Did you know that the tradition of April Fool’s Day dates back to the Middle Ages? In fact, it would have started in the sixteenth century, when we started celebrating the New Year on January 1st rather than April 1st. And the tradition of April Fool’s jokes continues today.
But when it comes to the translation of your documents, it’s no laughing matter. When you rely on a translation agency, you want to receive quality translations at the right time. Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid so that the process unfolds as smoothly as possible, both for you and for the translation agency:
1. Not explaining the context properly
To understand your context, the translation agency needs some basic information. You should specify who the text is intended for and in which geographic area the recipients are located. In addition, you should indicate what the translation will be used for. Will it be posted on a website, read aloud as part of a presentation, or distributed in the form of a poster? All these elements are essential for the translation agency to be able to provide you with translations that are idiomatic and properly localized (tailored to the local realities of the recipients).
2. Forgetting to provide reference documents
If you’re having a text translated that’s part of a series of documents about the same subject, you want the translation to conform to your existing documents. That’s why you should consider providing reference documents to the translation agency. It’s also very important to provide your glossaries or lexicons, if you have any. That way, you’ll get consistent, coherent translations.
3. Not communicating the necessary information to the translation agency
When sending a translation request, don’t forget to mention all the specific instructions that the translators have to follow. If you need a certified translation, mention that at the start. It should also be noted that the translators may have questions about the meaning of the text. If you’re not the author of the document, provide the contact information for a resource person who can answer these questions.
4. Sending multiple versions of the same document
Wherever possible, it’s best to send the definitive version of a text to the translation agency instead of sending them several modified versions. That way, you’ll be able to reduce your translation costs and avoid having to postpone your deadline. So make sure to include the translation stage in your planning. If necessary, you can ask the translation agency to give you an indication of the expected time required to translate your document.
5. Avoiding talking about the delicate matter of price
To avoid surprises when you get the bill, don’t hesitate to ask the translation agency to give you clarifications about the way they invoice their work and the payment terms. Don’t forget that you can always request a quote (an estimate) when doing business with a translation companyWhen you rely on a translation agency, you want to receive quality translations at the right time. Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid so that the process unfolds as smoothly as possible, . That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect.
In short, to avoid being an “April fool” when having your documents translated, the key is good communication with the translation agency you’ve chosen!
