Table of contents
1. In the beginning there was the word...
...and every good translation begins with choosing the right translator. They should have the sound vocational training and necessary expert knowledge regarding the topic of the text to be translated. It’s even better if the translator is a native speaker of the target language. Then the prerequisites for a successful translations have been met. Educated specialist translators are the key to a successful translation.
2. Four eyes are better than two
Each text should always be proofread once it has been translated because even the best translators can make mistakes. Language is always subjective and sometimes, the second idea is better. Even a good translation can be made a little better through proofreading. A fresh pair of eyes on a text can often uncover mistakes or irregularities. And every bit of feedback from the proofreader will help a translator to edit their own work and improve their skills.
3. State-of-the-art technology
Our language is a very human quality. Nevertheless, innovative technologies can optimise the translation process. Automatic spell checking in many word processors is a good example that everyone knows but not everyone uses. Termbases for simplified technology management ensure that the perfect technical term finds the right place in every text. Translation memories ensure consistency within various translations about the same topic. When used correctly, these technologies can have a positive effect for everyone, but at the end of the day, translators and proofreaders make sure that the translation is fluent, comprehensible and varied.
4. Defined quality management
Regular quality controls are just as important as the consistent documentation of project information. Detailed guidelines for clients' projects or specific topic areas and client and language specific Style or Translation Guides, which set out basic rules and exceptional client specifics in individual cases, support and optimise the translation process. Feedback from clients about translations once they have been delivered is of the highest of importance and should be systematically documented, so that everyone who is involved in the process can access this information.
5. Organised project management
To ensure that all of the described ingredients can be combined in our recipe for success, you will need systematic and well-organised project managers, who are able to maintain an overview of the entire translation process and who can step in when needs be. The better a project manager prepares a project, the fewer questions are raised during work on the text. Should questions appear, however, they need to be cleared up rapidly to ensure a translation that is free of mistakes and delivered on time.
The bottom line: If it isn’t possible to recognise that your text is a translation, then your language specialist has done everything right.