Ideally, a professional
foreign language translation company should follow a certain script one can rely
on, when approached with a new task.
The nature of the source material would determine the type of skills the translation
would require. For instance, in case of a real estate contract in between two parties the
translator would be expected to have certain knowledge in this industry. Furthermore, accuracy
would be essential in this case, as each and every word might count. A literary work on the other
hand would better be handed to a literary minded person, who has significant experience in free
translations.
Once the source material’s nature has been determined, a serious
foreign language translation company would follow standard procedures to ensure
professionalism and client satisfaction. In the first step they will review the document to
familiarize with the content, terminology, and even the tone of the material.
Following that, the company would provide a written estimate of the costs involved.
If the costs are within the client’s price range, they will send a written approval and a
translator will be assigned to the task of translating the given material. At this point the client
could and should still be involved in the process, with the possibility to raise his questions and
concerns!
Once a first draft of the
foreign language translation is completed, it is given to the editor for further
examination, along with the original document. The editor should preferably be a native speaker
with expertise in the given subject. The editor checks the translated material for accuracy of
content. The client may be contacted in case any inconsistencies arise. Corrections – if needed -
are marked by the editor.
The corrected material is then passed on to the proofreader. The proofreader
looks out for typographical errors and possible grammatical mistakes, but he will also see to it
that the text has a natural flow. Furthermore, the proofreader should make sure, that the
translated text adapts to the target language and does not read as a ‘translation’.
Accurate foreign language translation agencies also pay strict attention to
formatting. The completed translation should be formatted to match the original. This seemingly
unnecessary final step could actually draw the line between non-professional and competent foreign
language translation agencies. Formatting "dresses up the baby", adding the final touches to a
thorough job.
Finally, the completed, corrected and formatted version is given to the client.
Remember, each
foreign language translation agency is different, however if they want to maintain
their position in the market, they should abide by the above guidelines.
