Translation Industry Terms You Should Know

Translation communicates the meaning of the original written communication in another language. As anyone who has attempted to use a Web-based or “machine” translation can attest, this is not simply a word-by-word process, but also requires a deep understanding of the target culture and context.

Interpreting is similar, but deals with the spoken word. Interpreting can be either consecutive (speakers pause every few sentences for interpreting; this is the most common method for legal, medical and business scenarios, whether onsite or via telephone) or simultaneous (nonstop interpreting, through headphones at a conference, for example).

Transliteration is how the sounds of an original word are approximated using the characters of a different alphabet. As part of the translation process for many ASIST customers, the proper names of employees, the company or its products will be transliterated. Instead of the Latin characters used in English and Romance languages, for example, a series of Cyrillic, Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Thai characters provide a similar pronunciation. Exact matches are not always available in the target language, however—certain sounds can be especially problematic or simply nonexistent. Especially when transliterating company or product names, an informed decision must be made between accurate and “market-friendly” renderings for the target culture. And needless to say, as translators we must be very careful about transliterated equivalents that may have some inappropriate connotation!


ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Foreign-Language Interpreting Services from ASIST

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. has provided interpreting services for over 25 years. ASIST supplies professional interpreters to county & federal Courts, area hospitals, physician offices, social service agencies, numerous law firms, as well as Fortune 500 companies all over the world.

While some of these bilingual individuals may also be qualified as translators (i.e., for written text), the documentation, formal training and skills evaluation that ASIST Translations requires of onsite interpreters comprises a robust system that has been developed and refined steadily over our company history. In addition to the basic requirement of fully competent interpreting in both directions between English and other target languages, candidates must also demonstrate mastery of legal or medical vocabulary, complete training in interpreting ethics, HIPAA compliance, pass background checks, health and drug screenings, as well as pass oral and written tests of their capabilities—both with the languages and the interpreting profession.

ASIST’s interpreting staff networks with nearly 4,000 professional interpreters worldwide to routinely provide onsite interpreting and telephonic interpreting in over 240 languages. Locally, ASIST provides 24-hour onsite interpreting services 365 days per year, currently working with several hundred active and qualified interpreters in central Ohio. Due to the stringent nature of our language screening and testing procedures—including oral and written evaluations—many bilingual candidates apply but few are selected to even attend our introductory interpreter training.

In addition to medical interpreters and consecutive/simultaneous interpreting services to corporate clients, ASIST has provided legal interpreting for over 23 years, to city, county, state and federal courts, as well as public defenders’ offices, law firms and other organizations.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Translation and Interpreting: the Global Marketplace Begins at Home

The most effective way to communicate with clients, consumers and your own employees is in their own language! In the global marketplace, good translations enable effective cross-cultural communication with clients and consumers—they are a necessity that no successful business can ignore. Indeed, when it comes to risk management and safety training for your own employees, successful communication in their own language is a necessity that you can’t afford to ignore. The key to success is working with a firm that offers professional translation, Web and software localization and interpreting, as well as language and cultural training.

What to look for in a professional translation service

• Language proficiency
  For business and technical translations, it is essential that expert, native translation be available from and to any language, on virtually any subject. Translations must also be rendered in the specific regional variety of the target language, by trained professional linguists who are fully cognizant of any vocabulary and usage issues. (For example, Spanish translations targeted for Mexico often require significant changes for Spain or South America.)
• Reputation
  Before signing the contract, do your homework. Check their Web site. Do they offer comprehensive services, beyond simple text translation (for example, page layout, interactive media or video)? Can requests for any world language be handled? How long has the company been in business, and who are their clients?
• Quality Control
  Even the best writers don’t try to proof their own work—nor should a single translator. Additional editing/proofreading steps are required, as well as a rigorous check of the final product by a quality-control professional.
• Customer Service
  Does the translation company have dedicated Account Managers, a track record of meeting deadlines and providing regular progress updates? Do they ask questions when there’s any doubt about the English original? Are they available for quick turnarounds, and have sufficient resources to handle large projects in multiple languages?

The Translation Process
Translations provided by ASIST have been perfected through a 4-step process to ensure accuracy. Our translators are trained professionals, not only native speakers of the target language but also with expertise in the subject matter. An editor is a second linguist who reviews grammar, checks accuracy, makes suggestions to further complement the style of the translation, and verifies that field-specific terms have been interpreted correctly. Yet another linguist, the proofreader, then reviews the document for consistency and completeness, ensuring that the translation is as accurate, culturally sensitive, and polished as possible. Finally, our quality-control department reviews the document from the client’s point of view, verifying that all formatting, graphics, typefaces, and other layout details are faithful to the original.

Page Layouts and Translation
A professional translation agency can create the foreign-language versions of your page layouts, using your source documents. For example, ASIST can format in all major page-layout and design programs, both Mac and Windows. If instead you use our supplied translation to do a layout in-house, it is absolutely critical to have the final version reviewed by our profesional linguists before going to print! We won’t go into the details here, but often the conventions for capitalization, punctation, spacing and so on are decidedly different from English.

Web and Software Localization
Many of our clients manage work forces around the globe, providing newsletters, HR information, training and safety materials in 9–10 languages or more. It’s important that your translation provider have the technical depth to ensure your content is rendered correctly in any electronic media, including the Internet, interactive DVDs or CD-ROMs, and video.

Interpreting
When meeting with non-English speaking clients or associates, it is important to work with professional interpreters—either onsite or via telephone and video conferencing. ASIST interpreters undergo thorough testing and training, are acutely aware of their role as cross-cultural facilitators, and are committed to prompt, professional service.

Conclusion
With the diversity of today’s workplace and the opportunities in the global market, it is important to think of your translation provider as a strategic partner.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, legal, business and medical interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com