Why Use Human Translation Services? - Creative Word

The demand for translation services has never been higher than in today’s global marketplace. Business are finding that offering a one-language-fits-all perspective just won’t cut it when it comes to encouraging customers to purchase products and services from a predominantly overseas firm.

Instead, we are seeing even small and medium sized businesses using professional translation services to increase their sales potential, escalate audience participation, and to improve brand value and recognition in foreign countries.

Of course, translation of websites, social media posts, after sales service, packaging, and so on, all come at a cost, and it might be tempting to use online translation services such as, Google Translate, in a bid to keep these expenses as low as possible.

However, there is far more to translation than merely altering the words from language into another; translation involves understanding nuance and tone, an appreciation of different cultures and values, and requires an extensive knowledge of two or more languages.

If you are considering taking your business to the next level, and are looking into new foreign markets, the following advice about using professional human translators for all your translation needs, will ensure you make an informed decision.

 

Localisation

Translation services can offer a great option when you simply require a change of language for a short, undetailed translation such as, information booklets or instructions for use.

But, if you are considering translating more detailed information such as, your website, or your social media posts, you should consider using localisation, alongside your translation, as this gives a more in-depth translation.

Localisation will change not only the language used, but will also consider factors such as, text expansion (some languages are more ‘wordy’ than others), preferred fonts, currencies, reading patterns (do you need left-to-right for English, or right-to-left for Arabic), cultural variations, regional dialects, and so on.

It is essential that you get these differences in language and culture right, especially when entering new areas for the first time. Making a good first impression is vital to the success of your brand.

Human translation services offer a unique insight into cultures that machines are unable to grasp at present. Using human translators will ensure your translated works are localised accurately and have a high regard for context and setting.

 

Linguistic Expertise

Human translators are experts in their field, but they frequently have more than just their knowledge of two languages to draw upon to create an informed, personal, and accurate translation.

Many translators have qualifications in other fields such as law, medicine, or engineering and can use this background to provide an educated, in-depth translation for a multitude of businesses.

Machine translation lacks the ability to merge skills from various fields of expertise with a high degree of accuracy that considers nuance, context and target audience.

A human linguist guarantees that your translation will be suitable for its intended purpose, while maintaining precision and ensuring it is unambiguous.

 

Machine or Human Translation?

While AI advances in almost every conceivable field have come a long way in recent years, there are still some sectors where the human touch, or human involvement, are necessary. The translation industry is one such area.

Language is a human domain, it requires an understanding of words (both spoken and written), body language, context and emotions. A machine is limited in its ability to interpret these correctly as it is restricted by its nature to what it can understand and comprehend.

In a typical translation document there can be thousands of words which require translation. These words may have more than one meaning, or conversely, there may be a more appropriate word which fits the setting better, but only a human translator would spot this type of difference.

Of course, machine translation has its place – once a human translator has completed a translation, a glossary of frequently used words and terms can be drawn up, which is then used in future machine translations in order to speed up the process and reduce costs.

A Translation Management System (TMS) can be used with great effect once the preliminary human translation has been completed, and by partnering with a professional translation provider, you can often access services such as these, which can save you time and money, especially to large or long term projects.

If you require the services of a professional translation team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.