How to Select a Translation Agency

by Chanin Ballance

Selecting a translation agency is a key decision for outsourcers. Ths article gives helpful tips for and insights into selection process for translation projects.

Introduction

The need and the demand for translation services are greater than ever before. As the world economy becomes more integrated, the importance of top quality translations will only continue to grow. And, as industries and cultures continue to move closer together, market forces will require that translations be complete, accurate, and culturally appropriate.

Consider this simple fact, as reported in the 2004 edition of the National Geographic's World Atlas, in terms of sheer numbers, there are more than twice as many native speakers of Chinese worldwide than English speakers (874 million people versus only 341 million.) If only one-third of those people also speak English as a second language, that means that there are more English speakers in China than there are in the U.S. Even if they speak some English, which language would they prefer to read?

What many fail to appreciate is that the U.S. is one of the few places in the world where you can go almost 3,000 miles in one direction without having to change language, currency or culture. Virtually everywhere else in the world, anyone covering that distance will encounter up to a dozen or more international borders, with very significant differences in language, culture and tradition. For the 95 percent of people who don't live in the U.S., the presence of multiple languages is just a fact of life. Outside of the U.S., most people routinely speak more than one language.

What to Consider

Translation is a specialized skill that is very mysterious to some people. If you don?t speak the 'target' language(s), how can you be sure what you're getting? Factors to consider when selecting a translator or agency include: experience in the target languages ? such as having lived in that country, special skills relevant to your topic, and an established methodology of best practices.

The best and most reliable way to find a good translator is to use the reference of a trusted colleague; someone who has experience with your business, and who also has worked with the translator in the past. Since this is not always possible, there are other ways to evaluate prospective agencies or individuals. The approach should be similar to the selection of a valued employee, since the translators can have a big influence on how you are perceived in the target languages. In the U.S., the American Translator's Association can provide valuable information and references for companies and individuals in your area. Other factors to consider include:

Language Experience

What is the best way to make sure that your translation will sound right to your target audience? Go native. By native, I mean a native speaker of the target language. Native speakers have the advantage of linguistic intuition that makes it possible to say things so that they sound right to the target audience. However, just because someone speaks the target language, it doesn't mean that they understand the source language, in this case English. Ideally, your translator will have as much fluency in English as in his or her native language. That includes experience living and working in the U.S. or in England.

Get References

Get references. This is perhaps the most important way to ensure a quality job. Clients typically don't speak the target language(s) and cannot make a first-hand assessment of the finished product. For this reason, agencies and individuals in the translation industry place a lot of importance on their reputation. A good agency will be happy to provide solid references. Companies that bid on large translation contracts are often required to provide resumes for translators with specific qualifications. A review of individual translators? resumes is an effective way to predict how your project will turn out.

Match Skills to Topic

A translator with background in your subject matter will be easier to work with. Many translators have strong backgrounds in particular specialties. The more specialized your translator, the better the quality of the translation. Always ask for samples of previous work. Additionally, small, specialized translation agencies can often provide better service: (a) their translator recruiting can be more focused than that of general-purpose agencies; (b) they often enjoy better and more up-to-date training and experience, as they operate in a more finely-tuned market.

Project Management, Methodology

Since translation is very labor intensive, poorly designed translation projects can be very expensive to fix. Big savings result by getting it right the first time. There are several things you can do to ensure a quality job:

1. Keep information flowing. Make certain that your translator has clear lines of communication, and preferably, a single point of contact within your organization. Make it possible to get questions answered quickly, since often, this information must be filtered through three to four individuals before it can be incorporated into the final product.

2. Establish glossaries. The best translators create project-specific glossaries and agree upon them in advance. Dictionaries lag behind language, especially in technical fields. Inappropriate or outdated terminology can make the translator's task much more difficult. Create and agree on glossaries in advance.

3. Factor in review time. Often overlooked, but an essential part of making sure the job is done right. An experienced translator/agency will understand and appreciate the need for an internal review, and should welcome the process. The difficulty here is to understand the need for review in advance, and to set up a feedback loop that does not lead to analysis paralysis.

Conclusion

Following these guidelines will allow you to minimize or eliminate many of the potential negative outcomes that can result from poor execution, and save the embarrassment of inaccurate or inappropriate translations.

The result of good translation is often silence, or at least the absence of negative comments. When everything goes smoothly, people don't even realize that the translation has taken place! This underlines the importance of a review process, as described earlier. In the final analysis, the best translations are those that are so good, you don't have to talk about it, and you can get on with making sure your client is satisfied.

Resources:

Bargaining Across Borders: How to negotiate business successfully anywhere in the world, by Dean Allen Foster © 1992 by McGraw Hill, Inc.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree, © 1999, 2000, by Thomas L. Friedman

National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, © 2004, by National Geographic

viaLanguage: www.vialanguage.com

About Chanin Ballance:

Chanin was named Chief Executive Officer of viaLanguage in August of 2003. She co-founded viaLanguage in 2000 and served as viaLanguage's Chief Operating Officer and head of marketing where she raised initial capital, built the channel sales program and formed strategic partnerships. Previous to viaLanguage, Ms. Ballance co-founded The Language Company, a language and cross-cultural training school and translation service, where she was responsible for general management and finance. She also held positions at Portland General Electric where she was responsible for a forecasting, scheduling and marketing of power. Ms. Ballance earned a bachelor of science degree in social science from Marylhurst College and a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Portland State University. Additionally, she completed graduate coursework in business finance and biochemistry and has studied five foreign languages.