subject: Professional Companies require Professional Translation Services [print this page] Professional Companies require Professional Translation Services
Professional companies need professional translations. This means hiring people with good communication skills that are native in the target language, have proofreading systems, stick to deadlines, and know how to write.
When deciding on a translation company the first thing you have to decide is how you are going to translate your documents.
There are three options: online translation service (machine that translates documents), a freelance translator, or a translation service.
Frankly, the first option shouldn't be an option. Why? Machines just don't understand language the way a person does. Our brains are hardwired for language, computers are hardwired for facts.
It just doesn't work. For example, let's take Burger King's slogan and run it through a popular online translator. Here's what we get:
Have it your way
Haz lo que quieras
Do what you want
We understand how these can mean the same thing, but having your burger your way versus doing whatever you want when you enter Burger King have different connotations and don't give the same feeling. Burger King's actual slogan in Spanish is "Como t quieras" which means "how you like it" a much more fitting translation in Spanish. My guess? They used a person not a computer.
Convinced yet?
If you want a professional language translation you have two options, hire a freelancer or a translation service company.
Both of these options are good, the difference is that the translation service takes care of most of the translation for you and takes responsibility for the final product.
If you do decide to hire a translation agency, make sure they are certified and hold third-party quality certifications such as ISO or EN 15038.
These bodies oversee practices and procedures, making sure that companies comply with a standard of quality that is expected for the service they provide.
While cost is fractionally higherwhen using a translation agency, the extra cost can be well worth thetime and effort of having a person in-house to hire the linguist (making sure they are qualified not only for translations but also the specific industry of the project, i.e. medical, manufacturing, business, public relations).
Managing the project, coordinating deliveries, and quality assuring each project is something translation companies also specialize in, another service that can cut down time and the risk of a product that is less than perfect.
