In this time and day, translating content is a must as it enables effective communication between people across the globe. It is a way of transmitting knowledge, protecting cultural heritage, reaching new target audiences, and, most importantly, the key to the development of a global economy. 

More so, companies and governments must communicate and regularly publish information in more than one language thanks to existing and potential customers, business partners, and in most cases, even employees working in other countries. 

But, contrary to popular belief, translating text is not a mechanical or monotonous task. It requires specific abilities and experience. Many capable individuals are well-versed in different languages and might be able to give you a fair translation; if you are looking for more than “okay,” translations that are both effective and efficient need to hire a professional translator. 

Why? Below I will present you seven reasons as to why you need a professional translator:

1. The text will flow more naturally

One of the most significant benefits of hiring a professional translator is that you can be certain that your text flows (and “sounds”) naturally. Specialists can pick-up on nuances or details that an ordinary person could miss. Remember, your translation is intended for native speakers, and so your result must be a bullet-proof translation. 

2. There is less room for mistakes

It goes without saying that a professional translator will have plenty of experience translating content. And thus, he/she will avoid making rookie mistakes such as:

• Trying to translate colloquialisms, witty lines, or “untranslatable” words.
• Translating text without care for the original document’s style and tone.
• Assuming numbers are the same in every language, because there are not! (i.e., metric system vs. imperial system.)
• Ignoring new trends and evolutions of the languages — for instance, the RAE (Real Academia Española) recently included words such as “marketing” and “tweet” as acceptable terms. 
• And more.

Furthermore, a professional translator will be aware of common issues that appear in different types of translation. In other words, translating a legal document is not the same thing as translating a website or an ad. A specialist will know how to cater to each medium and ask the right questions to ensure the result is up to your standards. 

3. You will save valuable time 

Another good reason for hiring a professional translator is that it will save you valuable time. Translations can prove to be very demanding, taking considerable time depending on the length and complexity of the text at hand. An expert will most likely be able to do the job in half of the time it will take an average person to do it. 

The average translator can cover 300 words an hour — roughly 2,5000 words per day based on recent statistics. So, the typical turnaround time for a 1000-3000 word document would be 1-2 days. It might not seem too relevant when translating short texts, but if you are looking to translate, let’s say, a novel or an entire website, hiring a trained translator will save you valuable time (and money.)

4. Your text will include a much richer an accurate vocabulary 

Proficiency in a language is not enough when translating text. You also need to understand syntax, grammar, spelling, and have an extensive vocabulary to ensure you don’t end up with a monotonous, repetitive copy. 

Hence, it is far more likely that a skilled translator will be able to use industry-specific terminology, slang (if need be), and a more extensive range of words. This quality is especially important when your source language (the original language) is not as “rich” as your target language (the language you are translating into) as it is the case of English-Spanish translations. 

5. They understand cultural differences 

A good translator is not just conscious of the nuances in another language. He/she will also consider the cultural differences between the original audience for which the text was intended and the new target audience. 

It is imperative not to underestimate the value of this cultural sensibilization as a bad translation could have catastrophic consequences for your business or brand. Let’s take, for example, Coors’ beer “Turn it loose!” campaign. In the United States, the idea worked as it referred to relax, have fun, be free. But, when the campaign was introduced in Spain, it translated to “súeltate,” which in short gave people the impression it would give them diarrhea. 

6. You will benefit from consistency 

Another vital thing to know is that when you hire a professional translator, you are paying for consistency. Thus, you can rest assured that your text will always flow naturally, follow the same tone and style, and use appropriate vocabulary. 

7. They will translate meaning and not words

The last thing you want to do is translate a text word by word or “verbatim” as it will 99% of the time lose its meaning. Hence, you will end up with a blurb of absurd words and make your company seem unprofessional and careless. 

A professional translator will focus on the meaning of the text rather than the words it uses. Keep in mind that the same phrase or idea can be written very differently depending on the language and that, as I mentioned before, many words are “untranslatable.” For instance, some examples of words that exist in Spanish that do not exist in English include: 

• Antier – the day before yesterday

• Consuegro(a) – the name the father or mother of the bride will use to refer to the father or mother of the groom.

• Estrenar – to wear/use something for the first time

On the other hand, many English words do not have a literal Spanish counterpart, such as insight, bully, awkward, commuter, stare, spam, and more. 

