Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Consider While Outsourcing Document Translation

The Importance of Working with Native Speakers
There's no question about it. If you want to pick a document translation service, you stand a better chance of getting the right results by working with native speakers. Native speakers have the added advantage of being familiar with the local custom and slangs of a language. This means they are more likely to recognize the unintended nuances that a false translation might cause.

Still, it is important to realize that working with native speakers is not a guarantee that you will be provided with quality document translation results. Just as it isn't every English speaker that you can rely on to write competently, there is a big difference between being a fluent speaker and being a competent translator.

The Importance of Quality
Most clients prefer to have quality document translations. However, there are occasions when quality might not be of utmost importance. For instance, some client might be willing to sacrifice quality to get a lengthy job completed within a tight timeline. Regardless of the situation, the eventual quality of the document is usually determined by the control methods used by the translators.

Some agencies work in groups of two-one assigned to handle the translation of the document and the other tasked with proofreading and editing. Others work with control management programs. Generally, you're more likely to get better quality if your document translated document is handled by a team and not a lone professional.

The Importance of Technical Fields
Different documents have varying fields of interest. For instance, some documents might focus primarily on legal matters while others might be made up of engineering topics. In order to get the best outcome with your document translation, you'll need to choose a translator who has some experience in the relevant technical field. A translator with prior experience in handling patents will be better equipped to handle patent document translation. The same is true for other fields. Before choosing a translator, take into consideration their area of specialization and their document field.

The Importance of Price
How much is too much for a good translation? It's a common question asked by most people. The answer will be determined by your budget and needs. There is no fixed rate among translators.

Document translations can cost anything from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars depending on the subject, length and timeframe behind the project. Most translators charge per word count. Still, there is such a thing as a price being too low and it is such offers that you should be wary about. To get reliable results in your document translation, you should be willing to pay for it.

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