ã Renata Korpak PhD MIL
I like the saying “Buy in your own language, sell in theirs”. It would be better if more UK businesses tried to apply it... We would do a lot more business with Central Europe! Both Czechs and Poles, however enthusiastic in learning English, appreciate business contacts made in their own language.
How do you find the right person for the job?
The most usual way is for a manager to pass a text on to a secretary who rings the first agent in the telephone directory. The translation is eventually done – but does it really carry your message? Too many times the result is not what you want.
If you want to be amused by the carelessness of others, go to NOT my translations...
So what should you, or your company, consider when commissioning a translating job? Here are some of the most critical issues:
Is it better to choose an agency or a freelance translator?
It depends what needs to be done. If a product label or a brochure needs to “go” into 17 languages, there is no question that a translation agency is best suited to manage such a job.
I can also advise you on good translation agencies.
In most other cases, ringing individual translators will reward you not only with savings of up to 40%, but also provide direct contact with the chosen translator who you decide to give the job to. Always ask the translator whether s/he is a member of a professional organisation – like the IOL (Institute of Linguists) in the UK - or just ask for his/her CV. It is useful if s/he is covered by professional indemnity insurance, which means you are covered for additional costs in case of negligence.
It is easier to agree with a translator directly rather than through an agent to have the work done overnight or during a weekend, which means speedier delivery. Also, you get to know the person who is going to translate your text and so it should be easy to sort out all queries or last-minute changes.
What to ask when you call
Ø Will the translation be done by a native speaker? A translation into Polish, for example, should be done by a Polish mother-tongue speaker or someone for whom Polish has been the language of habitual, everyday use for many years, and vice versa if it is into English. This is especially important if the text is for publication. Yet if it is an exchange of letters to be translated both ways, use the same translator for consistency
Ø Does the translator have a track record in the given field? This is especially important in case of patents or contracts. But do not hesitate to choose an enthusiastic, even if possibly less experienced person for more straightforward texts – smaller jobs very often get more care and attention from a freelancer striving to develop his or her experience. S/he may also be more flexible
Ø What format does/can the translator or agent deliver the translated document in? Most translators work in MS Windows nowadays but it is still important to sort out all compatibility questions – to establish what you want. Should you need to download Czech or Polish-language characters, for example, ask the translator for advice. If a text, however well translated, has squiggles instead of letters, or no accents, it looks amateurish
Ø Will the translated document be spellchecked and/or proofread properly (independently)? It is crucial to find out if you are going to use a translator, or an agency, for the first time. It is also a good idea to have their first job checked for spelling mistakes or inaccuracies by showing it to an in-country contact, if you have one. But don’t necessarily blame the translator for saying it one way when your contact prefers another – there are always more ways of saying the same thing! For this very reason, you will not find out a lot by having the text back-translated: you will probably end up with a “new” English version!
Five steps for a good result
Ø When asking for a quote, provide a sample, or if this is impossible a similar text, and a wordcount. The agent can then choose the best translator for your assignment and the translator can judge whether s/he can do it. It will also help to provide you with a reliable estimate as to how long the job is going to take
Ø Provide a glossary of all non-obvious abbreviations and terms. Look at the text from the point of view of your future Czech or Polish reader – isn’t some of the information purely UK-orientated? Is there any “corporate speak” which an outsider may not understand?
Ø Nominate a contact person within your company in the UK, or in-country, who can answer possible questions. Your translator may also want to talk to you in order to point out differences between Central European and English style or customs, for example in letter openings or invitations
Ø If your text is about a specific event, or involves (non-obvious) names and descriptions that already exist in the target language, make them available to the translator – otherwise s/he may well translate the name of the conference or somebody’s job title differently (which doesn’t mean incorrectly). The text, although in perfect Czech or Polish, may then be confusing to your foreign reader
Ø Give the translator time to do the job properly. Think how long it took to write the original, add 30% to that, and make it a minimum. In all super-speedy jobs, imperfections are unavoidable!
Once you have found a translator who suits you, stick with him/her. You will become a team of sorts, and having your documents translated will seem really easy!
Good luck!
email me with your requirements
ã Renata Korpak PhD MIL
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NOT my translations And finally....some useful links
Renata Korpak PhD
Member of the Institute of Linguists
11 Grand Avenue
Hove, East Sussex BN3 2LF, UK
Tel./fax +44 (0) 1273 772 001
Mobile tel. +44 (0) 7703 627 279
korpak@nildram.co.uk