It takes two to tango: the importance of client input in the translation process.
One of the keys for good results in translation projects is the collaboration of clients in the process. Many companies don’t realize that the translation process involves much more that only sending a source document and receiving it in a different language. Some clients expect to send out a source file and then step out of the translation process; however, it is their involvement in the translation, specifically the review process, that ensures that the most accurate and effective multilingual end product is delivered by their language service provider.
The advance in automatic translation and the fast pace of a globalized world might give many of us the wrong impression that translation is somehow something that can be done almost automatically with a source document and a computer.
The truth is that even though many softwares help to get closer to automatic translation every day, the quality of the results still depends on human proficiency and the tools that are provided to them. A partnership between professional translators and clients ensures high quality and effective results.
There are several tools that can be facilitated to translators. The first one of course is the source text, but the way in which this is provided makes a big difference. It can be a scanned document, a PDF or word file or simply code. When the source document is not plain readable text any extra or material such as images or related documents can help the translator have a clear understanding of what is expected from his work. If the text is in a code file then communication with the technical department could also be a plus to clarify about how that code works or how the new language will interact with it.
There are no real standards of what material you should make available to a translator to help with the task. However, it is important to set clear guidelines about the goals of the project, such as decisions regarding style and formatting, and also information about what is expected. A translator can do a better job if he or she knows where the project comes from, has information about the company that needs the translation, why they need it, who is the target audience and what is the impact expected with new document.
But ultimately the client’s feedback in the review cycle is the most critical, as the client is closest to the product or service and the overall message and direction of the company. The purpose of the client review is not to have the client edit or retranslate the content, but to have key terminology that is unique to the industry or the company itself reviewed by native speakers within the client organization for accuracy and consistency.
Identifying the right reviewer
It is equally important to indentify the right person to review and approve the translation on behalf of the client. A co-worker with a few years of high school Spanish or French is not the ideal reviewer. It is suggested that a native speaker with the appropriate level of education and experience with the company’s products or service offering handle this task. Professional experience and business intelligence is essential to the person who will conduct the client review cycle.
If a company does not have such a person on-staff locally, then an in-country reviewer would be an ideal candidate. If multiple translation projects are planned, it is recommended that the same reviewer be used for all projects to help ensure consistency from project to project.
Alpha Omega Translations provides professional assistance and guidance to ensure that they gather the correct material to deliver the best quality translations and send the correct message to multilingual audiences. For more information on the subject, download our Translation Guide.
For an overview of our translation expertise, visit our editing service page.
Category: Business Translation
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