All things have become internet-based, and translation services are no exception. Decages ago, people translated offline using paper and pen. But now people use the computer, internet, and all kinds of software. But the most important thing for a successful translation is skill.
Unfortunately, there are many people who are not skilled enough and deceive their customers by claiming to be experts in their field. It happens in all industries and, within the translation industry, in all language combinations. For example, one of the most common language combinations is English to Spanish, and people who need an English to Spanish translator don’t know how to tell the good ones from the bad ones. Here’s a list of skills a good translator must have:
Knowledge of grammar
The first thing you need from your translation service provider is profound knowledge of the grammatical rules of the language into which they are translating. And not just that: they need to have local knowledge of the local culture. Going back to the English-Spanish translator example, if your translation is for Latin America, then you need a Latin American Spanish translator who is a native.
Knowledge of the subject matter
There’s more to translation than simply replacing one word for another. Although some texts are simpler to translate, like general texts, some others are more complex. The difficulty in translating a death certificate, for example, is not the same as in a medical report or a novel. Even though many translators survive happily as generalists, ability alone is usually not enough. Specialist translators can provide better-quality work quicker than generalist translators of similar ability. Why? Because of higher productivity! In other words, generalists need to research what a specialist already knows. As you can tell, translation is a lot about understanding the subject matter in depth.
Certification by a professional association certified translators translate your documents with the highest level of accuracy, ensuring that your business is being perceived as trustworthy. Interpreters and translators who belong to a professional association take responsibility for their work and conduct; they are committed to providing quality service in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner, dealing honestly and fairly with other parties and colleagues, and dealing honestly in all business practices.
