Professional document translation consists of a 3-step process that includes different levels of review: Editing/Proofreading and Final Review/Certification. In the following, we are taking a look at why it is crucial to allow for time to perform revisions, corrections, and improvements as needed in every single document translation project.

Let’s begin with the obvious: While professional translators have excellent writings skills and will always do their best to avoid typos, grammatical and punctuation errors, another set of eyes focusing on these type of issues will ensure that not even the slightest detail is overlooked—just as every professional report, business letter, or article in any other industry is read and reviewed several times before it goes to print or to the client.

Since document translations are based on other (source) documents, an important part of this initial review also consists in checking for completeness and making sure that the layout of the target material matches the source materials and/or the client’s requirements.

Then there is the stylistic and terminological aspect. The professional reviewer needs to double-check vocabulary and terminology, especially in document translations of highly technical nature. While the writing style is to a certain extent a subjective affair—we all have different ways to express ideas—it must be ensured that the style employed is right for the target audience of the respective document translation project. Flow and readability are other crucial factors and part of the job description of the professional document translator serving as editor.

Sometimes document translations come back with notes from in-house reviewers of the client. When going over the notes, it is vital to distinguish where the suggested change is a stylistic preference—it may be part of the company lingo, which the professional translator is not necessarily aware of, unless a specific glossary has been provided. The document translator going over the review notes also needs to clarify where the client-revised text departs from the source and make the client aware of the fact. While a company’s foreign branch may have the freedom to recreate the material, the translator does not—once the revisions go beyond stylistic changes, professional translators are bound by their duty to truthfully render the original and are not authorized to add anything or leave anything out.

Document translators, editors, and proofreaders serving professional document translation services companies such as Legal Translation Solutions and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, are well-versed and experienced in performing the different levels of review and communicating to the client—by way of translator’s notes—any issues and questions that may come up with regard to style and terminology.

Request A Translation Quote

By: L. Amado – 2/07/2010

The raw materials, so-to-speak, of the professional translator serving professional document translation services companies are languages. Languages are social creations and thus inseparable from their cultural context. In order to produce high quality, accurate document translations, professional translators need to have an in-depth understanding of source and target cultures.

The study of languages is fascinating and teaches us a great deal about the people who speak them. Languages are many things but, at the end of the day, their primary role is to provide us with a tool for communication. One of their main functions consists in facilitating the mutual understanding of people living in same region.

In some societies, this “utilitarian” role of language is particularly pronounced due to historic circumstances. This is the case of languages such as English in the United States or Spanish and Portuguese in Latin American countries. The fact that English has become the de facto official language of the United States can be considered a historical and geographical accident. The same is true of Latin American countries in relation to Spanish or Portuguese. Interestingly, the United States never actually declared English (or any other language, for that matter!) as its official language.

English did not evolve as a native language in what is now the United States as it did in England. It was “imported” by English settlers, as were many other European languages along with different communities of settlers such as the French, Spanish and Dutch. Of course it has since then developed in its own ways, which is why British and American English differ in vocabulary and even—to a certain extent—in grammar. The difference in European and Latin American Spanish and Portuguese is even greater, and translation projects in these languages need thus to be handled in accordance with their specific (European or Latin American) source or target markets.

It is interesting to note that the flood of Italian immigrants to Argentina that took place in the beginning and toward the end of the 19th century may have turned the country into an Italian-speaking nation. To this day, most Argentineans speak Spanish with a very distinct Italian rhythm.

In other countries, besides its obvious use as a tool for communication, the native language has traditionally a more complex role. In countries such as France and certain regions of Spain, for example, languages have always served as a defining element of the national culture. For the French and the Catalonian and Galician in Spain, the language shapes the culture just as much as the culture expresses itself in the language, and they take measures to protect this national treasure—the latest language protection law in France only dates back a little more than a decade. Professional translators working in these languages need to be particularly sensitive to subtleties of tone and expression. Finding the right vocabulary and phrasing are crucial.

