Elizabeth: +44 (0)7923 482112
Elizabeth: +44 (0)7923 482112
May 15th, 2020 by dutchlink
How do you know you’re getting your money’s worth when you hire a translator? Luckily, there are five simple checks you can run to get an overall idea of translation quality.
You can run these checks yourself if the translation is in your mother tongue. Otherwise, find a native speaker who can read through the translation for you.
If the translation is unclear or difficult to read, there could be room for improvement.
Numerous spelling errors, typos and sloppy formatting should raise alarm bells. Translators should always carry out a final check of their work to catch these preventable mistakes.
For languages that use the Roman alphabet, these are facts you can check yourself.
Proper names can be checked, but be aware of some exceptions, e.g. Hannover in German, but Hanover in English.
A paragraph-by-paragraph comparison of the translation against the original can highlight omissions. Be aware that translators often shorten (or lengthen) translations to improve flow.
These tips are guidelines only. After all, translators everywhere are up against tight deadlines, complex subject matter and sometimes poorly written documents.
A good translator will produce something that is passable. An excellent translator will work with these challenges to go the extra mile, do the extra research and provide a translation that is extraordinary.