Translating...what...' - File formats 'r' us
You already know that you can talk to us if you have particular formatting needs for your translation project. And we have already explained that it is worth letting us know if formatting does not matter to you at all. The point is that formats affect the cost or time frame of your project. It is often the case that we can actually help you to find the best file format solution for your particular needs. So, given that in past newsletters we have had a look at the file formats we can deal with (basically any format you can think of), today we thought that we might as well look at some of the problems that we are continuously having to solve when dealing with all these formats.
Varying volumes
If you have ever looked at a source text and a target text alongside each other you will have realised that the translated text has rarely the same volume as the source text. A German translation of an English text, for example, can be up to 15% longer than the original, while a Chinese translation is usually approximately 15% shorter than the English original (just imagine a translation from German to Chinese!). While this does not usually create problems, it could be that a document with complex formatting requires post-translation formatting work done. Again, this is not usually problematic with most formats, but there are 'classic' issues that we can anticipate, helping you to minimise these problems. Please feel free to ask us. Some advice on this topic can be found in another article I wrote recently: How formatting can save you money
Desktop Publishing Formats (DTP)
Desktop Publishing formats often turn out to be a 'special case'. Usually the content depends somewhat on the design, and leads to a translation dichotomy: while on the one hand, the design features often have a big impact on the content (and thus the translation), it is, on the other hand, not advisable to translate the formats using the respective Desktop Publishing software. Some Desktop Publishing Software packages are not only restrictive when it comes to displaying foreign characters, but are actually plain 'difficult'. Quark, for example, even requires you to buy special language versions. As professional translators, we use our own tools to master these formats, and it is very important to talk to us about the best workflow before you start with the wrong expectations.
Content Management Systems
Content Management Systems are simply the best solution for high volume company content. The buzzwords range from 'single source content management and publishing' and 'highest possible internal consistency' to 'content authoring tools that help you cut costs anywhere in the supply chain'. You don't even have to be in the manufacturing business (where you have to write a lot of manuals and documentation for your products) in order to know what we are talking about. Having all your content in one source means that your translation needs can be incorporated in smooth workflows that directly link the new translated content in a unique way to your existing source text. Of course we can deal with any Content Management System (CMS) file formats by either directly linking to the content or by converting the content into a reliable and translation-proof format. If you are just starting out with your system, we can and will work closely together with you to help you overcome the usual teething problems with multilingual content management. We always know how to achieve the most practical and efficient workflow.
Translation Industry files
Some of our clients had already translated documents before they came across us. Many of them have been working with translators who used the most common file formats used in the translation industry. Computer Aided Translation tools like Trados, SDLX, Déjà Vu, or Star Transit each produce their own project files, so sometimes you not only have the source and the target document, but also the aforementioned translation tool file. This is a good start and a good resource, and we can use the files to retrieve your past translation projects. We also can convert any of these project files into translation industry standard file formats. This would make you even more independent from tools, because we actually believe that it is not the tool that is decisive for a good translation, but the translator and sometimes the process.
...and before we forget to mention it, we can also arrange translations from paper...