Whichever their language pair(s) may be, professional translators serving professional document translation services companies such as Legal Translation Solutions, and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services understand that it is impossible to assure high quality, accurate professional translations without taking into account and understanding the cultural background of both the source and target language(s).

Request A Translation Quote

By L. Amado: 2/12/2010

Wherever quality translations are needed—and when it comes to business, nothing less will do—online translation engines or similar automated processes are not an option. Professional document translation service companies will provide translations performed by highly skilled, certified translators, who may use computer-aided translation tools (CAT tools) where appropriate, for instance in the translation of technical manuals with large amounts of repetitive text. All output is edited and reviewed multiple times before delivery to the client. The following presents a few ideas on how to maximize the benefits of working with a professional document translation services company.

First of all, review the materials thoroughly before sending them in for translation. It is important to ensure that the documents to be translated are complete. Also check for errors or typos if the source document was created by your organization. Drafts should be marked as such and if they contain redlining to be reproduced in the target language(s), be sure to mention this to the project manager handling the assignment.

You should also inform the project manager of any sections that you do not wish to have translated, maybe because they were translated previously or because they are not relevant. In some cases, rather than not including them with the materials, it may be helpful to send them along with the remainder of the document(s) since these sections may be vital for the general understanding of the text by the translator.

Bear in mind that not all professional document translation service companies are the same. Different professional document translation companies offer different services and different levels of service. Check what industries they specialize in and what language pairs they offer. As with any other business, the best option is to get the best value for the price. When dealing with professional services of any kind, cheaper is seldom better. It is never a good idea to compromise quality and accuracy to try to save a few dollars. The money saved in substandard translations will most likely go into editing or retranslating the material to make it usable.

While quality and accuracy should always be your top priority when choosing a professional document translation service provider, questions such as turnaround times, delivery method, efficiency and convenience also need to be included in the equation. Look for professional document translation services companies with a proven track record and always ask for references.

It is very important to make sure the document translation services provider hires and retains only professional translators accredited by leading organizations (such as the American Translators Association, the United Nations, and the Institute of Linguists, to only name a few) and that it can handle all types and sizes of professional translation projects, consistently delivering high quality and accurate professional translations. Remember that you get what you pay for. Professional, certified translators may charge more for their work but will produce top of the line document translations in their language pair(s) and areas of expertise.

Legal Translation Solutions and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services Inc., have an excellent reputation for their reliable document translation services, experienced translator teams, fast turnarounds, and above all, for consistent quality at an unbeatable value.

Request A Translation Quote

Professional document translation service providers have to meet the growing needs and requirements of their clients by providing an increasing number of value-added quality services. But what are some of the aspects to take into account to find the one that is right for you?

In a world where more and more aspects of life and work have become computerized, it is critical that a professional document translation firm bases its services on human translation. What is commonly referred to as “machine translation” produces generally incomprehensive results, and while computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools are useful for large volumes of repetitive texts—as can be the case when translating technical manuals—accurate, high quality document translations can only be created by qualified professionals, i.e. certified human translators experienced in their specific fields. Advanced technology certainly has its place in professional document translation services, but the translation process itself relies on the competence, skill, and knowledge of the professional translator.

Another important factor to consider is that the professional translation services provider of your choice should work with a global network of accredited document translators and can take advantage of their geographic placement. This means that your document translation projects are processed 24/7, independent of your location and/or time zone. In this regard, modern technology is vital to relay materials and make document translation results available on secure web server any time of the day.

One of the most important indicators for a quality document translation services company is a solid reputation for reliability. Longstanding professional translation firms are registered with the American Translators Association and exclusively work with certified document translators accredited either by the latter and/or organizations such as The Institute of Linguists, La Société Française des Traducteurs, Institute of Translation and Interpreting, US National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, and the United Nations.

The professional document translation service of your choice must also be able to efficiently handle all your specialized translation requirements, using a team of certified translators with the experience and knowledge needed for each individual assignment. It is crucial that the translator team handling your project specializes in the respective field and that all translations are subject to strictest quality control.