There you have it! Only a good English to Spanish translator will keep that in mind. So, next time you are thinking about using automated translation software or asking your friend who might (or might not) be fully proficient in a language, consider these eight reasons. 

A professional translator could be an additional expense for your company or brand, but in the end, the investment will be worth it!

In various opportunities, we have discussed the importance of translating websites, online ads, marketing campaigns, and even social media efforts. However, little has been said about what makes a good translation. Many factors separate “good” translations from “fair” or mediocre translations. 

Contrary to popular belief, translating text is not a mechanical or monotonous task. It requires specific skills and expertise. So, knowing all the “rules” and using the right words is not enough. 

Today, I will share my secrets for a good translation – valuable tips that will improve the quality of your work and simplify your process!

1. Know the languages

Yes, languages, as in plural! The first and far most important thing when translating copy is having a thorough understanding of the source language (the original language) and the target or receptor language (the language you are translating into). 

2. Pay close attention to grammar and spelling 

If you are looking to produce top-notch translations, you must pay close attention to grammatical structure, spelling, and punctuation. Even more so, when your languages vary considerably in form. 

A good example is when translating a document written in English to French. Here, your source language has no accents; but your target language has five types of accents. And while you might think this is minor, accents will impact how a person reads and interprets your text. 

Plus, if your goal is to appear professional, there is no room for sloppy spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. 

3. Understand the syntax 

It is critical for you to understand the syntax and linguistic principles of both languages at hand. By doing so, you are making sure your translations will not end up looking like those automatic translations, where 90% of the time, the meaning gets lost. 

For instance, when translating from English to Spanish, most people will translate passive phrases as is. But, in reality, there are usually other, more natural ways to translate those phrases by using reflexive verbs.

Take a look at these examples:

–> The door can be opened. 

La puerta puede ser abierta vs. Se puede abrir la puerta

–>The task must be completed by noon.

La tarea debe ser terminada para el mediodía vs. La tarea se debe terminar antes del mediodía. 

4. Focus on the meaning

A rookie mistake is to translate your text word by word. However, this is possibly the last thing you want to do! A good translation will center on the meaning of the text rather than the words it uses. Keep in mind that the same phrase or idea can be written very differently depending on the language. 

5. Consider the text’s objective and target audience

A good translation manages to convey the message effectively and with little-to-no alterations by staying true to the original text’s tone and style. 

Why is this important? Simple. You wouldn’t want a professional e-mail or legal document to be translated using slang or informalities. And you probably wouldn’t want to translate a funny advertising campaign or Instagram caption using formal language to the point it loses its wittiness. 

6. Never trust automatic translations

Unless you are working with state of the art technology (or software you have thoroughly vetted), you should never trust an automatic translation. These apps and tools are great when traveling and looking to translate simple phrases such as “Where is the bathroom? And they can even prove to be helpful when looking to translate a particular word or verb. 

 If you are looking to translate long texts or complete documents, using an automatic translator is not the way to go! Computerized translations are literal translations and often come with a plethora of mistakes including:

•  Discrepancies of singular/plural agreement or masculine/feminine agreement
• Poor punctuation
• Incorrect use of verb tenses
• Unclear terminology
• And more

Hence, if you are looking for a good translation, the smartest thing to do is to stay away from online translation tools. 

7. Don’t re-write the text

It is crucial for you to remember that your task is to translate the material, not to re-write the text at hand. So, unless you come across an undeniable mistake or explicit typo, you should let your document appears as a faithful translation from the original text. 

8. Do Your Homework

More often than not, people are so preoccupied with the task that they forget to ask or look for tools that could make the job easier. There is nothing wrong with consulting style guides, glossaries, and terminology databases. It is highly encouraged! 

Thus, identify relevant reference sources on the web for the subject you are going to translate and read through examples of similar translations. This will help you transform a “fair” translation into a “good” translation. 

9. Always proofread your text 

This tip applies not only to translations but to nearly anything concerning writing or editing text. You should always proofread your text as this type of revision will allow you to:

– Fix inconsistencies

– Correct grammatical or spelling mistakes

– Review your punctuation

– Better format your text

I usually recommend you proofread your text in two stages. In the first stage, compare each paragraph you wrote to those in the original document. Go one by one, without overlooking sentences or phrases (even if they seem relatively simple or straightforward.) Once you have finished this first step in your revision, read your entire translation out loud. If it sounds right, you are probably good to go; but, if some sentences or words seem out of place, you should try to edit them. 

