If your company or organisation wants to enter foreign markets, or you have already done so and are about to launch a new product in those markets, it is very likely that you will need translation services. You will have to localise your website and marketing materials, translate legal documents, product descriptions, user manuals, etc.
Although translation is a very old profession, there is still a misconception that anyone who speaks another language can translate. Often businesses and individuals are not aware of what professional translation entails and might be tempted to resort to an employee, friend, or family member who speaks the target language to carry out the translation, or even worse, rely on free machine translation tools. This can lead to inaccurate translations due to omissions, alteration of the intended meaning or incorrect terminology, causing a variety of issues that can damage your brand’s reputation and credibility, lead to loss of customers and revenue, or even result in legal problems.
Translation is a skilled profession that requires much more than fluency in another language. Translators need to get your message across to your target audience, which involves taking linguistic nuances and cultural differences into consideration. That means they have to translate the meaning of the text instead of translating word by word. Translation also requires a lot of research in order to better understand the specific subject and find the correct terminology.
Here are some reasons why you should use professional translation services.
Quality and accuracy
Professional translators understand the purpose of a text, the context, idioms, metaphors, etc. They have acquired expertise in certain fields and languages and have developed the skills to translate your documents accurately and consistently. They often create glossaries and are familiar with industry-specific terminology, or at least know where to find it. Professional translators do not just translate the language, they also make sure the texts are written with correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. That means you are more likely to receive a text that you can use right away, saving you time and money since you will not have to fix a poor translation.
Consistency
Professional translators will help you deliver a consistent brand message, with consistent style and terminology. They often use specific software to help ensure consistency throughout the text at hand or amongst different texts. All of this is important because consistent communication is crucial for the success of your company.
Industry-specific knowledge
Many professional translators specialise in a specific industry, which means they are familiar with the particular terminology used in that given industry. For example, translating marketing materials is different from translating contracts, medical texts or technical documentation.
Cultural awareness
Besides having deep linguistic knowledge and being aware of linguistic nuances, professional translators also have knowledge of the source and target cultures. Lack of cultural awareness can result in costly, embarrassing and even offensive mistakes; we all have heard of companies that have made embarrassing errors.
While entrusting the translation of your texts to co-workers, friends or relatives who speak the target language might seem to save you some money at first, it could end up costing you money later on. You have a reputation to maintain and a business to protect, so your communication needs to be clear and accurate!
Although you do have to make an initial investment to hire professional translation services, it is well worth it in the long run. Qualified professional translators can guarantee that their work will be a correct representation of the original message, which could actually help you make more money when reaching a new target audience. It could also save you time because you will not have to fix faulty translations. This will help you present yourself as credible and professional. The potential cost of poorly translated texts certainly outweighs the price of hiring a specialist to take care of your translations.
If you need professional translation services into Spanish, please do not hesitate to contact me for a free consultation.
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