Last but not least, the project or account managers—your number 1 contact at the professional document translation company—must be experts in all things translation, able to answer your questions, address your concerns, and assign the right document translation team for every individual project. They also must be able to accommodate special requests, ranging from particular layouts to specific certification and turnaround requirements.

With their specialized teams of professional, certified document translators, their proprietary translation workflow process and proven track record in the industry, Legal Translation Solutions, and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, are an excellent choice when you are in the market for professional document translation services.

Request A Translation Quote

By: L. Amado – 02/08/2010

Reviews are an important component of the professional document translation process. As a general concept, reviews can take different forms. The most common ones are usually referred to as proofreading and editing. Different people use these terms to mean different things, depending on the context, while others use them interchangeably. When it comes to professional document translation, however, each terms refers to a very specific concept that plays a vital role in the delivery of accurate, high quality document translations.

Proofreading document translations involves reading copy or proof in order to find errors and omissions. It is always performed in comparison to the original. The professionally translated document is checked for grammar, syntax, figures, spelling and related errors and then compared to the original, making sure that the formatting matches and nothing has been overlooked. While modern text processing software is very helpful, especially when it comes to punctuation and spell checks, it is crucial that a professional translator in the respective language pair performs the review.

Editing document translations means dealing more directly with the text, ensuring readability and flow, verifying that colloquialisms and similar idiomatic expressions have been rendered accurately, and generally checking the correct use of vocabulary and terminology, whether general or project-specific (in some cases, glossaries or reference materials are provided by the client). It involves researching problematic terms and entering corrections or suggesting changes. While editing is particularly crucial for document translations meant for publication, clarity and precision in terms of expression and tone are vital to guarantee proper understanding of any document translation.

Editing and proofreading can be performed as one process, meaning that the professional translator reviewing a document translation checks a document for errors while simultaneously improving the translated text itself where needed. However, when dealing with larger scale and more complex projects, it is helpful to separate the two and first have a professional translator edit the document in order for the text to read as it should, then have another set of eyes going over the edited document and checking the translation against the original to ensure there are no typos or omissions.

Under normal circumstances, reading and correcting a professionally translated document is less time consuming than translating “from scratch”. But it is important to keep in mind that estimating how much time will be needed for a proofreading/editing job can sometimes be tricky. If a project is brought to a professional document translation company that was translated by another entity, it can occasionally happen that the translation to be reviewed leaves much to be desired in terms of accuracy and quality. In this case, it may actually require more time to correct the translation than it would have taken to professionally translate it.

Since different people mean different things by proofreading and editing, it is important to make sure all parties involved are on the same page about the requirements before undertaking a professional document translation job.

For professional translation services companies like Legal Translation Solutions and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, performing the three steps of translation, editing, and proofing for every single document translation assignment sets a rigorous quality assurance standard that is topped off with a final review and certification.

Request A Translation Quote

A group of well-known pharmacies, for instance, only recently reached a settlement in a civil law suit brought against them for providing inadequate translations on their labels, and media outlets reporting on the case foresee that translation is becoming the new civil rights issue of the future. Jody Byrne, in her article about document translation errors in JoST (The Journal of Specialized Translation) reminds of a case back in the 1990s, when the Commodity News Service reported of rumors that a Japanese Bank was planning to take over Continental Illinois. This report happened to be mistranslated into Japanese, stating the take-over as a fact, and the effects were disastrous. The bank’s depositors and creditors all sought to withdraw their money, and with looming bankruptcy as a result, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation together with the Federal Reserve Board and the Comptroller of the Currency ended up pouring some $2 billion in additional funding to guarantee deposits and reassure investors. According to Byrne, even the (French into English) translation of an institutional document like the Warsaw Convention is an ongoing source of legal argument and “has featured prominently” in numerous cases in the English-speaking world. While most legal documents tend to apply in their original version only, it is crucial to multinational contract negotiations that every detail is spelled out clearly and accurately for all parties—and thus in all languages—before anything is signed.

