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Marek Makosiej
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October 29, 2022
8 min read

How to Hire a Professional Translation Service That's Best for You

A professional seeking translation services

If you're looking for an affordable way to get your website, marketing, technical documentation or software translated into the native language of a foreign country, you may want to consider hiring a professional translation service. Not only will they have the correct terminology for your target language, but they will also have a native speaker on staff. This will help ensure that your content is appropriate for the market you're targeting.

Qualified Linguists and More

A professional translator is required to have an in-depth knowledge of the target language. They should also have practical experience in the industry in which they work. Some fields include international business, banking, and government. Some linguists are also employed by law firms and other companies.

 

Applicants should be aware that the recruitment process is highly competitive. In order to stand out from the rest, they should have the necessary knowledge and experience. In addition, they should be fluent in the main language. It will also help if they can write well. Reading widely will strengthen your substantive knowledge in the relevant fields, broaden your vocabulary, and refine your writing style. It will also give you a feel for the structures and expressions used in different languages.

 

The European Commission (EU) has recently launched a new initiative to encourage universities to offer courses for aspiring professional translators. This initiative comes in response to a lack of qualified translators in EU institutions. It also goes hand-in-hand with a study that shows that 11% of exporting SMEs in the EU lost contracts due to a lack of language skills.

 

When choosing a translation service, look for a company that offers good communication. This way, if you need to make an important localization request, you can rest assured that the agency will be able to complete it quickly and accurately. Moreover, it will give you an assurance that your translation will be of a high quality. Value-added services like project management or vendor management are also very important for you as a client. They take the burden of coordinating translations of your back.

 

To become a professional translator, you need to have a high level of proficiency in the target language. In addition, a professional translator will be required to spend some time in the target language to improve their language skills. Furthermore, they should have the necessary writing skills to communicate effectively with their target audience. They must be familiar with proper grammar, punctuation, and apostrophe usage. They should also know how to follow a style guide. Many professionals apply the style guide of major newspapers or the EC Style Guide.

Qualified linguists need to keep up with changes in linguistics and terminology. In addition, they have to be dedicated to learning a new language. In addition to studying grammar and vocabulary, they also need to read newspapers and movies in their target language.

Translations Specific to Your Industry

Industry-specific professional translations help businesses communicate globally and expand into international markets. These services combine linguistic expertise with technical know-how to deliver end-to-end solutions for multilingual content. Translation company providers are subject matter experts with extensive industry knowledge and ensure the highest quality. Translation agencies also have highly experienced project managers who are trained in the requirements of large companies. These project managers can assemble a team of highly qualified translators based on the client's specific needs. Other team members include desktop publishing experts or terminology managers who make sure your industry-specific jargon is consistently used throughout your marketing, technical, legal and any other communication. This ensures that the translations are accurate and efficient over the long term.

 

Industry specific professional translations are needed for a number of reasons. First, a company's marketing materials need to be translated into a variety of languages. This includes advertisements, brochures, flyers, and user guides. Additionally, the industry requires the highest level of speed and efficiency. The ability to translate quickly and accurately is critical for businesses in this industry.

Industry specific professional translations can also benefit from the support and training provided by industry associations and organizations. A few of these organizations include GALA (Globalization And Localization Association), ELIA (European Localization Industry Association).

 

Technical or legal documents require precise phrasing, and even one wrong word can change the entire meaning. Medical documents, for example, contain information about patients' medical conditions and medications. Pharmaceutical companies also require translations to communicate information about their products and services. Consequently, hiring a professional company that has extensive experience in the field is crucial.

 

Industry specific professional translations can benefit a wide range of industries. They can help companies propel their products into the international market. There are many professional translation service providers, including ATL, that specialize in technical translations, medical translations, software and website localization and many more as well. Many industries require a higher level of precision, consistency, and professionalism than others and here's where a professional translation service provider can help.

 

As quality is often a deal-breaker, it's worth asking a potential translation company to work with whether they are ISO-certified. Example standards and certifications for translation companies include ISO 17100:2015 Translation services — Requirements for translation services and ISO 18587:2017 Translation services — Post-editing of machine translation output — Requirements.

 

 


 

Related content: A Guide to Understanding Translation and Localization Terminology

 


 


Qualifications of a Professional Translator

A professional translator must possess extensive knowledge of both the source language and the target language. In addition to mastering the original language, a translator should understand industry-specific terminology. For example, if they want to translate medical texts, they must learn medical terms. This skill is essential to success in this field.

 

In addition to being fluent in the source language, a translator must have good writing and communication skills. They should also be able to work well with other translators and maintain confidentiality. They must also have a high degree of cultural awareness and sensitivity. Finally, they must be able to present themselves in an appropriate manner and exhibit a professional demeanor.

 

Qualifications of a professional translator vary according to the language they specialize in. A good translator must have excellent writing and research skills in both the source and target languages. They must also have an analytical mind and be committed to their work. They should be able to deliver high quality work in a timely manner.

 

Typically, a translator will choose an area of specialization that fits their interests. This may include a particular type of language, a particular type of text, or a combination of languages. These specializations can be narrow or broad. Most professional translators specialize in one or more languages.

 

A professional translator is also required to be certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). This certification is given to translators who have successfully passed a three-hour exam. The examination tests a translator's skills and knowledge of the source language, the translation techniques, and the target language's writing structure. If a translator is certified, they are able to certify official documents and other official materials.

 

In addition to education, a professional translator must undergo training in various fields. Many translators specialize in a specific area, such as medical or legal translation. These specializations require specialized knowledge and advanced understanding of industry-specific terminology. Additionally, some professionals opt to pursue additional certifications.

 

Professional translation agencies keep all these factors under close control through processes they have in place. These processes are often based on the above-mentioned translation standards by ISO.

Cost of Hiring a Professional Translation Provider

The costs of hiring a professional translator vary depending on the type of work required. Most translators charge by the word, although some languages require more words to convey the same meaning. You can also pay by the document or page. However, this will likely result in you paying more than necessary. Here are some guidelines to consider.

 

You should also consider the experience of the translator. A senior translator can charge more than $50,000 per year, but they tend to work faster on simpler documents. However, a junior translator may earn a bit less than that. Another thing to consider is the company structure. Smaller language service providers typically charge lower fixed costs.

 

Your target language is another factor that will affect the cost. Some languages are more widely spoken than others. Consider the target audience when choosing a language. The most common languages in the world are German, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, and Portuguese. The cost for these languages will depend on where you live and the difficulty level of the content.

 

In general, the cost of hiring a professional translator depends on the industry in which the translator works. For example, a website translation for a restaurant will cost much less than a law firm website. A law firm website, on the other hand, requires expertise, extensive experience, and knowledge of legal terms. As a result, an expert website translator will charge a higher rate than an ordinary translator.

 

In addition to the above factors, some translation service providers offer discounts for repeat customers. Often, they will negotiate with you to reduce the price for the next translation. In addition, you should also be aware of the fact that translation services that include proofreading and editing will cost you more than the cost of the translation alone. You can save on these costs by internalizing the proofreading and editing work.

 

The cost of hiring a professional translation company can vary significantly depending on the size of the content. For large websites or high-word count user manuals, this service can cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. But, you can rest assured that your materials will be translated with high accuracy.

 

 


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