When choosing a provider for technical translation services, expertise must always score over pricing.
Although English is the most widely spoken language in the world (taking native and non-native speakers together), the number of languages spoken around the world is estimated at more than 4,000. The rapid expansion of the Internet to even the most remotely located regions has triggered a phenomenal interest in technical know-how even in places where the residents are not fully familiar with the English language. Local language software and user manuals have proliferated in a way that everyone has access to technology, overcoming the barriers of language.
Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese are possibly the most in-demand languages that call for technical translation services. Given the peculiarity of sentence or phrase construction in different languages, it often happens that translators end up with providing literal translations of text, which may convey an entirely different meaning in the target language.
Interestingly enough, the usage of certain words may differ between the American, British and Irish people, although English is the language common to all. A freight car (American) is referred to as a wagon by the British, and a rail car (British) is referred to as a Diesel Multiple Unit or DMU by the Irish! Another interesting aspect of technical translation is that different terminology is used in different fields of application. For instance, 'current collector' is a term in electrical engineering, but when the same is used in railway parlance, it is called 'pantograph.'
Providing effective translation services of technical materials calls for special skills and expertise. While it is true that many a time, with the continued usage of words and phrases borrowed from other languages by literal (word-for-word or verbum proverbo) translation, these phrases have gained acceptance over time in the target language, it is generally not appropriate to resort to this practice.
Words and phrases thus accepted in the new language are called calques. Some interesting examples are:
Paradis fiscal (French) for Tax haven
Suprageleider (Dutch) for superconductor
Tappajasovellus (Finnish) for 'killer application.' The literal translation of the word tappajasovellus is 'an application that kills.'
Making sense of these variations in usage across languages and across industries/technical fields, calls for a heightened level of interest, skill, and application on the part of the translator. Some providers of translation services use two translators to overcome these problems: one to perform the initial translation, and a second, independent translator to review and edit the translation for completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness. This conscientious approach helps eliminate errors to a substantial extent. Taking this refining process further, some agencies also undertake "back translation" whereby a third translator translates it back into the original/source language, so any remaining errors may get ironed out.
It may be well worth the expense you incur on getting a thorough professional - be it an individual or an agency - handle your technical translation services needs. When it comes to rendering your operating or installation manuals, product literature or even a letter conveying the order specifications to your supplier, it is crucial to your business interests to select an effective agency that delivers on the promise, rather than be swayed by competitive pricing.
