Monday, November 5, 2007
Translation Matters ?Insights Gleaned from a Professional Translator
Being married to a Professional Translator for nine years and having experienced translation from an executive point of view has made me very keen on ensuring the quality of a translation. My first article dealing with translation, entitled Translation Matters - Helpful Tips for Translation Service Buyers?focused on my insights gleaned as an executive responsible for procuring and overseeing translation projects.
The insights that I have gleaned, as one married to a professional translator, over the past many years indeed center on issues of quality. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword and that metaphor certainly applies to the work of a translator. While quality is generally a tough idea to market (a separate issue), it is critical to the success of a translation project and thus it does receive attention by the best translation companies. So, how do we check the ability of a translator? By evaluation, of course.
1. Check credentials. This is more easily said than done. How do you know which school in Thailand puts out the professional translator vs. one that simply teaches language basics? That could require more digging than you have time for, but it is possible to ask questions of the translators themselves to resolve this, even if you get somewhat conflicted responses. One will likely emerge as the clear winner.
2. Choose a translator and an editor. Once the translator has given you their translation, send it to the editor. When the editor provides the edited version, take a good look at the corrections. Send the edited work back to the original translator to accept/reject the changes. Review any explanation given. If the process goes smoothly and you see no problems, you *may* have a good translator and editor on your hands. This is a typical quality check process good translation service providing companies use.
The next time around, you might try reversing the roles. That is, make the translator the editor and vice versa, repeating the process. Is the translator professional in his/her evaluations of the work of another, sticking to facts, such as punctuation, spelling, word choice, and free vs. literal translation, etc.?
Be sure to have a translator translate a document long enough to be a sufficient test of the capacity and stamina of the translator. Most translators can put enough effort into a paragraph, but how do you know it wasnt done without assistance from someone else? That assistance isnt likely to be made available to a translator when faced with a 2,000, let alone a 200,000-word translation project, is it? In other words, the translator can easily solicit lots of feedback for help with a special project, such that the translation reflects not the raw abilities of the translator himself.
3. Test the translator. If you are looking for a long-term relationship, this could save you some time and expense in the long-run. The way you approach the testing should be well thought out. The manner in which the testing is done is a significant discussion point amongst Professional Translators. You can say it makes for an exciting conversation catalyst. Some translators are happy to do tests for free. However, most professional translators are already occupied with projects and may not appreciate the extra bother. The best thing to do is to pay for a test if it is in your budget, especially for high-end projects.
4. Have a translator send a sample translation that can then be evaluated through another translator. This can be a good approach. Of course, the sample probably reflects the very best work of the translator. One can hope that the integrity of the translator is such that it reflects his and only his work.
Paying attention to detail when evaluating a translation is important. Even credentials cannot supplant the care and diligence of one translator over another. Even if I have three PhDs in the areas of specific concern to your project material, I may not be a careful translator. In fact, I may be quite sloppy. If I were a hamburger commercial, I might be the one that drips ketchup all over before it gets to your mouth. Testing is critical here as well, as you can ascertain which translator follows your instructions explicitly.
Start your evaluation with a small project if at all possible. Its easier to recover, if you make a selection mistake.
I hope these tips are useful and make a meaningful difference to your translation projects. If youd like to write to me and offer other tips youve discovered, please do so.
In parting, I should say something better than good luck?with your translation projects, so how about good testing?
Copyright Thomas Mayhew
Thomas Mayhew is the President of Thomas Mayhew & Associates, Inc., the parent company for Albanian Language Translation Services (http://www.albanian-language.com/). As part of his past Marketing Manager role for a high precision GPS manufacturer he has been a purchaser and overseer of translation services. He has performed Albanian-English editing and proofing. Thomas oversees Crimson Books http://www.crimsonbooks.com/.Make Money Quick Scheme
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¶ 4:11 PM
The insights that I have gleaned, as one married to a professional translator, over the past many years indeed center on issues of quality. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword and that metaphor certainly applies to the work of a translator. While quality is generally a tough idea to market (a separate issue), it is critical to the success of a translation project and thus it does receive attention by the best translation companies. So, how do we check the ability of a translator? By evaluation, of course.
1. Check credentials. This is more easily said than done. How do you know which school in Thailand puts out the professional translator vs. one that simply teaches language basics? That could require more digging than you have time for, but it is possible to ask questions of the translators themselves to resolve this, even if you get somewhat conflicted responses. One will likely emerge as the clear winner.
2. Choose a translator and an editor. Once the translator has given you their translation, send it to the editor. When the editor provides the edited version, take a good look at the corrections. Send the edited work back to the original translator to accept/reject the changes. Review any explanation given. If the process goes smoothly and you see no problems, you *may* have a good translator and editor on your hands. This is a typical quality check process good translation service providing companies use.
The next time around, you might try reversing the roles. That is, make the translator the editor and vice versa, repeating the process. Is the translator professional in his/her evaluations of the work of another, sticking to facts, such as punctuation, spelling, word choice, and free vs. literal translation, etc.?
