3 Things You Might Not Know About Translation Services
3 Things You Might Not Know About Translation Services
This article is tailor-made for businesses and organisations. Our goal is to discuss certain facets of the translation industry that many individuals might not be aware of. If you or your colleagues have encountered dissatisfaction in your dealings with language services providers, the insights in this article could be pertinent.
On the other hand, if you are a professional translator who frequently experiences frustration when others fail to grasp the intricacies of your role, we invite you to read the following points and share them with those who could benefit from a better understanding of the world of language services.
Background
Our vision at Vandu Languages is rooted in fostering a sense of collaboration. We want our customers, interpreters and translators to feel like Vandu Languages is part of their team, rather than just a service provider.
Fundamentally, this ethos drives us forward to implement supplementary strategies, beyond our standard services, to enhance awareness of the role played by language specialists, their professional value and the responsibility that they bear with every word they translate. It is important to us that our clients, both in the private and public sectors, can rely on us to provide support and elucidate concepts, facilitating a more seamless and cost-efficient relationship with our linguists.
Our LinkedIn Newsletter and Blog page exemplify this commitment. Each article we publish is crafted to better assist our customers and linguists in navigating the language services industry. Should you have a specific topic in mind, feel free to communicate it to us in the comment section or through our social media channels.
Now, let’s delve into the world of Translation Services.
What do we mean by Translation Services?
Within the language services industry, translation services encompass any form of written language translation or translations not conducted in real-time. This can include the translation of documents such as certificates, contracts, newsletters, marketing materials, academic papers, and various others.
It's essential to note that translation services exclude simultaneous verbal translation, also known as interpreting services. The differences between these two services are often ignored, leading to a lack of awareness regarding the diverse language specialisations and career paths available for multilingual professionals.
With the concept now clarified, let's explain three crucial facts about translation services that you might not be aware of:
1. There is diversity in the requests for Translation Services
While the typical output of a translation service manifests in written form, it's noteworthy that client inputs are not necessarily written documents.
At Vandu Languages, practical examples abound, such as the translation of audio from conferences, academic lectures, or marketing videos. This process, known as transcription, demands acute listening skills, especially when dealing with audios of suboptimal quality.
Surprisingly, we've encountered numerous requests for voice recordings as an output. In some instances, clients have provided a presentation in English, seeking a voice recording of the content translated into another language. Here, two roles come into play: translating the English text into another language and subsequently recording the translated content.
2. Language services providers will recommend proofreading in specific cases
A proofreader plays a critical role in scrutinising texts written by others, identifying errors, and providing valuable suggestions for enhancement.
In response to our client's needs, our team may advocate for a proofreading process involving a second translator. Despite occasional client reservations about this step, its significance cannot be underestimated, especially considering the nuances and varying meanings of words in different languages.
Different languages have different numbers of words, which means that not every word has a direct translation (you can learn more about this topic in our article “Untranslatable Words and the Significant Role of Professional Translators”) and sometimes the same words have different meanings (see example on “Addressing Ethnicity-Related Challenges in Access to Public and Private Services: A Guide for Organisations"). In practical terms, this means that some translators may have different opinions than others about the definition of certain words.
In the context of translation services, proofreading is not only about catching spelling mistakes (which is already a very important job) but also about discussing opinions and offering suggestions on how different words should be translated. Particularly for documents intended for widespread dissemination, such as marketing assets, hospital letter templates, website copywriting, or sensitive materials like immigration law documents, sales and acquisitions, and litigation, the addition of proofreading services is often advised alongside the regular translation process.
3. Same language doesn’t mean same words
There is a third fact that is extraordinarily important yet commonly overlooked. Many countries worldwide speak the same language, but cultural differences influence language utilisation. Consequently, the same word in the same language may carry different meanings.
Clients commonly seek document translations in a specific language. Evaluating their context and the document's target audience, we assign it to a translator best suited for the task. Nevertheless, instances have arisen where clients, post-translation, express concerns, citing feedback from a bilingual person -such as a colleague, family member or friend- claiming inaccuracies.
Upon investigation by our team, such complaints often trace back to a fundamental issue: the bilingual person who reviewed the document, while proficient in the same language as our professional translator, may come from a different country. These regional distinctions can lead to varying opinions on word meanings.
To illustrate some real-life scenarios, we have brought you the following examples:
Portuguese (Brazil/Portugal): One of the noticeable differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese is the placement of pronouns in relation to verbs. In European Portuguese, pronouns often come after the verb, whilst in Brazilian Portuguese they come before the verb.
For instance, a translation by someone from Portugal for the phrase "He helps me" might be "Ele ajuda-me," whereas the correct Brazilian translation would be "Ele me ajuda."
Spanish: spoken across 20 territories globally, Spanish exhibits variations in language use. Despite standardised rules by the Royal Spanish Academy, linguistic and cultural nuances result in diverse vocabulary, expressions, and even grammar. The same word can have different translations, causing potential misunderstandings between people from different countries in Latin America and Spain.
Let's take the word "car" as an example. In European Spanish, it is commonly referred to as "coche" or "automóvil." However, in some Latin American countries, the preferred term might be "carro."
Furthermore, the term "coche" can have different meanings in Latin American countries. For instance, in Venezuela, it is the preferred word to describe a baby pram or pushchair.
These two examples emphasise the complexity of language translation, urging a nuanced understanding of cultural and regional variations to ensure accurate translations.
Conclusion
Languages are more than just words, they embody the cultural richness and diversity of people across the globe.
In concluding this article, we aspire to have provided a deeper comprehension of translation services, clarifying prevalent misconceptions accumulated over our two decades of industry experience. We trust that you now appreciate the critical aspects of localisation, the differences between various dialects and their potential impact on the final product, as well as the inherent diversity within translation services. Moreover, we advocate for the crucial role of proofreading services in ensuring precision and quality.
We invite you to share your thoughts in the comment section of our LinkedIn Newsletter or on our social media posts related to this article. Your insights are invaluable in helping us address future queries, provide additional clarification, or gain insights into your experiences on the topics discussed.
Contact Us
At Vandu Languages we strive to support all our customers to the best of our ability. We provide translators for different clients across the UK, and our caring, attentive and knowledgeable office team are ready to help you every step of the way.
If you’d like to hear more, please give us a call at 01273 473986 or email info@vandu.co.uk.
We encourage you to explore our website to understand more about the translation services we offer, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter to learn more about The World of Languages Services.
Additionally, we would like to invite you to our Annual Conference, a free event open to the public, community groups, local organisations, customers, and statutory or academic enterprises. You can anticipate insightful discussions led by distinguished guest speakers, engaging conversations on our community-focused initiatives, and an open forum for questions and opinions.
If you want to participate and claim your free entry, please follow this link. Email any questions to comms@vandu.co.uk.
