Professional translation is more than mastering a foreign language

First, professional translation involves understanding the grammatical, stylistic, and cultural finesse of a source language at all levels. Secondly, is to make the text understandable and suitable for a new audience. Professional translation is therefore also based on knowledge in a specific subject, perfect mastery of the mother tongue, and understanding of the source’s culture and target audiences. 

How to recognize a professional translator?

A professional translator’s skills fall into four areas: linguistic, cognitive, related to translation techniques, and related to specialized content. Professional translators have excellent skills in the areas of creativity, analysis, and memory, as well as in the development and acquisition of different knowledge. They can analyze a source text and render it accurately and skillfully into the target language using specific translation methods. They also master the terminology, style, and content of specific themes and particular areas. 

You are working with a professional translator if the following points are valid:

1. has completed adequate training.
2. Translates only into their mother tongue.
3. Knows the specialized field concerned.
4. Knows the culture of the target audience.
5. Asks questions about the source text.
6. Asks questions about the target audience.
7. Ask questions about the context and indicates errors in the source text.

How to choose the right translation agency?

Compare the different offers and prices, but your decision shouldn’t be based on price alone. Beware of price dumping: professional translation requires very well-trained professionals who deserve their remuneration.

Have a small translation test done on a sample. Choose an essential part of your text for this, which reflects your industry and your company. Most translation agencies will translate a test page for free. Please don’t check the result on your own: have someone who is a native speaker and someone from the intended target audience read it. For large assignments, the right human translation platform will translate your sample by two or three people so that you can choose “your translator.”

When it comes to choosing how to get started or ways to continue your learning, there are many different methods that people use. Tagalog is the most widely spoken language in the Philippines. Ling-app can be used for language spoken in the Philippines. Ling is designed to make language learning as easy, fun, and accessible as possible. Using a variety of mini-games and interactive learning techniques, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the Tagalog language using just your smartphone. 

It often happens that translation agencies do not have their own translators but hire freelancers. However, it isn’t easy to find a new translator for your mandate besides. The translation is a matter of trust! 

Do you often have translation projects? In this case, you should ensure that the translation agency entrusts them to its regular freelance translators. It is also essential that for each language combination and specialization area, it is always the same translator who is appointed.

Communication between the translation agency and the client is essential to achieve adequate translation quality. If the agency asks you questions or asks you for a contact person for their translator, they show professionalism. The same applies if she asks you to provide her with old translations or terminology lists.

Most translation agencies offer second translator proofreading, which is included in the price. This proofreading must be done verbatim on the source and target texts in parallel to be part of the quality assurance process.

Also, compare delivery times. If the agency can deliver ten pages to you in just a few hours, that isn’t very likely.

Make it simple for yourself and contact MotaWord that has been providing professional translation services for many years. If you need professional translation services, MotaWord can help! Our qualified team is experienced and available. Contact us if you have any inquiries or to request a free quote for your project.