Professional Language Translator

This may sound simple, but it goes beyond knowing the language you will need. The region you are providing your content to, and the one or many dialects of a language that will be spoken there, is important information you should have before you start your search for professional translators to ensure they speak the necessary dialects of the language you need.

A language translator should also be familiar with the culture of the region or people where your target language is spoken. This includes regional and cultural idioms, proper and improper methods of advertising and stylistic differences with the written text to name a few basic things.

A professional translator is much more than a linguistic professional; he or she can also have specialization or areas of expertise in various fields. You know better than anyone else the skills necessary to work in your industry

• It’s good to expect you will work with a language translator who knows the same.

From being familiar with working alongside legal bodies, to knowing how particular software works, to staying up to date with the developments in the medical field

• Professional translators should be able to talk about your industry with ease.

One of the most important aspects to consider when beginning a translation project is the actual language service provider who will be overseeing it. Look into the providers that you are considering and take note of a few things:

• Do they vet their language translators?
• Do they ensure you will receive a language translator who knows your industry?
• Are their language translators fluent in their target languages?
• Does the language translator have work experience?
• Is the language translator familiar with Glossaries, Translation Memories, IT tools, CAT software etc.?

When admitting language translators to our network, aside from native speakers, we look for already trained professionals. This means the language translator holds a degree or accreditation from a known organization (including the American Translators Association or the Société Française des Traducteurs), and has a proven track record in their field of expertise. For more technical projects, we assign professional translators with at least 5 years of experience.

After checking degree accreditation, our project managers administer translation tests using samples that relate not only to the language pairs of the language translator, but also to the area of expertise in which he or she works – from the life sciences to patent law, our professional translators are versed in the industries our clients work in.

All language translators in the Language Connections Network are held to strict guidelines outlined by our project managers. These guidelines are used to measure the translator’s responsibilities on projects and long-term performance, and measure a multitude of qualities including:

• Translation Quality
• Flexibility on Projects
• Knowledge of Translation Management Tools & Willingness to Use Them
• Responsiveness to Project Managers and Clients
• Willingness to Work with Proofreaders, Review Client Edits, Join in on Reconciliation Calls with Clients etc.