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twlangua

Multi-lingual websites and which are the best languages to start with?

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A multi-lingual website can pay real dividends in making your products more “searchable” on the internet, and in helping to drive more enquiries to you. The question of which languages to cover really depends on the current needs and aspirations of your business. English is by far the most widely used language in digital media. According to the website www.internetworldstats.com the most commonly used languages after English are (in order) Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Malaysian.

Think about the markets you want to reach.  Prioritise your needs and plan to develop your website gradually.  Take particular care over the quality of your translations: only every using professional translators with good first-hand knowledge of the key markets and your industry.

Article from the Trade International Digest, Q & A  – Visit www.croner.co.uk/trade for more information

Comment from TW Languages:

We have a considerable amount of experience in translating websites and some advice is to keep the text simple, don’t play on words as this doesn’t always work in other languages.  Use a translation company who can localise the translated text to the target country, please note, machine translation doesn’t do this!

If you need any further advice, send an email – we’d be happy to help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

twlangua

MAS-business growth offers financial support re business and website translation

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SME manufacturing companies who are looking for business growth should contact Manufacturing Advisory Service.

MAS can provide a free review of your business, a tailored action plan and match funding.

Ideal for business growth via exporting and financial support for professional translation services for business and website translation.

Visit www.mymas.org or call/email TW Languages and we can put you in touch with the relevant contact.

 

 

twlangua

Is Google translate being policed?

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Is Google translate being policed? The answer is No. No one checks or reviews the results of the input of translation. Google translation database is built through crowdsourcing, anyone can add their interpretation of a translated text.

The overall concept of Google translate is excellent and an immediate tool to get the gist of a translation. But it can be ‘pot luck’ which languages produce more accurate translations, with no consistency in the results.

For business and technical translations it’s always recommended to use ‘human translation’ or at the very least get the translated text proofread. The translation of a website requires an extra level of quality as this is the ‘shop window’ of a business. To substantiate the comments above the following highlights a recent example of Google translate Russian to English text from an ‘Instructions for Use’ technical manual:

НЕ ВКЛЮЧАЙТЕ ПИТАНИЕ

Human translation:         Do not turn power on

Google translation:         Do not include meals

 

twlangua

What is included in the cost to translate a word?

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What is included in the cost to translate a word? At least 10 activities!

Quoting for a job is fairly unique in the translation industry compared to other industries in that:

– Translation is based on ‘an actual cost per word’ and in some languages the cost can be based on per character, per line etc.
– There is a lower cost per word where translation CAT tools are used.
– Cost is associated with time hence business, website, technical and scientific translations take longer and therefore at a higher cost per word compared to general translation.

A quotation will give the fixed cost however the variable factor as to ‘what is included in the cost to translate a word’ can include at least 10 activities as listed below:

  1. Assessment & Analysis
  2. Translation Memory Software
  3. Format files
  4. Project Plan and team selection
  5. Communication, Selection and Administration
  6. Translation by native professional translator(s)
  7. Proofread by native professional proofreader(s)
  8. Checking in-house to the source material (list of activities)
  9. Re-checking in-house (list of activities)
  10. Sign-off, send to client before deadline

 

twlangua

Is a work colleague the best person to translate the company’s website?

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Just because a work colleague is fluent in a foreign language it doesn’t necessarily mean they can translate a document that’s fit for publication!

It can be a false economy to use work colleagues or friends to translate text for business, technical, scientific or website translations unless of course the individual is a qualified translator or highly experienced in translating.

Once a poor translation has been produced it’s time consuming and costly to improve the text. It will take a proof-reader plus editor to rewrite the material to bring the translation to an acceptable level, and it’s unlikely that the text will be of the same quality as a translation completed by a professional translator.

A recent example can be seen in a request we received from a Client to proofread a translation which their work colleague had translated. The proof-reader’s comments speak for themselves.

​“As far as proofing is concerned, it is hopeless, as the text is not really a text, plus the translated words were randomly translated, and do not relate to the client´s business.

The text needs more than a proof-reader. All I can suggest is a GOOD translator will use a proper TM (translation memory) for consistency. I know that re-writing such bad texts is worse than translating them.”

At least the Client requested that the text be proofread not all companies do this but assume the translation must be good because it was translated by a foreign speaker!

 

twlangua

Multi-lingual website, technical translation and cost savings

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www.brelko.com is an example of a successful complex multi-lingual website which includes technical translation, in three languages, together with translation cost savings of over 27%.

The success of this project was due to a number of reasons;  good working relationship between supplier and client; working towards the same aims and objectives; one point of contact for both parties and clear communication channels.

The overall project comprised of translating the website, technical documents, scripts, voice-overs etc., in all three languages. Over 120,000 words per language therefore after running the files through translation memory software we identified a high number of repetitions, which resulted in a cost saving for the client of 27%. Quite a saving for a large project!

The result is that Brelko have produced a complex website for the international market that is consistent in content and style and easy to navigate.