We have all read blog posts, comments, or reviews online that have been poorly translated, often having a giggle at any comical mistakes, however, it’s a little more serious when the mistranslated content is technical information.
Blogs, reviews, and so on are generally opinions, their precise translation is not important so long as the reader can understand the basic essence of the message. Technical translations, on the other hand, require precision, and accuracy to effectively communicate the information. For example, translation errors in technical instructions for medical equipment could mean the difference between life and death.
This may sound like an exaggeration to emphasise a point, but quality really is essential for technical translations, here’s why, and how to guarantee it…
Hi-Tech/High Quality
Science, engineering, medical, manufacturing, and software documents all demand high levels of precision in order to instruct, sell, educate, inform, or communicate a message. If you are creating highly technical content for these industries in English, you would ensure that you did everything possible to guarantee their accuracy.
Mistakes can cause all sorts of problems for customers, and companies; failure to install software correctly, due to ambiguous instructions, will lead to the customer demanding a refund. A customer who has become frustrated with products due to errors in information are unlikely to recommend your products, or purchase from your company again. This would result in missed sales, returned goods, and poor customer relations – all of which would have a negative effect on your business.
Low quality, inaccurate technical translations will affect your brand, company image, and revenues. They can also expose your company to potential lawsuits, and liabilities when procedures haven’t been followed accurately in compliance with laws.
Now imagine that you are planning to translate this faulty English content into another 10 languages. The errors will be multiplied ten-fold. Ten translators will localise your content for multiple audiences, but they would also translate the mistakes.
High quality English content is more easily transformed into high quality translations. So how can you ensure that your technical translations are of high quality?
How to Appreciate Quality
Quality can be a fickle thing to appreciate. What is important, or high quality to one person, may not be so for another. In order to satisfy quality assessments when using translation specialists you should consider the following five points as a basis for initial assessments:
1. Terminology
2. Grammar
3. Mistranslations
4. Style
5. Localisation
Once you have established the essential areas for quality, you can then negotiate appropriate levels with your translation team. Both parties will be aware of their position, what flexibility there is within the translation process, and what expectations are held on both sides.
Translation Quality Assessment
Most professional translation companies offer Quality Assessments. These can be completed in the final stages of a full translation service, or as a ‘double-check’ on another translator’s work. If you have had your own in-country teams translate documents, and you are unsure of the quality, it’s worth considering a Quality Assessment with a professional translation provider.
Plan Ahead for Translation
If you know that your content will eventually require translating, you should write the original content with this in mind. Planning ahead for translation makes the translator’s task easier; lowering costs, reducing translation time, while providing a better quality end product for you.
Minimise your content to essential information only, offer consistent terminology, and draw up a glossary of technical terms that are frequently used as this will ensure uniformity, and can be referred to by your translation team for each translation project.
The localisation process will operate more easily if you can use editable graphics in your content, allow for text expansion or contraction (some languages require more, or less space than their counterparts), and provide as much information for your translation team as possible in advance. Translators like to do their homework – give them the tools they require to do their job well.
Choosing the Best Translation Team
When you are translating highly technical content you will need a translation provider that is experienced in your field, and who understands your professional requirements.
There are expert translation teams who are qualified to handle specialist translations such as, medical documentation, or legal papers. Check credentials of translation providers, and ensure they can cope with your requests.
The quality of your technical translation doesn’t rest solely on the shoulders of your translation provider. Your original content must be clear, concise, and accurate for an effective and precise translation to be performed.
Be sure you know what level of quality you expect, offer a well-refined original template, and choose a translation service provider who is qualified to deal with your specialist subject, and you can then ensure your technical translation will be high quality.
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