When choosing someone to do Hindi Translation for your company, it can be challenging to predict the quality of service you’ll get. It’s even more difficult to know what qualities you should be looking for in your evaluation process to ensure the professional will meet all your needs. After all, many languages require great skill to master.
Hindi translation is the process of translating a written text from one language to Hindi. This is only limited to written language, as compared to interpretation that covers spoken word. Translating to this language is important even though it’s the third most spoken language in the world.
Hindi is not only spoken in India but also in seven other countries. Hindi translation can cover business, literary, scientific, or technical documents. However, it won’t be translated word for word. Rather, it will be translated depending on its message. A professional must be able to keep the meaning of the text, as well as the tone. This way, it will be received well by the target market.
What to Look for In A Good Hindi Translation Professional
When looking for a professional to handle your Hindi translation, you need to have requirements and other prerequisites that will assure they have advanced knowledge of the source language and Hindi.
A translator must use different references to maintain their skills, as well as have the proper training about your document’s subject. For example, you wouldn’t want to hire a Hindi translator that specializes in legal documents to translate a fantasy book.
Even when a translator is well-experienced in the two languages involved, they may still encounter challenges along the way. This is why despite being linguistic experts, they must constantly study the technicalities of their job so they can submit quality outputs. Not only that, but they must also continuously gain knowledge about the cultures of the people that speak the language. We’ve gathered some of the most important qualities and skills you need to look out for in translators.
Commitment
Hindi translation is not an easy job. Translating this Indo-Aryan language demands diligence and commitment. A translator cannot simply translate a message based on what they want to say. They need to have a thorough understanding of the local culture, and they must possess a constant drive to update their knowledge bank depending on the current situation. That being said, Hindi translation demands in-depth knowledge and understanding of the project. To achieve this, a translator must check different resources before starting on the project. They should also examine and study the accompanying documents. A translator must always read and comprehend the instructions and general guidelines since this would dictate the path of their work.
Expertise
This is one of the most important things you should look for in Hindi translation, especially if you have a technical document. It’s normal for a translator to be tempted to take on a document or project that is not in line with their work, but their reputation will be at stake. Look for professionals that can confirm whether or not they are comfortable with your document’s subject matter and style.
A translator should only take on projects that fit their expertise and knowledge best. If they take a job that is not part of their domain, they need to invest a lot of time familiarizing themselves with related terminologies and jargon because being inaccurate can lead to misunderstanding.
Detail-oriented
You may think only the meaning of your document matters, but formatting also plays a big role in the success of your document. Wrong formatting can even lead to project delays.
The responsibility of formatting relies on the shoulders of the Hindi translation expert. An accurately translated document with improper formatting will give the receivers a bad impression. The source document should complement the target document and vice versa. If one is lacking, then it means the work is sloppy.
Aside from the formatting, the Hindi translation expert should also be well-versed in different style guides since it’s their job to maintain the consistency of the original document and make sure they do not deviate from anything. As a client, you also have to be mindful of sending relevant glossaries.
You may have a very simple project, but it can still have many mistakes. Even a minor error can cost you customers, or worse, your reputation, and while that is a drastic outcome, it’s not uncommon. This is why a translator must be an expert at both languages you require.
Remember that hiring a native speaker is not the same as hiring a Hindi translation expert. You need to hire based on their language capabilities. While there are native translation experts, there are also those that are not. You may ask for certifications to ensure that they know the ins and outs of the languages involved.
Experience
You need to hire a translator that has an impressive portfolio. This will ensure that they have a strong grip on the job you will assign them to translate. Whether the job is medical, technical, or financial, their old work will prove that they can work with the document. Research is also important in your hiring process. Be on the lookout for previous clients in their references list, and do not be afraid to ask them questions about the professional.
Perfectionist
Upon finishing translating your document, a Hindi translation expert must be able to proofread the entire document. This will save you money and time from hiring a separate proofreader. Rechecking the document will ensure that there are no mistakes that may ruin your brand image. To proofread, the translator must read the entire document and compare it side by side with the original document. They must also assess if the whole text makes sense or can stand on its own. Even one misspelling and wrongly translated word can put your efforts down the drain.
You may think machine translators are enough, but if you don’t want to have a document that’s translated word per word, you should stay away from this option. Hindi translation should be translated based on the meaning and context of the text instead of word for word because it has a different sentence structure compared to other languages.
Organized and great at communicating
All Hindi translation experts have to be great at managing their time well so they can deliver all outputs within the deadline. When a translator’s work is always delayed, that is not a good sign. Aside from being great at time management, they also have to be good communicators.
Translators must be customer-oriented and deliver what the customer needs. Find a professional that won’t just communicate with you until they get the job, but also when you have questions during and after the project.
Tech-savvy
This is one of the skills of a translator you should look out for. A professional translator needs to know how to operate a computer well because typing fast and having the ability to understand translation software and tools can be helpful for the job.
Familiar with localization
Localization is a big necessity for any document translation. Without this, you will not be certain what message your readers resonate with since what may be acceptable in one country may be unacceptable in another, or a message may fall flat. This is very common with jokes. Hiring a Hindi translation expert will ensure that all your messages will be received well by Hindi speakers.
Questions to Ask Translation Applicants
Here are some of the questions you should ask applicants.
Work experience
As an employer, you have the right to know the previous work experience of your applicants, including internships for newbie translators. You should ask them about the training and certifications they have. Also, inquire if they work with generic translation or if they have an area of specialization.
Interpersonal experience
Depending on what type of document you have, you will have to deal with the translator every day until the project is over. Because of this, you need to know their character. Ask them what customers they find challenging to work with or any ethical dilemmas they had to deal with in the past. You can also ask them if they have had issues with previous employers.
Skills
It is crucial to ask Hindi translation experts about their skills. For instance, you can ask them how they became experts of the two languages involved in your project. You can also inquire if they took translation studies. Through this, you’ll find out whether they are a native speaker of the source or target language.
Tools used
Technology can greatly help professionals give you the best output possible, and while computer-assisted translation tools won’t replace human translation anytime soon, it’s still useful for fast turnaround. Ask applicants what tools they use and how long they need to complete your project. You can also ask them about their internet speed, as well as storage, because large files can take a long time to download and upload.
Proofreading process
Proofreading is an integral aspect of translation. Human error may happen due to stress, misunderstandings, and tight deadlines. Unfortunately, there is no margin of error when it comes to translated work.
Ask applicants whether or not they have a second person to check their work or if they need extra time to work on your document so they can look at it with fresh eyes. Many translators only proofread on the second stage of the project, so make sure to know this detail, especially for rush projects.
BunnyStudio Can Help with Hindi Translation
Whatever document you want to translate, a Hindi translation expert will ensure the best exchange of information. If you are looking for a professional translator, make sure to follow the tips listed above. Thanks to Bunny Studio, your search for a Hindi translator can become easier. Hire a translator by contacting us today.
