Certified Translation – Critical Yet So Often Overlooked

Overlooked

As technology and, in particular, the internet, have served to make the world much smaller and thoroughly interconnected than it was even 30 years ago, people are now able to communicate and conduct business from halfway around the globe almost as if they were together in the same conference room. But while the distance barriers between different countries have been effectively eliminated, the cultural and language barriers are still very much present, and perhaps even more obvious than they previously were. And consequently, the importance of precise and accurate communication across different languages (i. e. the process of translation) has also become much more evident.

Yet when we think of the potential consequences that can arise in today`s world from inaccurate or imprecise communication (e.g. Increased tension between governments, derailed business deals, inadequate provision of health care and other vital services, etc.) it is surprising how little people actually know about the process of translation and about what constitutes a good translation service provider. When they find themselves in need of this service, they are often at loss as to what they should be looking for. They know that it is important to have their translation done well, but may have no clear idea as to how to find a good translator and how to compare among different translation service providers. A quick look through the yellow pages will show that there are a lot of translation agencies in the market, so how does a person decide which may be the better option แปลเอกสาร?

While there are no guarantees, here are a few points to consider that will help maximize your chances of finding the translation agency that is right for you. Without a doubt, cost and turnaround time are two important factors that may influence your decision, but they should not be the sole factors. Choosing an agency just because it promises to do it the quickest and at the lowest price could actually end up costing you a lot more money and time in the long run if you end up having to pay a second agency because the translation needs to be revised, or worse, translated all over again. Your choice of an agency should not be based solely on cost and time at the expense of quality.

To ensure that you are getting a quality translation, take the time to find out about the agency’s policies and procedures and about the translators they work with. Most agencies will quote you a cost per word or per 1000 words, and you need to determine if this is based on the source (original) language document or on the target (translated) language; in case of the latter, you will not know the final cost until the translation is completed. What is the agency’s policy regarding late deliveries? Are you still expected to pay if the translation is not delivered when promised? You can also ask them to provide you with a list of some of their other clients, which can (although not always) give you a fairly good indication about the quality of their work. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask them specifically about the translators they work with; after all, it is they who will be doing the actual work. Are they certified? Do they translate strictly into their native language? Are the translated documents proofread by a separate translator? Remember, you are paying for the service, so feel free to ask as many questions as you need in order to feel comfortable. In the end, as with any other business, the more informed your decision, the less likely you are to be disappointed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *