Translators Resources

What is a translator?

A translator uses the art of translation, which means that text is interpreted and reproduced in equivalent text that can be read by an organisation’s target audience. The text is communicated in a different language by a translator. The translated language is known as the source language and the language which it is to be translated into is known as the targeted language.

What is the difference between machine translation and human translation of websites?

Machine translations do not always produce high quality results which are usually expected from a reputable company. Machine translations can produce incorrect translations and therefore grammar mistakes and sentences that read unclear. They are also not cached by real hosted servers so, therefore, the web pages that have been translated will not be found on foreign language search engines and the website will not be highlighted in keyword searches for foreign languages. Human translations, on the other hand, are performed by translator professionals and aim to meet their client’s needs.

What are the basic rules which a translator must follow?

Translators should follow many rules. They should always remember that word to word translation may be impossible. For this reason a translator must take into account that the use of word to word translation may not be possible between two languages. Translation is generally fraught and has the potential of spilling over usages and idioms from one language into the other. The languages co-exist already within the translators mind so the spilling over can easily produce linguistic hybrids.

What languages do translation companies work in?

A translator should work with all languages. A translating provider will have access to large database of interpreters and freelance interpreters who can complete all of a client’s translations to a very high standard.

Will every web page that is translated, be found easily on foreign language search engines such as yahoo.fr and google.de?

Yes, a translator will provide their client with the appropriate landing page which is the hosting web page. Search engines then seek out these pages and then list the keyword searches. A translator should also provide their client with a translated file name of the web page which should give a boost to the search engine rankings.

Are web pages optimised for foreign language search engines?

Yes, each web page will have a translated web page title and then the Meta tags will be translated into each language. For example, if a website uses Paris hotels as its optimisation, then translated Paris hôtels would be given.

How is dynamic website content translated?

Translation servers incorporate custom translation dictionaries and memories which contain all of the company and industry specific terminology. This then ensures that all dynamic website content is translated by quality human translator professionals.

Are the graphic elements of a website translated by a company?

Yes. The translator team have their own team of graphic professionals who can handle all formats from BMP, Flash, JPEG and GIF, banners and other animated graphic forms. The graphic team work with translators and determine how each graphic element should be translated. They take screen locations, sizes, cultural aspects and colours into consideration.

Is version control implemented in website localisation projects?

Yes. Whenever any new content is added to the mother tongue language of a client’s website, or any information amended, the content is automatically updated. The linguistic review is then performed to ensure that no errors are in place. The translation team then incorporate the custom dictionaries and translation memories which contain all of the specific terminology for the industry and the company legacy translations. This gives a high level of translation.

How are tests performed on the websites that are localised?

Before the site is published, the extensive quality controls are performed and the linguistic testing is performed on-line. The pages are then checked for linguistic accuracy and verified to make sure that there are no glitches contained in the display. The website is also checked using internet browsers of various kinds and encoding options, to ensure that the site can be viewed by all users with no errors.

How are cultural and country specific aspects of website localisation handled?

A wide range of cultural and country specific issues need taking into consideration if a client wishes to provide a website that appears native to all regions and countries. There are examples of web location gaffes that do not include the language issues. For example, colours must be avoided in certain countries where the specific superstitions abound. Currencies, measures, phone numbers and addresses may have to be displayed differently, depending on each country. Colloquialism may vary from one country to the next and religious issues can result. These are all potential problems that can occur on the path to designing and producing a good multi-lingual website. An effective translation company has the experts in place who can review the site during its localisation process and produce cultural reports where needed, if any adjustments need apply.

What is the difference between translation and interpreting?

Translators deal with written words and take all text from a foreign language and translate it into the mother tongue language of their client’s customers, or they can translate mother tongue language into various other languages, or use translation for a variety of documents or websites. An interpreter deals with spoken words and translates what a person says, then translates it into another language, specifically for the benefit of people present, e.g. at various venues, who speak a difference language than the speaker.

What is the most important thing to consider for successful translation?

It is helpful if a translator knows about a client’s relevant industry, or a translation company has a database of freelance interpreters who have knowledge of the required industry. If a translator has the required knowledge of the industry then a professional translation can be offered. Obviously, introductions will have to be given about the subject of the translation, but if the chosen translator knows the basis of the subject and there is an available glossary then an organisation can remain confident that their professional translation will be performed by an expert translator.