Monday, September 8, 2008   11:25 AM

 How to ask for a translation.

You would think the answer to this would be obvious by just asking one of our project managers to take care of a document, manual or marketing piece to be translated. What most people fail to realize is that there is a lot that goes into translating a document and the information your translation team has the easier it will be to get exactly what you want better and even sooner. Some things to consider...

How much time do I REALLY need?

If it's a fairly large project then you're going to want to give your translation team as much time as possible to get it done. Projects that are rushed won't allow the translation team the time to go over the document the way they'd like. Discuss timing with your translation team and if there's an opportunity to extend a deadline you should take it.

What is the intent of this document

You should let your project manager know right away what the document is about and how it relates to what you are trying to achieve (a legal document vs. a marketing piece as they are both translated differently). Also any special localization issues such as the intended audience (European Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish) can have an impact on the final translation as well.

Dealing with industry terms and acronyms

One of the great things about translation is the more jobs you do for a client the faster it becomes. To make translations run more smoothly and take less time you should provide the translation team with a set of translated acronyms and industry terms as you would like to see them translated. It helps make the transition from one language to another that much easier.

Hire a proofreader

Many companies will throw in a proofreader but give you a really high quote. We like to give you a choice. If your translation projects afford the time and it's vital that everything be perfect then hiring a second set of eyes is a good idea. Our translators work well together and are able to proofread each other's work from experience.

Remember, we're here to help you. Arming us with the right information will help your translation go that much smoother the first time around.

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