How to predict quality translation?

How do you know if the translator will do the a quality job?

All translators advertise themselves as quality translators, so how do you which one will produce a quality job? It is better to have no website than a mistranslated website. The mistranslated website will unfortunately turn off potential clients. An expertly translated website the flows smoothly in the new language as though it was written in it original makes the client more likely to identify the product, and thus more likely to buy.

What should you look for on the website of a translation firm that is most likely to give you a quality translation?

Here are what translators in the field say:

The US Government Translation Bureau:

Competence in two languages is necessary but not sufficient for any translation task. Though the translator must be able to (1) read and comprehend the source language and (2) write comprehensibly in the target language, the translator must also be able to (3) choose the equivalent expression in the target language that both fully conveys and best matches the meaning intended in the source language.

It then goes on to say that a weakness in any of these three criteria will reduce the quality of translation. Something to look out for.
They say the highest level of translation, a professional will be able to:

capture subtleties, nuances, and tone and register (such as official, formal, and informal writing). Such texts range from commentary reflecting a specific culture to analysis and argumentation

Gabe Bokor of http://translationjournal.blogspot.com says:

Translator buyers therefore use translators' credentials to predict their performance. These credentials may include:

a college degree in translation
a college degree in the subject-matter field
a professional certification
a sample translation (not necessarily in the field in question)
client references
professional experience in a non-linguistic field

Which of these (or other) credentials are the best predictors of a translator's performance? Which ones can be faked, lied about, or dismissed as irrelevant?

Another way is to go to local professional certification. For Ontario, Canada, for example, it is the following: ATIO, Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario.

http://www.atio.on.ca/info/AdvertPage.asp

If you are not sure of the quality or it is the first time contacting a translation firm, ask them to do a sample of two lines from the document that requires translation. Then ask someone who is a native speaker of the language those lines are translated into if it sounds right.

Always pick human translation over machine translation. Machine translation like on google can be free, but usually causes embarrassing errors due to lack of nuance. For example a label on a Turkish shirt that is supposed to say "Made in Turkey" instead reads "Fabriqué en Dinde". It means literally made in a turkey, as in the bird, instead of made in Turkey, the country. Hundreds of these shirts are printed. Do you think the buyer would believe "Haute Qualité. Fabriqué en Dinde"? [Roughly = High quality, made inside a turkey]. Unlikely. Human translation picks up on subtleties that can make or break the presentation of your product.

Good luck!

Signs Around the World

Hire a professional when you need a translator. Either trust me, or read this post!


These are real signs. If you know any, please submit:

Official Yemeni govt. sign to prevent double parking: Don't bark infront of the barking car.


Chinese sign: Nice electric shock. -hmmm, I disagree.

Another Chinese & English sign: Please keep chair on position and please keep table cleaned after dying. Thanks for your cooperation.

In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front desk. --hmmmm....


In the reception of a Romanian hotel: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.


In an African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.

In a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid. -no comment

In a Tokyo hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid between 7.00 and 10.00 daily. -I won't comment on that one either

In the reception of a Moscow hotel: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday. -great way to promote Russian tourism!

In an Austrian ski lodge: Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.


Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.
In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

In a Greek tailor shop: Drop your trousers here for best results.

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's: Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation. --so why order the summer suit if I won't live to wear it?


From the Soviet Weekly: There will be a Moscow Exhibition af Arts by 15000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass?


In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar. ...and what would a pregnant woman be doing at the bar?


In the office of a Roman doctor: Specialist in women and other diseases. ...his main clients must be men

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them in all directions.


In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.


In an Acapulco hotel: The manager has personally passed all the water served here. ...no wonder bottled water is still popular.


In a Bangkok temple: It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man.

Final Chinese sign, on car license plate: Don't touch yourself! Let us help you try out, Thanks!

You can see why it's a good idea to hire professionals!