By Becky Dussault of ASIST Translation Services, Inc.  She can be reached at 614-451-6744 ext. 18 or clicking here.

The most effective way to communicate with clients, consumers and your own employees is in their own language! In the global marketplace, effective cross-cultural communication with clients and consumers is a necessity that no successful business can ignore. Indeed, when it comes to risk management and safety training for your own employees, successful communication in their own language is a necessity that you can’t afford to ignore. The key to success is working with a firm that offers professional translation, Web and software localization and interpreting, as well as language and cultural training.

What to look for in a professional translation service

Language proficiency
For business and technical translations, it is essential that expert, native translation be available from and to any language, on virtually any subject. Translations must also be rendered in the specific regional variety of the target language, by trained professional linguists who are fully cognizant of any vocabulary and usage issues. (For example, Spanish translations targeted for Mexico often require significant changes for Spain or South America.)

Reputation
Before signing the contract, do your homework. Check their Web site. Do they offer comprehensive services, beyond simple text translation (for example, page layout, interactive media or video)? Can requests for any world language be handled? How long has the company been in business, and who are their clients?

Quality Control
Even the best writers don’t try to proof their own work—nor should a single translator. Additional editing/proofreading steps are required, as well as a rigorous check of the final product by a quality-control professional.

Customer Service
Does the translation company have dedicated Account Managers, a track record of meeting deadlines and providing regular progress updates? Do they ask questions when there’s any doubt about the English original? Are they available for quick turnarounds, and have sufficient resources to handle large projects in multiple languages?

The Translation Process

Translations provided by ASIST have been perfected through a 4-step process to ensure accuracy. Our translators are trained professionals, not only native speakers of the target language but also with expertise in the subject matter. An editor is a second linguist who reviews grammar, checks accuracy, makes suggestions to further complement the style of the translation, and verifies that field-specific terms have been interpreted correctly. Yet another linguist, the proofreader, then reviews the document for consistency and completeness, ensuring that the translation is as accurate, culturally sensitive, and polished as possible. Finally, our quality-control department reviews the document from the client’s point of view, verifying that all formatting, graphics, typefaces, and other layout details are faithful to the original.

Page Layouts and Translation

A professional translation agency can create the foreign-language versions of your page layouts, using your source documents. For example, ASIST can format in all major page-layout and design programs, both Mac and Windows. If instead you use our supplied translation to do a layout in-house, it is absolutely critical to have the final version reviewed by our profesional linguists before going to print! We won’t go into the details here, but often the conventions for capitalization, punctation, spacing and so on are decidedly different from English.

Web and Software Localization

Many of our clients manage work forces around the globe, providing newsletters, HR information, training and safety materials in 9–10 languages or more. It’s important that your translation provider have the technical depth to ensure your content is rendered correctly in any electronic media, including the Internet, interactive DVDs or CD-ROMs, and video.

Interpreting

When meeting with non-English speaking clients or associates, it is important to work with professional interpreters—either onsite or via telephone and video conferencing. ASIST interpreters undergo thorough testing and training, are acutely aware of their role as cross-cultural facilitators, and are committed to prompt, professional service.

Conclusion

With the diversity of today’s workplace and the opportunities in the global market, it is important to think of your translation provider as a strategic partner.

ASIST is a full-service language company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, offering professional translation, Web and software localization, language and cultural training, interpreting, foreign-language voice recording, and page layout—from or into any language. For more information, contact Becky Dussault, becky@ASISTtranslations.com, or (614) 451-6744, extension 18 or toll-free at 1-888-ON-ASIST (662-7478), extension 18.