Language is often ambiguous. Culture, dialect, vernacular language, homonyms, grammar and punctuation can all affect the meaning of words and when it comes to translation, it can become even more confusing, especially when technical terminology or sector-specific jargon is being translated.
For example, when translating legal documents which require a high degree of accuracy, terms and laws must be comparable in both legal systems. For instance, if translating a contract of employment, the contract must fit within both legal structures while also taking account of differences in legal systems, laws and procedures.
Knowledge of both the language and the specific sector or field are paramount to a successful, accurate translation where there is no room for ambiguity.
Documents such as, user manuals, medical equipment instructions, legal forms, and patents all require a high level of translation precision and errors can be costly, both in personal and financial terms.
Without the necessary sector expertise and language knowledge, even simple words can cause confusion if they have multiple meanings. Contextual understanding is a must and can only be gained through experience.
Automatic machine translation is not a viable option for technical translations, they can give an overall impression of the meaning but don’t understand contextual connotation, technical language or linguistic nuance.
For an accurate, concise, technically correct translation it is vital that human translators with industry expertise are used throughout the project.
If you plan to use a translator for your technical translation the following advice will help you choose the best partner for your project.
Industry Knowledge for Technical Translations
Many sectors require highly accurate translations to operate at a global level.
At Creative Word we often partner with clients who require translations which are highly technical such as, those in the gas and oil industry or government legal departments.
In order to give the best translation possible, we only use industry trained, native-speaking linguists who have years of experience in their chosen sector. In this way, all of our clients can be confident in every word we translate.
If you require a technical translation look for a Language Services Provider (LSP) that offers human translations using linguists that have industry experience and a demonstrable track record, you can then be confident that specific terminology, language nuance and technical information will be understood and correctly translated.
Technical Translation Accuracy
Your firm may require a technical translation for anything from corporate training to computer software installation manuals and the degree of translation accuracy must be high on each and every translation to ensure your staff fully understand.
Mistranslated documents can cause frustration, errors, or even loss of revenue so ensuring high quality and accurate translations is vital to the success of your firm.
Give your chosen LSP as many supporting documents as possible, for instance, style guides, glossaries (including frequently used terms), original texts and images, and brand information so that they can gain a more complete picture of what you require from your translation project.
Localise your Technical Translations
Translated documents of a technical nature which are for intended for use by the mainstream pubic (for instance, user manuals or medicine usage directions) should always be localised, alongside the translation, for best results.
Localisation will take account of regional differences, target audience, cultural perceptions, dialect and image relevance so that your translation fits with its intended audience’s expectations.
Larger LSPs generally offer localisation services but check before committing to a translation provider if this service is available.
If you would like to find out more about how the Creative Word team can help you achieve the best translation and localisation for your technical translation, please contact us.
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