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Working with translators - 1
Establishing a good working relationship with your translator |
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING?
Translation means the transfer of written messages from one language to another, while interpreting refers to the transfer of spoken messages.
Sometimes 'translation' is used as a generic term covering both practices, but when hiring someone's services it will be less confusing if you distinguish between these different skills.
WHAT CAN A PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR DO FOR YOU?
- Give you access to documents written in a language you don't understand
- Enable you to communicate your views in another language
- Enhance the image of your company or organization by producing a professional document that is accurate and uses a style and terminology that are consistent and appropriate for your target audience
- Help sell your products or services and ensure that a bad translation does not compromise your reputation or the quality of your products or service
- Save you money by reducing the number of errors in your documents and eliminating delays and the need for expensive patch-up jobs later
- Save you the worry and problems that arise from working with amateurs
- Save you from possible embarrassment by pointing out any problems in cross-cultural communication.
If you care about the quality of the end product, it is essential to use a professional translator rather than somebody who simply has a knowledge of two languages.
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD TRANSLATOR?
- A sophisticated understanding of the foreign language
- An understanding of the topic being translated
- An ability to transfer ideas expressed in one language into an equally meaningful form in the other language
- An above-average capacity to write well in the target language (the language in which the translation is written), using language appropriate for the topic and readership
- Broad general knowledge
- A sound knowledge of the two cultures involved
- Mental agility
- Sensitivity and attention to detail
- An understanding of specialized terminology in the field of the translation and a willingness to do further research if necessary
- Training or experience.
Translation is more than just a mechanical exercise in looking up words in a dictionary and substituting the grammatical constructions of one language for those of another. Often there is no one-to-one equivalence between words in different languages - for instance, a particular word might have different emotional connotations in the other language. A professional translator will be aware of these potential difficulties and know how to cope with them.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TRANSLATION?
Accuracy, logic and clarity in expression are key characteristics of a good translation, along with an appropriate tone and level of language (e.g., level of formality or technicality). On-time delivery is also essential. Above all, a translation must fulfill the function you require of it. With a translation for use in court, accuracy will be of paramount importance, even if the translation reads somewhat awkwardly, whereas with texts for publication it is vital that the translation reads smoothly. Tell the translator about your needs, what and who the translation is for, and what you expect the final product to look like. This won't take a minute, but could save you a great deal of money and frustration and will help ensure a good translation.
CAN TRANSLATORS WORK IN BOTH LANGUAGE DIRECTIONS EQUALLY WELL?
It is very rare for a translator to be able to translate equally well in both directions, even if both languages are spoken fluently. Writing well, with correct grammar and full expressiveness, requires particular skills and greater expertise than spoken fluency. In general, a translator working into his or her native language is less likely to make grammatical errors, and is more likely to be able to produce text in the desired style of the target language and/or market. Conversely, a translator working from his or her native language is less likely to make mistakes in comprehension of the source text, but is more likely to make grammatical errors and to be limited in his or her command of syntax and style in producing the translation. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, as some non-native writers are indeed capable of producing fine text, and even native readers may on occasion misunderstand the source text they are reading. In addition, in certain specialized fields it is simply not possible to find a good translator who is a native speaker of the target language and has the requisite field-specific knowledge to understand the topic.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Clients are sometimes surprised at the high cost of translations. Remember that good translators are very experienced professionals who not only have expertise in the two languages concerned but also often have a background in a specialized field such as finance, law, or a particular area of science or technology. Translators often specialize in a certain field and spend long hours reading in that discipline and broadening their knowledge. They may also have tertiary training in translation, often at the postgraduate level. Translation work is often highly complex and demanding, both intellectually and in terms of working hours. Translators must be remunerated at a level commensurate with their skills, knowledge and training. Trying to save money by using someone who is not competent will cost you more in the long run, both in money and in time, if you have to pay someone else to fix the translation. Poor pay reduces your translator's motivation to produce a quality product for you.
Translators normally charge based on either the length of the source text (the text to be translated) or the length of the target text. The billing unit varies from translator to translator (e.g., per word, 100 or 1,000 words, character, byte, line or page, or based on the time involved, a lump sum or royalties), so you will need to discuss this with your translator.
It is impossible to quote a 'typical' rate, since it will vary according to the subject matter, the degree of technicality, the deadline, the language pair, and the country where the translation is made. There is a broad correlation between price and quality - as the saying goes, "If you pay in peanuts, expect to get monkeys."
There may be a minimum charge for small jobs, or a premium for rush jobs or work involving weekends or public holidays. Jobs involving considerable research or complex formatting are sometimes charged on a time basis. Translators can give you a free estimate of the cost of a translation, but first they will need to see the document or at least a few sample pages.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
Much longer than it takes to simply type out the text! The time required will depend on the length of the text, its difficulty (e.g., how many specialized terms it contains, how complex the argument is, whether it requires research or editing of the original text), the translator's ability and familiarity with the topic, and the translator's existing workload. As a very rough guide, however, a figure of 10 pages a day is a reasonable expectation, although translators working in a field with which they are familiar are often able to work more rapidly and specialized texts may take longer. Allow your translator time to resolve any queries and carry out any necessary research, as well as time to revise and polish the draft and format it according to your requirements. If you need a translation urgently, be prepared to pay rush rates (a surcharge of anywhere between 25% and 100%).
IS IT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE TRANSLATOR TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE TEXT?
Literal word-for-word translation often results in a different meaning or nuance, or might be simply awkward or even laughable. Often, therefore, your translator will render the text quite freely so as to better convey the intended meaning. Moreover, languages reflect the cultures in which they are used. Your translator might make or suggest certain changes so that the translation 'works' better, omitting or adding material or rewriting the text so it is more suitable for the target audience. Although the final decision rests with you, the client - and you should make it clear to the translator how much freedom he or she has - your translator will often be able to offer sound advice based on a knowledge of both cultures so as to avoid communication breakdown caused by linguistic or cultural differences.
SHOULD THE TRANSLATION BE CHECKED?
If for some reason translators are working into a language in which they do not have full written competence, it is advisable to have the translation checked by a native speaker of that language, particularly if the translation is for publication. This will help eliminate any incorrect, verbose or awkward expressions and enable parts where the meaning is not conveyed clearly to be rewritten.
Even when the translator is working into his or her native language, unless your translator has proven to be reliable and competent it is a good idea to have someone check the translation for accuracy, style and terminological appropriateness. Make sure that the checker is provided with the same information as the translator and is an experienced translator or editor. An ability to speak two languages does not necessarily mean a 'checker' is competent to monitor the work of a professional translator, and such checkers may make unnecessary changes or even changes for the worse.
In reality many translations are not checked at all - which is why it is even more important to use a good professional from the outset and establish a long-term relationship of trust. Make sure you let your translator know whether the translation has to be fully ready for publication or whether it will be checked and edited first.
If necessary for legal purposes, the translator can provide a notarized statement that the translation is true and accurate to the best of his or her knowledge.
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Working with translators - 1. Establishing a good working relationship with your translator - Translation Articles - Trally.com
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