A Guide to Translation Services

History of Translation

The word ‘Translation’ comes from the Latin word “Translatio” which means to bring or carry across. To translate is to transfer a text from one language to another and express meanings among languages. But what is translation’s history? It is widely agreed that translation dates back to the Bible, as the first known religious translation was of the Hebrew Bible. The need for more translation continued to increase with the expansion of religious texts, as translation was at that time a significant way to spread religion and strengthen faith. Since the earliest days of human interaction, translation has continued to develop and evolve, now more than ever, allowing cross-cultural interactions and sharing of knowledge over time. With the help of translation, the world has become more connected and linked.

Importance of Translation

The role of translation becomes more crucial and very important; translation carries one culture to the other altogether in all around the world and it eliminates the barriers arising from cultural diversities. Just imagine if you are hungry and you want to eat something but the menu is in Spanish language, what will you do? Move out hungry? Or you will seek the help of a translator who will translate Spanish to English language or any other language and hence you can order something to eat for you. Translation to another language here is more than a way of expressing what you needed and hence it signifies the importance of translation. The multinational companies would have been in a huge loss if they had ignored the vitality of translation and the differences in languages. Amazon is the biggest example of how trade is done in other countries with the help of Translations. China would not have been a leading economy if they hadn’t adopted translators in different languages. All the above-mentioned examples demonstrate significantly the power of translation.

Why Machine Translation Tools Will NEVER Replace Human Translators?

With the rise of Machine Translation tools, it might seem like we have the capability to translate any content at the press of a button. However, why do we still need translation services? Machine Translation tools offer word-for-word translations. Moreover, it is something common in Machine Translation, in which the translation engines produce what is called “hallucinations” in the machine-translated texts. These “hallucinations” lead to changing the intended meaning of the text completely. Hallucinations are more prevalent in low-resource languages that lack the date feeding and developing the machine learning based systems. There are above 7000 spoken languages, only 20 languages out of these 7000 are high-source languages, and the rest are low-source languages, which means and assures that Machine Translation tools aren’t the suitable solution for having a meaningful and accurate translated texts.

How Can You Determine Which Translation Service You Need?

We offer a list of Translation Services that can help you speak to your customers in their own language and even express their culture. Let’s take a quick look at the different types of Translation Services, so you can find the right fit for your business.

• Industry-specific Translation
• Mobile, Web & Software Localization
• Transcreation
• Transcription
• MTPE
• Subtitling
• Desktop publishing (DTP)

• Industry-specific Translation

We have highly trained and experienced linguists and translators within your specific industry, to ensure that your translation is fit for purpose and as accurate and consistent as possible. At LatinoBridge, we offer Latin American translation services in a range of industries, including law, marketing, medicine, business, automotive, finance, IT, manufacturing, and more. No matter your industry, our translation service is tailored and tweaked for each industry to meet business needs and market demands. LatinoBridge will help you talk to your customers in their own language.

• Mobile, Web & Software Localization

Localization is a process whereby content is adapted to suit the cultural context of your target market. With our professional localization service, you can ensure that the meaning of your original text is accurately conveyed, even if this means changing and adapting some words, phrases or sentence structure to suit the culture of the target audience. Thus, your software, website and application will be able to leave the same impression on an international audience as it does in your country. In the process of localization, our language professionals consider the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices and their impact on your target market. Considering SEO duringthe localization process will help increase the traffic on your website or application and reach a bigger audience across the world.

• Transcreation

Transcreation is a fusion of the two words “Translation” and “Creation”. Sometimes Transcreation is also called “Creative Writing”, because the content isn’t translated word by word. While Localization ensures that the same message is conveyed across multiple languages, Transcreation involves taking your message in one language and rewriting the content so that it has the same emotional impact and meaning in the target language. This often means adapting words, adding idioms, and consider all the aspects of the target language’s meaning. That’s why a transcreation professional is more than a linguist or translator; they need to have creative writing and copywriting abilities to deliver the intended message while maintaining its intent, style, tone, and context.

• Transcription

Transcribe came from the Latin verb transcribere, which is a compound word consisting of “Trans” that means over and “Scribere” that means write. Transcription involves listening to an audio file and putting down what was heard in a written form. The transcriptionists directly write the content of the audio file word for word in the same language used by the speaker. If a client only wants a transcription service for an audio file, the transcriber will transform the video or audio recording into a written format in the same language as the audio file. When a client submits an audio file for translation, it will first be transcribed so it would be available in a written format before it can be translated into a new language. In both processes, we have professional linguists with great listening skills to ensure the quality and accuracy of the work.

• MTPE

Machine Translation Post Editing (MTPE) is the process whereby a source text is translated using machine translation and is later post-edited by a specialist linguist to refine the text and ensure that the final work meets the client’s expectations of accuracy and quality. MTPE service combines the accuracy of human translation with the speed of machine translation. Our editing professionals are well trained to work on correcting any grammatical and syntax errors as well as improving SEO. Whether you seek machine translation post-editing services or you have already machine-translated content and you want it to be refined and edited to deliver the target content accurately, LatinoBridge has a lot to offer.

• Subtitling

Subtitling is another form of providing translation services. Subtitles can be used to convert one language into another without changing the meaning. With the growth of the film industry, the need of subtitling translation for both the deaf and the non deaf communities is being increased. Subtitling can be done in the same language in which the film is acted to help the deaf people understand whatever is played on the screen or rendering the translation in a different language to help those who don’t understand the language in which the film is acted. Subtitles don’t only help one to understand either the TV shows or the movies played on the screen but they also help people who are eager to learn other languages. One would carefully listen to the words being spoken in the film and match with the translated subtitle in his/ her language. LatinoBridge’s subtitling process is designed to be as simple and efficient as possible thanks to our professional skilled subtitlers.

