So you’ve decided to make the big move. You’re going international. There’s one problem with that though, in most places abroad they don’t speak English.
So you just get a translator… Simple, eh?
I was talking to someone recently who was surprised to be told that, no, computers don’t do all that on their own. Google Translate or any other machine translation program will be fine if you just want to know the rough meaning of a text, but if you want something a bit more crafted and even more, sound like an original, a human being will still be your best friend.
Get your text right
As a translator, I pull my hair out sometimes when I’m sent a badly written, badly organised text full of typos and bad grammar. If you can’t explain your message properly, don’t expect your translator to get it right. A well-written text will help your translation sound like an original. And don’t forget to finalise it before translating, there’s nothing more disconcerting for a translator than a constantly changing original.
Think international
Many marketing materials have local cultural references that are almost impossible to translate. References to TV soaps and popular culture as well as specific local idioms should be excluded.
Cost
How long’s a piece of string? as they say. Translation prices vary enormously and a high price is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. If translators are earning poverty line rates however, there’s every chance they won’t be spending the time necessary to make your text sound good.
Don’t try to do it yourself
I lived in France for 20 years and my oral French is pretty much mother tongue. My written French however, good though it is, is not. So I rarely write in French and I never translate. It is very tempting for people who speak a foreign language, even those who speak it well, to translate a text themselves. It will always sound “foreign”. Always use a native translator and preferably one that lives in the country of the target language with extensive experience of the source.
Target
Parisian French and Montreal French are completely different animals. Just like East London English and Brooklyn English and Madrid Spanish and Buenos Aires or Havana Spanish. Think of the market you are targeting. Speak your target’s language, as they say in marketing, it’s not about you, it’s about them.
Give the translator enough time
Translation can be a time-consuming business, the average daily output is about 3,000 words. I’ve been asked to turn 10,000 words around in 24 hours before. Sure, it may be physically possible for someone who types very fast or uses Voice Dictation software, but no guarantees can be made about the result. You must allow them the time to do the job properly.
Answer the translator’s questions
When your translator asks you a question about some aspect of a text, answer quickly. Questions are not asked on a whim, they generally come when all other avenues have been exhausted. Remember your translator is more than just a service provider, he or she is a partner. I remember being told once, “You’re the translator”. Not very helpful. A translator’s questions will help you re-examine your text and improve it.
Students
Oh dear. Would you trust a student doctor with your gall bladder operation? Need I say more?
