Do you have a meeting with an international client? Or a student that needs to translate a specific native language document? Whatever your reason might be, being stuck in one language could be a barrier to achieving global reach.
Communications through multiple languages give one an advantage in the business world. A person that can speak multiple languages is more employable than a monolingual individual and can even earn a higher salary. But what if you are not capable of doing such? Will you limit yourself and not go for options out there? That’s where translation services or/and interpreting services come in.
To give you a better perspective on what are translation services and how they can help your company, your study, or your research, here is a comprehensive guide:
What Are Translation Services?
Translation services are the businesses or activities of translating text or speech from one language to another. A translator is someone who engages in translation. The translated work is known as a “translation.”
This can be done by a professional translator or a language services provider (LSP). Most of the time, a language service provider or translation service providers will have a team of expert translators that work with different language combinations. Depending on your target language for your translation project, human translators that are native speakers of that language will be assigned to work on your project.
Internet Have Tons of Translation Apps, Why Not Use Them?
The language barrier is the most common reason why people don’t use translation services. After all, there are a lot of language translation apps on the internet that you can use for free
However, not all free language translator apps are made equal. The quality of their translations is not as accurate as that of professional translators.
Ever tried using Google Translate to convert a document into another language? The results are often broken English or word salad. This is because machine translation (MT) relies on algorithms that can only do so much in terms of processing and translating text
This is where human translators come in. They understand the nuances and context of the source text, which helps them provide more accurate translations. Not to mention, they are able to convey not only the context of your document but also the tone that you want to convey in your target language.
Why Opt for Certified Translation Services?
Aside from the inaccuracy of apps and software, there are also other nuisances that you may encounter when translating documents on your own.
For instance, if you are looking to get legal documents notarized or apostilled, the receiving institution will only accept translations that come from a certified translation service provider
This is because these types of providers have sworn translators on staff who can certify that their translations are accurate to the best of their abilities. This way, you can avoid any legal issues that may arise from inaccurate translations for your target languages.
Certified translations have the reputation of being more expensive than regular translations. But if you consider the long-term effects of inaccurate translations, opting for certified localization services is worth every penny.
Where Can I Find the Best Translation Services?
You can find tons of resources online when it comes to finding the best translation services. ATA or the American Translators Association, for example, is a great starting point. They are an organization that offers certifications as well as career and education resources for translators. They also have Language Services Directory where you can source language and interpretation services offered by individuals and companies alike.
Another great place to look for translation services is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Accredited human translation service providers that have met the BBB’s standards for accreditation are listed on their website. You can use their site to check if a certain provider is accredited as well as to read reviews and complaints from past clients.
Things to Consider When Choosing A Translation Services
Now going to the part where you have to choose a translation agency to work with, it’s important that you take into account the following factors:
Does the translation agency do localization as well?
Translating is something a certified individual can do, but localization takes an expert to do. In its simplest form, localization is the combination of translation and cultural adaptation. This means that every aspect of your content will be translated as well as taking into account the target culture’s customs, traditions, and beliefs.
For example, if you’re looking to get a website localized for the Spanish market, you’ll need more than just a website translator. You’ll need someone who can also understand the nuances of the Spanish language as well as the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
The best translation agencies have both translators and localization experts on staff. This way, you can be sure that your content will not only be translated but also adapted to your target market’s culture.
Do they have an assurance process?
The translation is one thing, but there’s more to that in achieving an accurate translation. That’s why the best agencies have a three-step quality assurance process that includes:
- Proofreading – Once the translator is done with the translation, another expert will proofread it to check for errors.
- Editing – The editor will then make changes to the text to make sure that it flows well and is easy to understand.
- Review – After the text has been edited, it will be reviewed by the project manager to check if it meets the client’s expectations.
Only when the project manager is satisfied with the quality of the translation will it be delivered to the client. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting an accurate and well-written translation.
Remember, both machines and humans are subject to making mistakes one way or another. Thus, it is important to have someone on your side to have your documents checked before finalizing anything.
Do they have excellent customer support?
Another thing to consider is the translation company’s customer support. If you are a business owner, you may want to have a translation company that can be reached 24/7. This is important as any revisions, changes, or questions that you may have can be addressed immediately.
It’s also important to choose a company that has a great track record when it comes to customer satisfaction. You can check this by reading online reviews or asking for referrals from people you know who have used translation services in the past.
What’s their turnaround time?
Money is an investment but so does your time. In any business, time is of the essence and this is also true when it comes to translation services. The best agencies can provide you with a fast turnaround time without compromising the quality of the translation.
Some agencies may even offer rush services for an additional fee. This is something you may want to consider if you need your documents translated as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
From document translation to website localization, there are a lot of things to consider when looking for the best translation services. And as the number of companies that need translation services continues to grow, so does the demand for qualified translators.
With that in mind, it’s important to do your research and only work with certified translation service providers to ensure the quality of your translations.
If you are in Phoenix and in need of such a service, don’t hesitate to call AFLS The 400 Language People at 844.813.4242. We provide a free quote for all your translation needs.
