For Quality Translations You Need a Qualified Translator

Just because someone is bilingual, or regardless of how many languages they speak, it still doesn’t make them a translator.

Below we’ve listed some tips on how to find a qualified translator, and why a ‘general’ search may not be the best option –

There’s More to Translation Than Being Bilingual

Just because someone is bilingual, or regardless of how many languages they speak, it still doesn’t make them a translator. There are other skills required when it comes to translation, such as having a thorough knowledge of a specialized vocabulary, business management skills, a familiarity with the translation industry, and so on. Plus, ideally, professional translators will only be working into their native language – not their second or third language. So if you’re looking for an accurate, professional translation then its key that you use someone who has established themselves as a professional translator.

Finding a Qualified Translator

The first step towards procuring an accurate, quality translation is to find a qualified translator. Dealing with an inexperienced translator can be time-consuming, expensive, not-to-mention embarrassing! Save yourself time and money by getting it right the first time. Just because someone has studied or lived abroad does not mean they’re qualified to translate your important documents.

For the purpose of this post we’ll assume that you don’t have access to a word-of-mouth referral and that you’re not familiar with the translation industry; so your best resource for locating a translator would be a professional association for translators. In the United States, there’s the American Translator’s Association: they have an online membership directory, and clients can search using almost any criteria applicable to translation, such as Specialization, Location, ATA Certification, Language Pair, and so on. Then there are translator associations with online membership directories for different States and larger metropolitan areas. Search for your own State or city, because using a local person can be the ideal option if you’re new to hiring translators and you’d like to meet with someone in person.

Online Translation Marketplaces

Some people find online translation marketplaces to be helpful. Some serve as a directory of interpreters, translators, and translation agencies, while others claim to offer a directory of translation services. Besides being a source of translation jobs and work for freelancers, professional translators and agencies display their rates, with some offering free quotes: they can be contacted directly from the site. Unfortunately, some of these marketplaces have become sites where translation buyers can go to receive crazy turnaround times and rock bottom rates; but generally, they can be useful when a client is dealing with an obscure language and is searching for a translator able to handle their project. From this site, they’re able to contact the translator directly.

We Translate Inc. is the world’s largest language services provider (LSP) offering industry leading translation and localization services and highly scalable global marketing solutions. We Translate Inc. is the industry’s largest network of professional translators.

How to Select a Translation Services Provider

There are certain factors to take into account which will determine the success of your translation project.

When selecting your translation services provider, you need to remember that there are certain factors to take into account which will determine the success of your project –

• The first factor to take into account is that the project must be priced correctly;
• The second factor is that it must be delivered to you by the agreed due date; and
• Finally, the completed translation must be accurate and high-quality.

So, with this information in mind, you need to consider the following points when you’re looking for translation services, regardless of whether you decide to use an agency or a freelance translator –

The Price: How Is the Price Calculated?

Unfortunately, there’s not a straightforward answer to this question. There are agencies who calculate translation quotations by the number of lines, the number of pages, and sometimes even by the number of characters; but generally, most agencies and freelance translators calculate by the number of words in the source language. So let’s complicate this a little further! Some agencies and freelance translators set their rates based on the target language, but of course this can only be estimated beforehand and it’s only once the project has been completed that you will know the exact cost. And, if you need to allow for proofreading or VAT, then these figures will increase.

Turnaround Time

Don’t be too pushy when it comes to the delivery date. If possible, you should try and go with the standard turnaround time in order to give the translators concerned sufficient time to check and re-check their work. By giving the translators ample time to produce a high-quality translation you can be assured of receiving an accurate translation without any cost increase: remember that rush fees can increase the cost of a translation by between 50% and 100%. If you do demand a speedy turnaround, the quality of the project can be affected because it could well mean that your project needs to be split into different sections and given to different translators for completion.

The Quality of the Delivered Translation

If you don’t speak the language it may not be easy to assess the quality of your translation, but it’s not completely impossible. Check the following aspects of your project –

• What qualifications does your translator have, and how does the selection process work?
• What experience does your translator have, and do they have expertise in your industry?
• Will the linguists be translating in their native language?
• Will the translation be proofread?

Customer Service

Whether you choose a translation agency or a freelance translator, are they happy to accept your feedback and do whatever is necessary to ensure that you’re 100% satisfied? Do they willingly accept your criticisms, and are they prepared to change the way they do business with you, if necessary?

A top-quality translation agency/freelance translator welcomes feedback and considers both criticisms and praise a vitally important part of the translation process.

Resources Involved in the Business of Translation

Resources Involved in the Business of Translation

If you need a document translated, who should you be communicating with?

If you’re not a regular translation client, then you can’t be expected to understand the names and terms used in the translation industry. For example, if you need a document translated, who should you be communicating with? Is it a Project Manager, an Account Manager, or should you approach a translator directly?

The Account Manager

A translation agency’s Account Manager is their sales agent: generally, the Account Manager will be your first point of contact when you’re looking for someone to translate your documents. The task of the Account Manager is to manage the company’s accounts, deal with translation clients, and keep the Project Manager informed on their clients’ requests and their project specifications.

The Project Manager

A translation agency’s Project Manager is the person responsible for other tasks relating to translation, like quoting the amount of time it will take to translate a client’s documents. The time allowed for the translation will depend on several factors, and these include the number of steps required to achieve a quality translation – such as translation and editing; the format of the original document will also affect the time allowed. The Project Manager also has the responsibility of determining the final cost of the translation project.

So, the main difference between an Account Manager and a Project Manager is that the Account Manager must focus on the needs of the client, while the Project Manager is responsible for translation resources.

Delivering the Quotation

Once a quote has been determined for a translation project, the quote is sent by the Project Manager to the Account Manager, who will then forward it on to the client. It’s important to the successful running of any translation agency that communication between these two separate departments be very clear.

Time to Get Started!

If the client accepts the quotation, then it’s time to get the project started. This is where the Project Manager comes in because they’re responsible for organizing the resources, which will include a translator (or even a team of translators), editors, and any other specialists that may be required to complete the project.

The Translator and the Editor

When it comes to the actual translation, the translator and editor are responsible for producing a quality translation. Even though both these professionals have the same end goal, their tasks are quite different. The translator will commence work on the original text, and it’s their task to convey this content to the target language, which is the language specified by the client. The editor will be the person who reviews the translation, and their responsibility is to ensure that the style of the text, grammar, and the vocabulary used are correct.

Final Editing

And finally, because all delivered translation projects must be accurate and of high quality, the translated and edited text is once again reviewed. This final review will be conducted by a third party who will focus on spelling, punctuation, and cohesion and coherence of the text.