With more firms choosing to go global in a bid to widen their customer base and increase profits, the likelihood is, most of them will need to use translation services for this transition to be successful.
If you are considering making a move towards international trading (or have just started) this article will help you understand what translation services are available, what they involve and how to get the most out of them.
Translation Services
Translation Services (or Language Services as they are also known) is a catch-all phrase which covers a range of services linked to language and international business.
This includes:
• Translation
• Localisation
• Interpreting
• Multilingual Design
• Transcription
Understanding which service(s) best suits your requirements, what the process involves, and what information you should provide, is key to using the service successfully.
Below you’ll find an outline of each service, with tips for optimum translations (you can find a detailed glossary of additional terms here if required).
Translation –
This is the process of changing a text (documents, emails, web content, and so on) from one language (source) to another (target). When taking a business global, professional translation is key to success.
Translation is used for:
• Marketing materials
• Legal documents
• Website translation
• Internal/external company documents
Localisation –
Is similar to translation but works on a deeper level by adapting more than just language.
Localisation alters the source language, content, images, weights, currencies, and so on, in order to meet the expectations of the target audience. It is a vital component in the globalisation process and is used alongside translation in to give a higher degree of linguistic and cultural accuracy.
Localisation is especially beneficial for:
• Marketing
• Websites
• Employee Training
• Software
• Social Media Posts
• Apps
Interpreting –
This is the process of rendering a spoken source language into spoken target language through voiced words.
Interpreting is useful for:
• Face-to-face business meetings
• Virtual business meetings
• Conferences
• Telephone interpreting
• Video interpreting
• Small or large multilingual groups
Multilingual Design –
Is the process of designing with an international audience in mind, improving user experience by creating a product which looks and acts as if it was originally designed for a local audience.
Multilingual design is used for:
• Marketing materials
• Product packaging
• Brochures
• Websites
• Digital campaigns
• Apps
Transcription –
Is the process of changing the spoken word into the written word which is then translated into the target language.
Transcription is useful for:
• Subtitling
• Dubbing
• Audio and Video files
• Minutes of meetings (for foreign-language speaking stakeholders)
Language Services – The Process
The most complex part of language services for the user is, arguably, finding the right Language Services Provider (LSP) to partner with on a project.
Finding the right LSP will ensure the process runs more smoothly while giving you support and guidance throughout.
Choosing an LSP that best suits your requirements involves the following considerations:
• Native speaking translators for your desired language(s)
• Project and Relationship Managers (for a single point of contact and ease of continuity)
• Experience (and evidence) of previous work in your desired language
• Quality standard protocols
• Cultural experts in your target region
• Industry experts (especially important if you require technical translations linked to your industry for example, legal translations or engineering)
Once you’ve chosen an LSP to work with on your language project, it is time to discuss factors such as:
• Project parameters and expectations
• Documentation required to complete the project
• Content/images
• Cost
• Quality
• Time frame/deadline
• Checking/editing/proofreading services
• Terminology glossaries
• Machine Translation software (use and availability)
Knowing what you require from your project (in terms of budget, project timelines, content, and so on) will help you choose the right partner and it’ll speed up the translation process if you have everything ready to go.
It is also helpful to select one or two people from your business who will act as point of contact who are able to answer questions quickly, make informed decisions and maintain contact with the LSP, so queries can be sorted fast.
Getting the Most out of your Language Service Provider
Choosing the right LSP to partner, and ensuring you have a clear idea of the purpose and scope of your translation project, goes a long way to getting the most out of your LSP and will help the process run smoothly.
The following points will help you get the most out of your LSP and it’s beneficial to be sure about your position before the process begins…
• Know what you want – be clear on the purpose of your translation project; what you want to achieve, your deadline, budget, and so on.
• Check source materials – your source materials need to be perfect otherwise any mistakes will be replicated throughout the translation process. Check images, text, prices, product information, and so on for accuracy.
• Know your brand – the more clearly you can communicate your brand values and voice to your LSP, the clearer they will be able to translate this for your target audience. * Be aware that there may be some instances when you need to be flexible regarding your brand as different cultures have varying ideas regarding what is acceptable and desirable. Your LSP can advise on this if needed.
• Communicate with your LSP – clear communication is essential in order that your LSP understands your requirements and can deliver the translation you want. Discuss ideas and options, be clear in your requirements, ask any questions (no matter how trivial they seem) and give feedback upon completion of your project so your LSP knows how they doing or where services might need altering.
Our team of translators, linguists, cultural experts, and design specialists are waiting to help with your next translation project.
Contact us to find out more or to have an informal chat about taking your business global.
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