FACTS ABOUT TRANSLATION
Questions and misconceptions about translation services:
The biggest providers offer the best translation services
It is a common belief that big agencies provide the best translation services. However, an agency's size and some translators and source/target languages do not guarantee quality for each client. Big providers are often good partners for big clients with multiple hundreds of translation pages each month, so the providers have already designated teams of translators who are familiar with the specific content. If you seek a quality translation for your specific needs, it may be a better option to consider cooperation with a smaller specialized agency, which will offer you due time and attention, even if you are not their key client.
The quality of translations is more or less the same. The best approach is to request offers and opt for the cheapest rates
This is not true. Unfortunately, there are more and more bad-quality translations on the market. Those are usually machine translations or translations by unqualified persons. Customers get attracted by low rates and end up with very bad-quality texts. If you need translation services, bear in mind that faulty translation can damage your personal or business image. The lowest rate should not be a decisive criterion. This does not mean, however, that high rates guarantee the best quality. Choose your translation provider carefully. If you are happy, the mutual trust will secure a good partnership and eventually better loyalty rates.
If more translators translate a text, the quality is always bad
This statement is true only if the translators who translate one text do not cooperate. In that case, the translation is bad and inconsistent. If there is a request for urgent translation of the voluminous text, the engagement of more translators is inevitable. However, the translation can be of good quality if the terminology is used consistently. The cooperation of the translators and the use of common Translation Memory and Term Base ensure a good result. Most translation providers and professional translators use CAT software, which allows them to create and share term bases, so terminology is appropriate and consistent in the translated texts.
Only experts in particular fields, and not linguists, can provide quality translations
This is another common misconception. Translators are experts who are usually specialized in one or a number of fields, so their knowledge of specialized terminology is excellent. Apart from language fluency, they are the experts in grammar and language styles. Texts translated by professional translators are not erroneous nor ambiguous due to faulty language and grammar use. However, we all have seen very bad translations on various occasions – in literature, on film, in brochures and guides, etc. This is why it is important to entrust your texts to professionals and respected providers.
The best and the most cost-effective solution is to employ a translator and not to outsource translation jobs to external providers
Many companies employ translators rather than they engage external providers. That solution is, however, not always the best, and for sure, it is not the most cost-effective. A translator has a limited daily performance, so he/she cannot respond to urgent requests for translation of big texts. In addition, if your employed translator is off work, the job will be on hold. If you cooperate with an external provider, your material will always be delivered on time and as agreed. Most of the providers have loyalty rates for steady clients, so the outsourcing of translation jobs is, in most cases, a more efficient and cost-effective solution.