The secret of good translation...is a good source text
Selecting the right translation company is obviously a critical factor when it comes to ensuring top translation quality. However, if you are writing the source copy yourself, there are other important steps that you can take - even before you approach a translation provider - both to reduce your costs and to ensure that the final foreign language version of your text is fit for its purpose.
Here are five top tips to help you keep your copy "translation-friendly".
1. The vital ingredient
Ensure that your source text is carefully proof-read before you submit it to a translation company for a quote. Bear in mind that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. In other words, if the source text isn't top notch, then transforming it into a first-rate translation is bound to involve a lot of extra work, which inevitably impacts on the end-cost... If a text doesn't make sense in the source language, then it almost certainly won't make sense in the target language either. So be clear, be concise and be sure the text says what you intend it to! Moreover, if you make alterations to the text after you've received a quote, the price will most likely change anyway, so you'll have to get another quote and be back to square one! Starting off with a well-written, carefully proof-read definitive version of the source text saves a lot of headaches all round.
2. Format to the fore
If you have particular formatting or layout requirements, intimate these right at the outset, not once the translation is complete. Likewise, if your format requirements change during the project, let the translation provider know as soon as possible.
3. Make it snappy - but don't forget it might not work in French!
If you want the translated text to have a particular tone or style, it's helpful to make this clear when you commission your translation. The more information a translation supplier has about your target readership and intended "message", the better the translators can be briefed and the intended style achieved. With marketing texts in particular, finding equivalent puns in one or more target languages can be time-consuming or even impossible. So it's worth bearing this in mind when you or your colleagues are writing the source copy, as these issues can affect both price and timescale. If your marketing department took 2 weeks to develop a snappy five-word slogan, it's highly likely that the translator will require time to find something that works equally well in the target language.
4. Consistency counts
In-house glossaries or background reference material help to ensure that your translation is written using the same specific in-house terminology as previous documents. So if you've had translations of similar material done before, or if your company's in-country representative has a list of terms which are used regularly within your industry, do make sure your translation provider has access to these.
5. Just ask!
Whilst you know your own industry inside-out, the translation industry might well be unknown territory, so it's only natural to have questions about how the whole process works. Even if you don't have an immediate requirement, any professional translation providers worth their salt should be happy to answer your queries. Here at Lingo24, we're always happy to discuss our clients' requirements and can help you work out the best language (and language-related technology) strategy to tackle your export markets either now or in the future.