developments and increasing accessibility of electronic translation tools such as machine translations, some have argued that these technologies will eventually replace the human translator. Are human translators really essential for the translation process, or can their labor be simplified and processed by a machine?

Researchers have been working for decades in order to establish computer systems capable of translating from one natural language to another. These systems do so by essentially deconstructing the components of the text such as the punctuation marks, recognized idioms, single word terminology, and sentence structure and then reconstructing these elements in the target language by applying specific linguistic rules and “learning” from already existing translations.

This all sounds promising, but we are forgetting that languages are filled with ambiguities and complex rules that not even a computer can successfully resolve. As all translators know, the process of translation involves much more than simply replacing the source word with the target language word. This process involves using cultural, grammatical, syntactic and semantic knowledge in order to interpret the real meaning and ensure that it makes sense to native readers.

Machine translations offer an attractive package for users, ensuring instant turnaround times and a systematic and consistent approach when handling translations. However, we must consider that while the process of human translations is much slower in this sense, only humans can determine the suitability of a translation for a particular audience and make linguistic and style choices based on experience instead of a database.

How many times have we heard one of our clients say that? Though this simple phrase may be the first step towards a profitable and lasting working relationship, as professionals, we need to gather much more information from the client in order to properly do our jobs and ultimately provide the client with the highest quality product.

So, let’s go over some of the key questions:

1. Does the translation require certification?

If the translation requires certification, this will be itemized as a separate service with an additional charge, since a translator who is duly certified will translate and certify the document with the corresponding expenses.

2. Is the document a rush translation?

In order to provide quality translations, a minimum amount of time is required, considering the hustle and bustle of the business world today. However, many times the client may need the translation outside of working hours or over the weekend, which also may be added as an extra expense to the bill.

3. Does the file have any special formatting issues?

When the original document is sent in a special format (other than Word or Excel), or is a Website, the translation may require Desktop Publishing (DTP) or IT services to maintain the original format. Even when the original document is in Word or Excel, Desktop Publishing may still be required in order to preserve the image formats, business logos, numbering, bullets, etc.

4. Does the client have a glossary with their language preferences based on previous translations?

When a client frequently requires translations for recurrent subjects, they may have a glossary prepared for their language preferences, such as the translation of their logo, key words for business policies, etc. This glossary will be extremely useful so that all translations from the company maintain the same linguistic style.

5. Should the translation take into account any special cultural considerations?

Some clients may have translation preferences regarding the measurement system for a specific country, regardless of the target language for the translation. For example, a client may require a translation from English to Spanish but would like for the translated text to have the measurement system of the country where the document originated.

6. Is the language into which the document will be translated considered a “rare” language?

When a language is not spoken by a significant population, there are fewer translators available, which may be reflected in the delivery time and costs.

7. Does the document have reference material?

It is always helpful for the translators to have reference material while they work, or even previous translations in order to have a better idea of the company, its products and the business image that this company projects.