Accents Perfect Translations
& The Language Link of Connecticut
Everything you wanted to know about the translation business.

For translation call 860-561-5438
Fax: 425-988-7688
languagelink@cox.net

When doing business on an international level there are many variables that companies doing business domestically do not need to concern themselves with. Creating a successful international business requires developing good resources. One important area is working with the right kind of translation company.

The Language Link of Connecticut is just such a company.

At The Language Link of Connecticut we value our clients.
We feel an educated client can make more informed decisions.
Therefore our thoughts on the following topics.

Why should I use a translation agency instead of using an independent contractor?

1. For some types of projects, there is no reason why you can not find someone on your own. However, for professional services, agencies provide a number advantages, safeguards and services that individuals can not.
2. Most agencies keep detailed records on the skills and areas of expertise on a large number of translators in a variety of language combinations. They use this information to match the project to be translated with the best suited translator.
3. Some agencies perform some sort of translator testing, weeding out those who are not qualified and qualifying those who pass the tests for appropriate technical topics they excelled in. Membership in a translator association is NOT a guarantee of competence, skill or quality.
4. Most agencies have a number of translators to turn to in order to meet your projects deadlines, and terminology requirements.
5. Most agencies will have a person other than the translator review the translation prior to delivery. It would amaze you to see the number and types of things that can be found in translations that are not reviewed in this manner. (typographical errors, omissions, text that is not in the source text, and of course the occasional mistranslation). Many translators consider running a spell checker "proofreading" their work. This may catch typographical errors, but it can not identify omitted text, incomplete sentences, grammatical errors, mistranslations, unclear sentences, or correctly spelled words that are improperly used.
6. Most agencies have a project management staff to coordinate the various steps required for professional translation services thus freeing up your valuable time from these often time consuming tasks. Agencies have the resources to take on complex projects and deliver them in time frames individuals can not match. These include multi language capability and a considerable investment in software and hardware to accommodate any client need that may come up.
7. Very few, if any independent contractors carry professional liability insurance.

Why "spell checking" a document is not the same as "proofreading" a document?

Omitting text from translation

Why is consistency important?

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What are a translator's responsibilities?

Whether hired as an employee or as an independent contractor, a translator is responsible for the following:

1. Translating (converting) text from one language to another.
2. Making sure that the correct words, idioms and expressions result in a translation that passes the correct meaning on to the reader.
3. Verifying "proofing" that each word, phrase, and nuance comes across in an clear and definitive way.
4. Confirming that the document is error free to the best of their ability. (spelling, accuracy, grammar, completeness.)

The translator is not necessarily responsible for the final choice of possible synonyms and related style issues. These are the responsibility of an editor. However, that does not mean the translator is delivering a "rough draft". A translation prepared by a "professional" translator should be good enough to publish, pass on, or use without the use of an editor. Top

Why should I use a translation agency instead of the translation software I purchased?

 

1. There are numerous translation programs on the market. You have probably seen them at your local office supply store or in the software section of a computer magazine. Many claim the ability to provide accurate translation in several languages. In our experience these translation programs should be used with extreme caution. Any document that will be used for professional purposes, (business letters, sales letters, company/product brochures, instruction manuals, technical manuals, etc.) is best done by a real person.
2. There are also many FREE online translation opportunities. Again, be extremely careful if using one of these. Many search engines offer free translation. We have done extensive testing in as many of these as we could find. Using text samples from texts we receive typically receive, (technical subject matter to everyday common sentences and phrases) we have little confidence that these should be relied upon. They provide an appropriate source for getting the basic idea behind a text, but are only truly accurate in 10-15% of the time. The rest of the time they vary from somewhat correct to totally wrong.
3. Most of these programs require that the user already have strong skills in the language being translated so that the translation can be edited. Depending on the subject matter, the complexity of the grammar and the degree of technical or specialized vocabulary, the editing process could actually take longer to accomplish than simply translating from scratch.
4. These programs use a word substitution method to translate. That means the computer looks at a "source" word, and finds a "target" word in a glossary and plugs it into a "spot". Since most languages use the Accusative, Nominative, Genitive and Dative cases in conjunction with the gender of the word, this direct substitution is inexact.
5. Included with translation software is a genre called Machine translation tools, or Computer aided translation tools. These tools use a technique whereby they compare the new source text to previous translation source and target texts and when they find exact or fuzzy matches they make suggestions by grabbing a text string and plugging it into the new translation for you. This does create a potential efficiency advantage but more often than not seems to lead to inaccuracies that need to be corrected by careful proofreading. See examples.
6. Another problem that translation programs can not overcome, is how to choose among synonyms (several words with the same meaning) and words that have multiple meanings. See examples.
7. An additional problem is handling colloquial language and words used as part of an expression. See example.
8. Many languages also have specific syntax rules as to the location of the various parts of speech within a sentence. These rules are different for each language and these programs typically make word placement errors.
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What should I look for in a quote?

