Until you actually need one, it’s hard to imagine how many translators and translations agencies are out there. Especially the first time, how can you be sure you’re getting a good translation?
- Get a recommendation: Ask a colleague or friend, even better if that colleague is a friend! Chances are good if they received quality and service at a fair price, you will too. Don’t forget to ask how recently or how frequently they’ve used the translator or agency.
- Ask for samples: If you have the luxury of time, ask a translator or a translation agency for what they consider their best work in the subject matter you’re interested in. This step is really essential if you have an ongoing project.
- Ask questions: Translators want to do a good job so most will not take on a project that is outside their expertise. You should ask questions, however, to learn how extensive their background is in the field, how they learned it, how they maintain their language skills, how they conduct research, what other types of jobs they have worked on, etc. If you’re speaking with someone at a translation agency, try to talk with the project manager (not just the salesperson) so you can ask about their quality assurance measures.
- Be a partner: Seasoned translators have seen thousands of documents of all different sorts, but they haven’t seen yours. And you know your subject matter. Whenever possible, help the translator give you a high quality product by providing reference documents, glossaries of preferred terminology, style guides, background information, etc., and be open to questions about the project. It will lead to a much better translation.
- Read ATA’s Translation: Getting it Right: Get ready, I’ve saved the best advice for last. You can find the ATA’s publication on shopping for translation services here. It’s chock-full of useful information in plain language.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Ryan Ginstrom // Jul 18, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Very good list. Samples are tricky, though: nearly all the translation I do is covered by NDAs. Most of the translations I can show is pro-bono work, which usually isn’t the most challenging (i.e. it doesn’t show off my ability as well).
2 Glenn // Jul 28, 2008 at 11:08 am
Ryan,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, your right. Good point about NDAs. Many translators I’ve worked for have samples they’ve done on the side, taken from public sources like the internet, for example, not from one of their clients. And they submit this either with their resume or when asked to take a test.
And even though they’re a bit artificial because they’ve had ample time to do them or have them reviewed by a “better” translator, it tells me something about their standards and what they consider to be good translation. And I don’t always agree, so it gives some insight.
Glenn
3 Anne // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:12 pm
NDAs are a smoke screen: both my current samples are taken bona fide translation jobs. All I needed to do was to change the name and numbers to protect the innocent.
And, no, they are not “a bit artificial because [I]’ve had ample time to do them or have them reviewed by a “better” translator,”. I am honest enough to send samples *before* review.
4 Translate English Indonesian // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Very good Infomartion !
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