Business News Daily captured our attention this morning with a post discussing things you should know about language translation. As an organization that does offer translation services for documents such as product specifications, instruction manuals or CAD drawings, we also recognize the challenges from an internal perspective as well. From internal documentation of processes and procedures to global marketing, offering services in over thirty countries means multiple languages must be available. Their accuracy is salient. As the article notes… A good translation can make a huge difference in how content is received.” Ian Henderson, chief technology officer and chairman of global language service provider Rubric, noted that a low-quality translation can give a bad impression of your business. The article also suggests a business has three options for language translation: machine translation, a professional translator or crowdsourcing. Each one has its costs and benefits, and each serves a specific purpose. Machine translation tools – Tools such as Google Translate,are usually free to use and give you an instant translation when you copy and paste text into it. Keep in mind that these tools only provide basic translations and are often not completely accurate. Professional translators These are native or fluent speakers who will provide a high-quality translation of your content for a fee. Unlike machine translators, a professional can take grammar rules and colloquial phrases into account to make the content flow more naturally. Crowdsourced translation These may take some time to complete because you’re dealing with volunteers who likely have little translation experience. However, crowdsourcing is less expensive than hiring a professional translator and still provides a comparable quality of translation. When determining how to proceed with a translation project, consider the resources available, time requirements, and overall importance of the project. Also, consider the expertise of the translator when using a professional. While an individual may be well versed in a language, there is often industry-specific information that may be more challenging to localize.
