Knowing how to translate to English from Korean, Spanish, or any other language is vital if you want to keep up with today’s globalized world. Translated documents, whether it’s for personal or business use, allow people to understand information better.
Translating to English is defined as the process of changing a text from a native language to English while still retaining its meaning. Because of the complexities of grammar, a professional translator needs to handle documents, or else their meaning could be lost.
While the relevance of regional and local language is still very prevalent, looking for someone to translate to English will help you bridge the gap in communication, especially in the Western world.
Guide for Effective Translations
Having the perfect translation should be a priority. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to do a good translation.
Use technology
When professionals work on a document to translate to English, they need to use apps, tools, and other checkers that will help them see all grammar mistakes and typos. Once these tools are in place, all a person needs to do is to select the document and set English as a language. While these tools may not give you the perfect translation, they will help you spot errors and aid you save time.
Follow common practices
The English language has its own set of practices, and it’s important to follow it. Professional translators must apply these practices and adhere to the English standard if they do not want to face any consequences.
For example, the names of foreign languages need to be capitalized when it is written in English, but the same rule does not stand for Spanish. This is why translators and proofreaders must be attentive to the rules of the English language when translating any type of text.
Never allow the differences between the source language and English to ruin the translated work. What does this rule mean? When working with a text, you will notice that the direct translation of certain words won’t work well for the text. Just try to focus on the source and keep translating it without deviating its meaning.
Reread texts
Another way to check the accuracy of the translated document is to reread it multiple times aloud. If the sentences sound harmonious and clear, it does not need more work. But if you notice inappropriate or strange-sounding phrases, change them.
You can also enhance the quality of the output by comparing both texts. Do not ignore the source document and let the English document become better since the document will be inaccurate if you treat it that way. Your goal is not to translate something that sounds great yet does not match the source document’s meaning.
Pay attention to root words
If there are two words that are very similar but don’t have the same meaning, be aware of them. For instance, the words “cry” and “bawl” may have a similar meaning in English, but they cannot be interchanged because they would change the thought of the text.
Accuracy is a quality the translated document needs to have. It is vital for people to find verbs and nouns that have the same meaning as the source documents, yet some fail to notice that translated adverbs and adjectives also make a difference in the final output. These words may seem minuscule, but they can help make sense of the words and information.
Understand cultural differences
There are tons of phrases and jokes that get lost in translation, and this is apparent in many marketing advertisements. Clichés are also very challenging to translate, and they may lose their meaning or sound odd to native English readers. Not only that, but some words may not also have a direct translation, or it may translate to words that do not reflect their correct meaning. For instance, “batter” and “cake mix” meaning different things, but all of these words can have just one native word translation.
Get the dates right
In American English, people write the dates in a way where the month comes first, then the day, and the year. However, this method is not followed by other languages. There are places where the day comes first, followed by the month and the year.
How to Hire a Translator to English
A professional that can translate to English is the backbone of any business in today’s globalized world.
There is no doubt that you want your translator to have years of experience and superb skills under their belt. Vetting candidates for the job can be a stressful and time-consuming process, especially if you do not know how to speak the source language or English. Here are the qualities you should look for in a translator.
Cultural knowledge
While a person sitting on the other side of the world can offer you translation services from German to English at a lower cost, it is still better to hire a professional that has mastered both languages more than a fluent speaker.
Native translators have a thorough understanding of the culture of your source text and their way of life. This will have a major role, especially if you want to launch a product in another country. For example, if someone does a bad job of your video marketing script, people will not trust your company.
Expertise
One of the major reasons why a lot of brands do not hire a translator is because they do not know how it can benefit them. If you have someone to translate to English, you can enjoy benefits you never thought you would experience.
Although you need to hire someone with great command of the language you need, they should also have to be knowledgeable about the domain they are handling. A translator that has received positive reviews when translating a medical document may not be the best choice if you need someone to translate a legal document. When you are looking for someone to hire, reviewing their expertise is something you should do since lack of expertise will lead to employee turnover.
Turnaround time
In today’s fast-paced world, timing can make or break your document. This is why you should always look at the turnaround time promised by your translator. Only work with professionals that can adhere to your deadlines. Many professionals even have penalty clauses on their contracts to prove their professionalism.
Cost
You need to examine the cost of your project. There are people who can translate to English that may lure you with their low rate, but in most cases, they may simply disappoint you with their work. Similarly, avoid professionals that bank on low prices. Not only that, but professionals that change you a lot of money are also a red flag.
How to Write Your Job Post
When writing a job post, keep in mind to keep it straight to the point. This is your chance to make your project shine and encourage more professionals to apply for the position.
The first sentence should be a brief description of what they will work with. In the next sections, you should focus on the qualifications and training a translator needs to have so they can be considered for the job. This can include location, years of experience, and degree. Also include key skills such as attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and expertise in your field.
Try to make your job post easy to read by using bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
Tips to Find the Best Translator
We’ve gathered some things you need to keep in mind when hiring a translator to English.
Seek out a specialist
If the document you need to translate needs to use jargon, you need a professional that can translate to English who is familiar with your business. Whether it’s legal terminology, medical phrases, or construction jargon, they need to be well-versed in it. Finding someone with experience will ensure the hiring and working process will run smoothly.
However, keep in mind that translators who have specialized knowledge can cost more than professionals who focus on general documents. Allow for this price difference in your budget to ensure that the person you hire has the right skills for the work you need them to finish.
Understand what translation you need
Different documents call for different translations. Whether you are attending a business meeting and you need to translate your report, or you need someone to translate your legal documents, examine what kind of translator you need for the job. This will help you hire the right person.
As with other hires, you need to factor in more than their language skills. It is important for your translator to be very familiar with English and the source language. Aside from that, if you plan on hiring the same professional for future projects, make sure they are flexible.
Assess their quality of work
There are tons of ways on how you can assess the work of a translator. Before you hire one, read the past testimonials and review their previous clients. Do they have weaknesses you need to prepare for? It does not hurt to be thorough when it comes to assessing the quality of their work.
Even after hiring them, pay attention to how they speak to you or how they talk about your industry if they specialize in it. A poor translation can lead to misunderstandings, and this can have major consequences.
Hiring an English Translator Made Easy
Choosing the best person to translate to English is an important decision that can decide the success or failure of your brand. It can even have legal implications. By keeping the tips listed above in mind, you can choose the right professional to meet your needs. Need someone to translate to English? BunnyStudio can help.
