One of the most time-consuming parts of any business is the paperwork and documentation, especially when they’re not in your native language.
When it comes time to translate documents for your business, there are a few things you need to know to make the process much easier and more efficient.
Here are some translating tips to get you started.
Translate Documents Accurately
The job of a translator is as you’d expect – to translate accurately. But that means more than just changing words from one language to another.
One of the biggest errors people make is using Google Translate alone to translate a document. While it can be fine for translating casual messages, Google is the first to admit that you’re better off paying for a reputable translation for your business needs.
This is mostly because past translating phrases and terminology, you must also correct misquotes and anything that lacks a direct translation.
Work With Specialists
Often, translations are done for many different fields for different companies, and not every individual is going to be an expert in every field. As such, working with an expert may be necessary.
This provides an opportunity to connect with clients near you who may want to do business in the future. Your attention to building this relationship and learning more about a particular topic shows your dedication to your work and their field.
When hiring a translation agency, make sure you find one that has experience working in your specific field.
Know Your Limitations
Don’t translate business documents if you’re not an expert in their native language. Even if you can speak the language well, translating is a demonstration of your mastery.
After all, there are grammatical differences between languages that may cause mistranslations that could severely damage a business’s reputation.
There are also business idioms or terminology that may be used, and when translated wrong can completely change a document’s meaning. In these cases, hiring a translation agency will be the best option.
Utilize a Translation Agency
There is one big question you have to ask yourself when it comes to translating business documents. Should you have an in-house employee translate documents if they’re bilingual, or is it worth the money to hire a translation firm?
If the documents are not highly valuable or time-sensitive, it may be worth it to do the work in-house. Even if there are a few mistakes, if you can afford the time to edit and fact-check them, this could serve your needs.
In the case of a translation agency, your business is paying for speed and quality. They also likely provide a wider range of translations.
Breaking Down Language Barriers
You shouldn’t let a little thing such as another language get in the way of your business. Whether you translate documents in-house or hire another agency to do the work for you, these tips should be enough to get you started.
Check out our other articles for more facts, differences, and misconceptions to learn about.