Be sure to have a translator translate a document long enough to be a sufficient test of the capacity and stamina of the translator. Most translators can put enough effort into a paragraph, but how do you know it wasnt done without assistance from someone else? That assistance isnt likely to be made available to a translator when faced with a 2,000, let alone a 200,000-word translation project, is it? In other words, the translator can easily solicit lots of feedback for help with a special project, such that the translation reflects not the raw abilities of the translator himself.
3. Test the translator. If you are looking for a long-term relationship, this could save you some time and expense in the long-run. The way you approach the testing should be well thought out. The manner in which the testing is done is a significant discussion point amongst Professional Translators. You can say it makes for an exciting conversation catalyst. Some translators are happy to do tests for free. However, most professional translators are already occupied with projects and may not appreciate the extra bother. The best thing to do is to pay for a test if it is in your budget, especially for high-end projects.
4. Have a translator send a sample translation that can then be evaluated through another translator. This can be a good approach. Of course, the sample probably reflects the very best work of the translator. One can hope that the integrity of the translator is such that it reflects his and only his work.
Paying attention to detail when evaluating a translation is important. Even credentials cannot supplant the care and diligence of one translator over another. Even if I have three PhDs in the areas of specific concern to your project material, I may not be a careful translator. In fact, I may be quite sloppy. If I were a hamburger commercial, I might be the one that drips ketchup all over before it gets to your mouth. Testing is critical here as well, as you can ascertain which translator follows your instructions explicitly.
Start your evaluation with a small project if at all possible. Its easier to recover, if you make a selection mistake.
I hope these tips are useful and make a meaningful difference to your translation projects. If youd like to write to me and offer other tips youve discovered, please do so.
In parting, I should say something better than good luck?with your translation projects, so how about good testing?
Copyright Thomas Mayhew
Thomas Mayhew is the President of Thomas Mayhew & Associates, Inc., the parent company for Albanian Language Translation Services (http://www.albanian-language.com/). As part of his past Marketing Manager role for a high precision GPS manufacturer he has been a purchaser and overseer of translation services. He has performed Albanian-English editing and proofing. Thomas oversees Crimson Books http://www.crimsonbooks.com/.Make Money Quick Scheme
Video Game Tester Jobs Headquarters On Squidoo
Home Loan Make Money More Paid
Com Internet Make Marketing Money Online
Free Internet
Video Game News Digital Trends
Pillwatch Com A Journey To The Quit Smoking Point
Make Money Online Free
online casino guide
Big Ebay Make Money
Make Money Right Now
Easy In Make Money Runescape
Video Game Rental Lair
all psp video game
Quit Smoking Guide Free Quit Smoking Help
Cheap Make Money Ways
Estate Extra In Make Money Real
Youtube Spider Man 3 Video Game Trailer
Careerjournal Anger Quiz
Los Angeles Software Qa Dba Etc Jobs Classifieds Craigslist
Easy Make Money Quick Way
Video Poker
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Make Extra Free Money
Miniclip Games Play Free Games
Us Wii Com The Global Wii Experience Website In English
Based Business Business From Home Home Home Home Make Money Online Work Work Work
Quit Smoking Help Stop Smoking Aids Best Ways To Quit
Jobs Make Money Work At Home
Make Money Completing Survey
From Home Legitimate Make Money Ways
Business Ebay Make Money Diamond Ring
casino slot
It S My Life Emotions Dealing With Anger The Fire Inside Pbs Kids
free casino
Email Marketing Case Studies
Help For Anger Anger Management Online
Anger Management Techniques For Children
Business Business Internet Internet Make Make Marketing Money Money Online Opportunity Opportunity Seeker Small
How To Make Big Money In Real Estate
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Employers Rank Smoking As One Of Their Greatest Priority Health Issues Indiana S
Email Marketing Tools
Anger Management Expert Admits Assault
Yahoo News
3 Easy Make Money Ways
Quit Smoking Smoking Cessation Quit Smoking Support Nicotine Addiction
All4homebusiness
Northeast Central Calendar El Paso
Make Money Online For Free In Australia
Easy Internet Make Money Ways
Get Paid To Play Games
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From Home Home Internet Make Money Site Terridavidosn
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Easy Way To Stop Smoking
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Ways To Make Money New
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Any Free Make Money Online Ways Without
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Anger Management Toolbox For Parents
How Can Teen Make Money Online
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Can Make Money Much
Mallard Told To Get Help With Temper
Winner Play Free Online Games Real
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Ozyr S Classic Video Game Emporium
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Bay State Anger Management
Aj Novick Group Anger Management Home Study Programs
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quick and easy ways to make extra money
Video Game Hentai Co Uk
Why Quit Smoking Reasons For Quitting
Anger Management Classes In Los
Quit Tips Quit Tips Journal Quit Smoking Journals
From Home Make Mlm Money Online Photo Sales Work
Make Money With Your Own Web Site
online casino guide
free casino
Cigna Hopelab S Re Mission Video Game
internet casino
Based Business Home Make Money
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Based Business Home Make Money Online Opportunity
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¶ 4:11 PM
