Choosing the right professional Language Services Provider (LSP) for your technical translation can be a bit of a minefield, but it is possible, and our blog shows you how!
We explain what technical translations are, how to choose an LSP, and what you questions to ask.
What are Technical Translations?
Technical translation is an umbrella term which covers specialist translations for any industry of a technical nature, or the translation of documents of a technical nature.
This might include the following industries:
• Law
• Medicine
• Scientific
• Religion
• Finance
• Government
Or the following types of documents:
• Contracts
• User manuals
• Projects/plans
• Reports
• Financial statements
• Websites
• Product information and packaging
• Court transcripts/documents
• Religious documents
• Certified Translations
Technical translations are often required for legal purposes and as such, tend to be written in a formal style (without the use of colloquial terms) and contain industry-specific technical language.
For these reasons, not every translator can accurately perform technical translations…
How to Choose an LSP for your Technical Translations
Choosing the right LSP for your technical translations requires a bit of investigation work but it’s worth the effort in the long run.
This is because technical translations require a high level of knowledge, both in relation to the languages required and the technical field within which the translation is set.
For example, if a certified translation is required to support safety and quality standards for a product which is new to the country, the translator must have knowledge of relevant laws in both countries to ensure parity and accuracy, and also have an excellent grasp of the source and target languages – preferably, they should be a native speaker.
When looking to enlist an LSP for your technical translation project there are a few points worth considering:
• Do they have experience of your industry?
• Do they use native speaking translators and linguists?
• Do they have previous clients (especially in your industry) with examples of work you can view?
• What quality standards and accreditation do they hold?
• Do they offer an extensive range of support staff (such as, project managers/relationship managers) to ensure your technical translation project runs as planned?
• Do they use CAT (computer assisted translation) and Translation Memory (TM) tools for efficiency and cost saving on repeat translations?
• Do they offer ‘certified’ translations? (Certified translations – offer a signed testimony pertaining to the document’s accuracy and completeness, which is often required for translations of a legal nature)
Obtaining your technical translation from a reputable, accredited, and reliable source should be a priority as it offers you greater security and should increase the accuracy of the translation.
Your chosen LSP should be more than happy to answer any questions you have regarding the translation process; the estimated time scale, procedures, and costs involved should all be clearly explained and accessible to you before making your final decision.
At Creative Word, we only work with native-speaking translators and linguists, most of whom have qualifications and experience in other industries.
We offer technical and certified translations across multiple industries – contact us now to find out more.
Recent Comments