This document discusses the translation process and the importance of professional translation. It notes that translation involves more than just translating words, and emphasizes the need for translators experienced in the subject matter who can adapt the text for the target audience. The document stresses proofreading and reviewing translations to catch mistakes, and warns that poor translations can damage an organization's image and credibility and lead to legal issues. It argues that using professional translation services avoids higher costs down the line from errors.

1. Do You Speak Translation? The real cost of translation Juan Carlos González Integral Linguistic Services September 23, 2011

2. Translation process Translation Difference between professional translations and having somebody who speaks the language do the translation. Are you using professional translators? And do they have experience in translation? Are they experienced in the subject matter? Nuance and idiom What a good translation does to improve your image? Will the final user understand? Does the translation shows that you care about your end user needs?

3. Translation process Translation Know your field and target audience. A good translator needs to know the subject and what the translation is being used for. Know the level of literacy and what kind of end user will be targeted.

4. Translation process Proofreading Can you afford having mistakes and typos on your documents. Proofreading is not optional, always proofread. It saves time and saves money, it’s better to catch a mistake before it goes to print or goes live. Proofreading will help to improve the final product.

5. Translation process Adaptation Goes beyond editing Makes the documents feel more fluent as they were written by a native speaker. Adjust the level of literacy to the end user level.

8. Translation process Desktop Publishing There are printing challenges, especially with Asian and Middle Eastern languages. Translation and DTP are expensed separately. There are two different set of professionals working on the project.

9. Translation process The final product Good translation should be ready for printing and presentation. The translation should not be literal, and it has to be easy to read and to understand.

10. Translation process The final product Translation should reach your audience and convey your message the best way possible. Translation should be consistent, using the same terminology throughout and have a client specific glossary, if needed.

11. Health care – different from other translations Health care translators are native speakers that are trained as health care providers and as translators, usually with degrees in translation and health care. The translator needs to be an expert in the health care field and understand the audience. Selecting a translator is a very difficult process and it’s based on the translator’s expertise and style and matching those to the clients expectations.

12. How do you know the translation is good? Internal Review by a member of your staff. Field testing and focus groups Send translations to be reviewed by an independent source. Good feedback from the end user.

13. Review Create a review sheet. Inexperienced reviewers usually feel the need to make changes, to justify the time put into it. Review sheets will help to keep objectivity. Choice of words is important. Usually there is internal or organization specific lingo that needs to be incorporated into the glossary.

14. What do you think the problems are in a poor translation? Translation typos and omissions – the importance of proofreading and reviewing the translation. Formatting errors and omissions. Documents need to be reviewed before they are consider a final.

15. Problems with a poor translation? Most important – YOUR ORGANIZATION IMAGE! You will loose credibility if you have a bad translation. Legal ramifications – if the message is misunderstood by the end user because of a bad translation you might be legally liable. Printing cost – having to destroy print copies and reprint them because of mistakes.

16. Translation Errors The real cost of an error or a mistake: Printing cost Publishing cost The “Real” cost is sometimes irreversible because of the damage done to your image.

17. Translation Errors

18. Translation Errors

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21. The real cost of translation The real cost of translation is not using a professional translation service, it’s cheaper to get it right the first time, than trying to correct mistakes later. The damage to your organization image, your costumers not understanding your communications, and the extra workload.