10. When in doubt, seek help

And last but not least, know that when translating, it truly helps if the person responsible for the translation is a native speaker or a professional translator. 

Native speakers and specialists can pick-up on nuances or details that you could have missed, and that affects your text’s natural flow. Plus, by seeking help from a qualified person, you will also reduce the chances of making mistakes and improve your translation’s accuracy.  

Not convinced? Click here to learn the benefits and reasons for hiring a professional translator

If you are a freelancer that is lucky enough to speak two (or maybe more) languages, you may want to further your career by freelancing in multiple tongues.

This is certainly a benefit and an excellent way to earn a little extra cash, but there are a lot of things to consider. Here are some top tips for balancing freelancing in multiple languages.

1. Stick to Writing in Your Mother Tongue

It is always better to write articles, particularly lengthy or complex ones, in your mother tongue. Studies have shown that adult learners of a language (referring to people who started learning after the age of eight, and were not raised bilingually) will often plateau after a certain point, never really reaching full proficiency of their second language. Therefore, it is likely that you will make mistakes when writing in your second language, no matter how long you have been learning it.

Having a native-like grasp of the language is possible, but even so it is better to write in your own native language. Sadly, the way the human brain works means that you will always be more fluent in your native language and better able to write a more creative, flowing piece. So, it is advisable to try and stick to actually writing the pieces in your first language.

2. Edit and Proofread More

With that said, try and find more editing and proofreading work. You definitely have the skills necessary, as a writer, to edit and proofread blogs and articles, that have been translated from the language you know well to your native language.

You will have an understanding of where the translator is coming from and therefore interpret mistakes better.

3. Translate!

This is an obvious choice for bilingual speakers, but there is still something to consider: you should always translate from your second language into your first. The text will sound more natural if you translate it into your mother tongue, and usually when clients request a freelance translator, they specify that they want a native speaker. Always try to translate this way around, just to ensure that the article sounds completely normal for other native speakers who will be reading it.

4. Get a Second Opinion

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have translated into your second language, or written or edited an article written in it, then it is definitely advisable to ask for a second opinion. Do not be afraid to contact a native speaker of the language for a little help in checking that the piece sounds completely natural and correct.

At least once in our lives we are faced with a text that we do not understand. We can either rely on a professional translator or use a translation program instead. However, these programs, although fast and useful, also have some problems. I guess we should get to it and start talking about the main advantages and disadvantages of using such programs.

Pros of using translation programs

1. They are quite fast

Let’s face it. You simply copy the text, then you paste it, and in less than one minute the translation is ready. I am 100% sure that no human translator can do that. The best part about translation programs is they are not as time consuming as humans.

2. Good for web pages

You are browsing on the Internet and you stumble upon a site that is in a foreign language that you either do not know or only know a few words in it. You really want to know what the site says, but you do not want to spend too much time looking up words in the dictionary or asking your friend to translate, then this is a good alternative.

3. They are free

Most translation programs are free, which is quite a great advantage, due to the fact that professional translators could end up costing quite a lot. In addition, the majority of translation programs are available online, which means that there is no need to download and install any additional programs.

4. Good for getting the overall message

If you want to have a general idea about what the text is about, using translation programs is a great option. Most of the words are translated correctly and so, you will be able to understand the main message of the text.

Cons of using translation programs

1. They do not contextualize

One of the main problems that people are faced with when using a translation program is the fact that words are not always translated according to their context. Some words have more than one meaning and translation programs usually take the first one as being the correct one. This causes confusion most of the time and can give the text a whole new meaning.

2. Bad for idioms and expressions

As mentioned above, translation programs do not translate the words according to their context. This is why it is better to use dictionaries, to ask a native, or rely on a professional translator in the case of idioms and expressions.

3. Not accredited

If you need your legal documents to be translated, it is advisable to rely on a professional translator as these programs are not viable. It is better to be safe than sorry.

If you want to use a translation program and the translation seems to be quite correct from your point of view, but you are not 100% sure, there is still something that you can do. You can rely on a professional proofreader to correct any mistakes that might have slipped. If you happen to have other pros and cons of using translation programs, do write them in a comment.