• Desktop Publishing (DTP)

DTP phase is considered an integral part of the translation process; it is one of the final phases in the translation or localization projects. DTP can be defined as the redesign of a translated document using page layout softwares. Translating or localizing does not always end with converting one language to another, they take the DTP phase to work on the design and mirror the formatting of the original file. For example, the translated text will often have a different sentence structure and length when compared to the original. Arabic is written right-to-left, therefore, translations from Arabic require modifications to the entire layout. Re-formatting may be necessary for brochures, newspapers, booklets, and manuals.

The DTP phase comes after the project translation or localization. The project goes to our great DTP experts who work on the design, image, formatting, and the numerical formats and ensure they reflect the local currency, time, and date. Then, upon DTP completion, the linguist performs a post-layout review.

How Does The Translation Process Work?

The translation process can be broken down into 5 stages: Project Manager Review, Translation, Editing, Proofreading, and Quality Assurance. Each stage is handled by a designated team to ensure that different eyes look over the project documents, thus, ensure delivering best quality. Let’s talk In brief about each stage:

• Project Manager Review

The PM is responsible for tracking each stage in the process from A to Z. His/Her role begins with receiving the project documents and reviewing them thoroughly, taking into account all instructions and requirements from the client. He/She plays a vital role in selecting the appropriate team for the project and deciding if subject matter experts need to be assigned. This includes selecting the proper Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools that fit the needs of the project. During the process, He/She oversees every step to ensure that everything is on track. After the completion of the translation and quality assurance phases, he/she reviews the deliverables to ensure delivery with the highest quality.

• Translation

This is the main phase of the translation process, as the project documents are given to the specialized translator or linguist, depending on the translation service provided. In the translation phase, the translator makes use of a series of research tools and tools of the trade, which assist him in identifying and choosing the right equivalents to maintain accuracy and the highest quality. We have translation experts in each industry that can be relied on blindly.

• Editing (Revision)

The revision phase isn’t less important than the translation, it is carried out only once the translation is complete. Revision is the optimization of translation, as it is aimed at improving the style and refining the lexical and verbal choices of the text. That is why the Translation and Editing phases are complementary to each other.

• Proofreading 

The proofreading step should be the last part of the quality assurance process. The role of proofreaders is more focused on looking for superficial errors than making massive changes to the language and expression. Their role is more related to the correction of any typos, spelling, grammar and syntactic errors.

• Quality Assurance

Quality assurance (QA) means that the translated text or project meets the pre-defined standard of translation quality. Accuracy is the main area evaluated for quality. The quality assurance professional is responsible for making sure that:

• The text is free of spelling or grammar mistakes.
• The translators & reviewers used the correct terminology throughout the translated content.
• The meaning of the source text is preserved accurately in the final output.
• The quality of the translated content is consistent with the original text.
• The consistency has been maintained throughout the translated text.

The Vital Role of Project Managers in Translation Projects

Let’s discuss specifically what project managers do in the translation industry. The success of a translation project is usually thought to be attributed to the effort of translators. While it is undeniable that translators play an integral role in the quality of a translation, they are not the sole contributors. In fact, there is a dedicated team of project managers behind this success. At LatinoBridge, we have a great team of project managers (PMs) who are responsible for making sure that your project is running smoothly and the translation is delivered to you according to the plan. Our translation project managers deal with the management side of a translation project. They perform numerous tasks before, during and after the translation process, including but not limited to:

• Acting as the dedicated point of contact to the client, translators, editors and DTP professionals
• Communicating with clients to discuss project requirements, deadlines, and progress
• Setting a plan detailing every stage of a project
• Evaluating and analyzing the source documents in order to determine the number of elements involved
• Preparing reports detailing project timelines and costs for internal use by management and external use by clients
• Managing a team of translators, reviewers, and editors to ensure that all projects are completed on time
• Monitoring and keeping an eye on the progress of projects throughout the whole process

In short, the project manager is responsible for your project from A to Z and for any unforeseen events that may arise. In other words, the project manager’s role in our translation agency is crucial!

The Benefits of Using CAT Tools for Both Clients and Translators

We can’t talk about the translation services without mentioning CAT tools. The term CAT stands for Computer-Assisted Translation. CAT tools can help increase productivity, maintain high quality, and achieve consistency. CAT tools segment the text that requires translation and then present the segments in a way that is easier and faster to translate.

CAT tools feature the translation memory (TM) that helps the translator to translate faster and consistently and enables them to use his/her time more efficiently. For larger projects, TM allows multiple translators to work collaboratively. On the side of the client, the TM can save clients money over time, especially if they have recurring translation needs. Termbase (TB) is also one of CAT tools strength points, it acts as a glossary that can be fed by both the client and translator to ensure consistency.

Some of the most popular CAT tools our team uses include but not limited to:

• MemoQ
• Trados Studio
• Wordfast
• Translation Workspace (TWS)
• Memsource
• Across

In this article, we have covered in brief most of the translation services-related topics, and we hope this guide to translation services gives both the clients and translators useful insights to achieve success. For tailored business assistance, please check out LatinoBridge, a one-stop shop for your translation needs, that provides industry-leading linguistic solutions for Latin American languages; Latin American Spanish, German, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Argentine Spanish, and Aymara. Eliminate language and cultural barriers, expand your reach globally, and build customer trust with LatinoBridge translation services.

Thank you for your valuable time, I look forward to seeing you in the next article!