What You Should Have in Mind When Having Your Documents Translated
Translations of documents, especially legal ones, require mastery of the source and the target languages properly. When getting your document for translation, you need to be very careful to get quality work. It is always best to let your translator know how the document is to be used so they can integrate certain aspects to ensure that the translated document best serves its purpose. You want your documents to be translated accurately from one language to another without any distortion of the intended meaning. This having been said, here are a few things to keep in mind when having your documents translated.
Textual Clarity
Nothing is more important than ensuring that whatever you have written is understood as you intended it to. For starters, your original text has to be clear and concise. Some phrases can be ambiguous and may lose meaning during translation; you want to ensure you pass your message across as best as possible in your text. This is all the more reason to work with reputed document translation services, especially for documents like marketing brochures, manuals, agreements, datasheets, and user guides. This is why professional translators recommend creating the original document with translation in mind. You also have to be clear about which parts of your document need a translation. As much as some documents, especially legal ones, can be lengthy, some parts may not need a translation.
Get a Native Speaker
If you want your document translated from English to another language, for instance, it is best to work with a native speaker of the target language. It ensures quality, unlike in the case of online translations that can sometimes leave you with bogus text. This makes it important to work with an experienced company, as earlier mentioned. These companies usually have native language speakers translating, writing, and proofreading the text. This way, you can be sure that your translation isn’t confusing to your audience.
How the Document Is To Be Used
Different settings have different ways of making addresses. As you submit your document for translation, you need to make sure you have explained how the document is to be used. That way, your translator will better understand your text and figure how to make the tone of the translation fit your intended audience’s setting. This is essential, especially if the document is a legal one.
Time Limits
As you forward your document for translation, let your translator know when you will need to use the translated document. Sometimes deadlines change, and if it’s a legal document, court dates can give you quite a bit of a chase. The urgency may also change, such that a document needed next week is needed tomorrow. You need to keep your translator in the loop to avoid inconveniences. This also helps them maintain the quality that is required.
Whether it is for marketing or legal purposes, document translation can give you a run for your money. However, it is less stressful when you know what to look for. The above are just a few things you ought to bear in mind before getting your documents translated.