Translation work is quoted in many different ways. Things to look out for are:

 

1. Make sure that all pages are included in the quote.
2. Make sure you get a firm TOTAL price. Projects quoted per word/page can vary a great deal depending on the expansion of the language. Sometimes a low per unit cost actually ends up costing more due to an ability to "pad" the document. Although no one will admit to purposely running up a word count, there are measurable differences (10% to 20%) from one translator to the next. Also be aware of source language vs. target language quotes. Since "English to" most languages expands, some by up to 30%, this can be a critical factor when comparing "source vs. target" pricing. Most per word quotes are based on the target word. For these reasons we insist on providing FIRM, TOTAL and ALL INCLUSIVE prices. If you insist, you should get one. Traditionally, European translators have attempted to charge "by the line, with a line defined as so many characters" and expansion is still a variable. Per line pricing does not include any formatting (tabs, indents, bold, margins, tables, columns etc) and is returned essentially as a totally unformatted, double spaced typed page, (remember the courier font and typewriters). Formatting charged extra. Again, as the paying party, you should be granted the courtesy of a FIRM TOTAL price.
3. Be wary of any quote that includes a separate charge for "proofing". As a customer, you should be getting quoted for a proofread document. Proofread means no typographical errors, no omissions, and hopefully no mistranslation. Any separate charge by a translator or agency to "check" a translation is ridiculous. [see quality process]. As a paying customer you should expect to receive a project that has been checked.
4. Watch for hidden charges. Does the quote indicate that the translation will be returned formatted or unformatted? Are there additional charges for formatting? What is included or meant by formatting? Extra charges for MAC output?
5. Are there any special charges for incorporating edits by you after you have reviewed the translation?
6. Do you need to sign off on the translations accuracy? Believe it or not, some agencies actually deliver a fax or hard copy to be signed off on and will not deliver the electronic version (i.e. a Word file etc.) until a sign off is received. A strange practice considering you have come to them for their language expertise. (Makes you wonder if they are actually proofing their work, doesn't it)?
   
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Do you add value to your customers requirements in a way which distinguishes you from your competition?

As an employee owned company, when working with any of our project managers, you are working with the owners.

 

1. It is therefore most definitely in our best interest to make the customer our number one priority. We work here because we like what we do and enjoy the challenges of the job, not because we want a paycheck.
2. Unlike some companies that advertise 30 years experience, and then employ project managers with little or no experience, our 20+ years of foreign language project management experience is put on the table each time we contract a translation project.
3. We want to make your foreign language experiences run as smooth as if they were your native language.
4. We pride ourselves in looking at a project with an eye to finding ways to save you money and still provide the best translation possible.
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What kind of quality program do you have in place in your company?

Our quality program consists of :

1. Choosing the correct translators. A tough multi-discipline test is given to new prospective translators. This test is then analyzed for technical accuracy, completeness, grammar, consistency of terminology and of course typographical errors. We then make notes on which sections of the test received higher marks and which need more help. These notes identify the strong and weak parts of that translator's effort. For example, if a translator shows expertise with insurance texts but not mechanical engineering, this is noted in our database. If however we noted consistency issues with that translator, the editor can be notified and these can then be looked for extra diligently.
2. A second translator performs a thorough proofreading and editing of each translation for errors, consistency and completeness. The translation then goes to the final editor for final review of layout, presentation, and a check is made of all previous notes on the translation so that the translator's and proofreader's versions are properly archived.
3. We use proofreader and editor checklists to track areas that require adjustments and keep these on file to help us evaluate the translating team's effectiveness, strengths and weaknesses. We can then pass these comments on to the appropriate individuals and improve overall quality.
4. These internal tracking procedures also allow us to properly identify for the proofreaders and editors specific issues or areas to pay extra attention to when proofing a particular translator's work.
5. We also use specific checklists for each stage of the project, identifying for that individual exactly the tasks we expect them to perform. These checklists are then given to the person performing the next step in our quality process who makes any applicable comments after their specific tasks are completed. In the end the project manager also performs a series of specific review and proofing tasks and verifies that each of the previous checklists has been completed satisfactorily. Top

How do you measure customer satisfaction?

At the conclusion of each project, the customer receives a follow-up call and a satisfaction survey. The customer satisfaction surveys are graphed. A periodic review of the customer satisfaction surveys results in a newsletter to those customers who sent in surveys. Since the surveys are project based, we can determine if there are issues with the quality process, or the internal project management process. Top

How do you ensure a translation's quality?

Each stage (translation, proofing, editing, DTP) of the translation process has a checklist designed to ensure that the person responsible for that stage understands the specific functions we expect them to perform.

Some items on the various checklists are duplicated. This is a built in safeguard to prevent typographical errors, omissions and to the best of abilities, mistranslations. Since each item on the checklist must be checked off, it forces the responsible person to perform that task.

This process allows us to continuously monitor the efforts of the various translators, proofreaders and editors by identifying those specific tasks they either cannot or are unwilling to perform. Top

How do you measure your own internal quality?

Similar to the quality process for the translators, proofreaders and editors, the staff has various checklists which identify the steps that need to be taken for each stage of a project. These checklists along with the customer satisfaction surveys are a key part of the our performance reviews. Top

What do you consider to be a major mistake?

We consider a major mistake to be any step in our quality control process that is skipped. Each step is designed to eliminate the possibility of a mistranslation and or misinterpretation during the translation process. Additionally, any customer requirement agreed to that is not completed is a major mistake. Failure to integrate all the customer's edits is a major mistake. Style issues and word preferences are handled as part of our customer service and should not be viewed as nor considered mistakes.

© Jan. 2000 all rights reserved Accents Perfect Translations & The Language Link of Connecticut