How to Find the Right Translator?
In the world of translation, as in any other field, there are countless firms and individuals competing for your business. This may leave you perplexed as to what choice to make when you require translation services. That said, know how to find the right translator, to whom you will entrust any written material for your business, is far from trivial. The resulting translation could either boost your image as seriously damage it. Opting for the best possible translation quality ensures that the years of hard work you’ve put in to building your business’s credibility and reputation will not have been in vain. It would be a shame to see the results of all your efforts crumble due to a bad translation. And it happens more often than you think. This is why it is so important to choose a translator carefully.
How do you choose the right translator?
The choice of doing business with one translator over another often comes down to the price, which is undoubtedly an important criterion to consider. Whether you are a large organization or an individual, budgetary restraints are a reality. However, you must also consider the quality of the work. And when doing so, the question is: How can you differentiate between an excellent translator and one that is, shall we say, mediocre?
Simply knowing another language does not make you a professional translator! Just as mastering your grandmother’s banana bread recipe does not make you a professional pastry chef. One cannot proclaim oneself “professional translator” overnight. Translation is a profession that requires mastery of a host of skills and familiarity with various essential components.
Mastery of language
Mastery of language is undoubtedly essential for a high-quality translation. This includes impeccable grammar and a comprehensive understanding of both the source and target languages. However, there are additional factors to consider. Given the diverse range of translation assignments, a translator must possess extensive general knowledge. They should be willing to conduct research to familiarize themselves with specialized terminology and current trends in specific fields. Furthermore, a proficient translator must understand the target audience’s profile. This enables them to adapt the writing style, level of formality, and technical language accordingly.
Cultural context
Language consists of so much more than vocabulary items and grammatically well-constructed phrases. For example, cultural references, idiomatic expressions and word-play (puns) present a particular challenge in terms of accurate translation because their meanings are figurative rather than literal. An excellent translator is well-versed enough in both languages to understand the underlying meaning of such items. He knows the corresponding structure to employ in the target language so that no layer of meaning is lost.
SEO
A qualified and experienced translator should know the essentials of how SEO (Search Engine Optimization) functions. They must be aware of the key words that were incorporated in the original document and ensure that their counterparts are present, to the same degree, in the target language document.
Few tips to find the right translator for you
As you can see, there are various criteria that must be considered when selecting the right translator.
In order to assist you in your search to find the professional who can produce the best results, here are a few steps you can take and questions you can ask a prospective firm or translator:
– Visit their website
A business or individual’s professionalism is often reflected by the quality of the visual and written material on their website. While this aspect doesn’t provide a complete picture, it could spur you to either move on to another candidate or explore this one further.
-Ask to see a portfolio
This will allow you to evaluate, for yourself, the quality of translations they have done in the past.
-Ask if they have any references and testimonials
Find out if previous clients have provided testimonials on Linkedin, Google Business, or other such platforms. This is a great way confirm their credibility. Comments that are fabricated often give themselves away and this should be a red flag to a client looking for a legitimate, professional translator.
-Ask about their knowledge regarding SEO
Has he ever taken an SEO training course? How have they put into practice, as translators, what they have learned? These are pertinent questions because well-crafted SEO is crucial to your visibility. Make sure that you select a firm or translator who demonstrates a certain expertise in this area and can position your business optimally in searches.
-How much do they charge?
Everyone loves a bargain, but beware of a translator who charges significantly less than the standard. Undercutting is most often a sign of an individual or firm who is not qualified, uses automatic translation tools (which are very unreliable), or values volume over quality. In other words, they are not likely to put in the time required to produce quality texts.
To get a good idea of the median price of a translation, please refer to the article How Much Does a Translation Cost?
-Have a real-time conversation
E-mail communication is quick and efficient. But it doesn’t give you a very good idea of who the person is beyond your screen. A phone conversation is more direct. It consequently reveals much more readily a person’s professionalism, confidence, or lack thereof, and any other aspect that can inform your desire to hire them or not.
Hopefully, the information provided in this article will assist you in navigating the vast array of translators and translation firms available on the internet. We sincerely hope it will aid you in selecting the most suitable translator for your needs.
If you have any further questions about translation, how to find the right translator for a specific mandate, or a document that requires translation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to assist you.
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Writer: Emmanuelle Guidez