The list of examples endless, of course, but what they show us is that translating documents of any kind requires professional translators and professional document translation services. Nothing can be left to chance, be it in legal, technical, financial or medical translation, and today’s organizations thus need a professional translation services provider they can trust. At Legal Translation Solutions and our parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, we know that professional document translations are vital to your business, and we have the resources necessary to deliver accurate, high quality translations of your mission-critical documents, cost-effective and fast.

By: L. Amado – 2/15/2010

In today’s global economy, it is vital for businesses to have mission-critical documents translated into and from other languages in order to operate on an international level. Small and large companies and organizations experience every day how difficult language barriers can be. The only reliable, long-term solution is to hire the services of a professional document translation services provider.

If you need, for instance, marketing brochures, company handbooks or scientific research reports translated into one or more foreign languages, or require an English translation of multinational agreements, a professional document translation company will be able to provide you with accurate, high quality translations, regardless of volume and desired turnaround for your project. A professional document translation service is equipped to handle any size or kind of project and return the translated document(s) to you within a short period of time.

Legal Translation Solutions and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., have been voted America’s most reliable professional document translation services company. You can expect us to dependably deliver top of the line document translations, since we work with a global network of professional, certified translators who possess the experience and knowledge to meet your specialized document translation requirements in any field and for every industry. We are a Corporate Member of the American Translators Association (ATA) and our professional document translators are accredited by the ATA and other organizations such as The Institute of Linguists, La Société Française des Traducteurs, Institute of Translation and Interpreting, US National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, and the United Nations.

As the most reliable professional document translation service provider, we are a well-established company capable of offering highly competitive pricing. Customer retention is our top priority and we offer superior quality at unbeatable value, never comprising the accuracy of our document translations. You can obtain an instant quote online or speak with one of our expert customer representatives.

In order to serve our clients around the globe and around the clock, we provide online transaction services, which means that documents can be posted and downloaded from our secure web servers 24/7. Furthermore, our document translation process, which consists of translation, editing, proofing and certification, is assigned to virtual translator “tag teams”, strategically located across different time zones, whenever time is of essence. Fast turnaround times thus never have to come at the cost of lower quality standards.

Last but not least, our reputation as the most reliable professional document translation service provider also derives from our strict confidentiality policies and processes which serve to protect the privacy of our clients. The contents of any and all documents sent for translation as well as all details pertaining thereto are kept in utmost confidentiality, as reflected by our impeccable reputation and years of dedicated work to earn the trust of our customers.

If you are looking for a professional document translation services company, call America’s most reliable translation services provider today. We look forward to assisting you with your document translation needs.

Request A Translation Quote

Until very recently, it could be argued that translating documents was a choice. But now, with a global economy that effectively functions as a worldwide marketplace, translation of business documents is simply a must. With hundreds of translation services companies available, how do you find the right one that will deliver accurate, high quality document translations? Poor translations can seriously impact your capacity to do business at a global scale. It makes perfect sense to deal only with the very best. Here are a few questions to take into account when choosing a professional document translation service provider.

Does the document translation company use machine translation?

There is still no machine or software program able to replace a human translator to create high quality and accurate professional translations. Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools can be helpful when dealing with high-volume jobs of largely repetitive content, such as technical manuals. But they need to be used by professional translators to ensure consistency and carefully match the context throughout each document, and are not suited for most other types of document translation. Professional document translation companies never use online translation engines or stand-alone computer programs, since translations generated this way are not only substandard, but largely incomprehensible.

Does the document translation service hire and retain qualified professional translators?

A reliable professional document translation company hires and retains only qualified, experienced professional translators who are native speakers of their target language(s). Professional translators working for the most reliable document translation company are certified and accredited by the world’s leading organizations, which include the Institute of Linguists, American Translators Association (ATA), La Société Française des Traducteurs, Institute of Translation and Interpreting, US National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, and the United Nations.

What types of document translation services are available?

A well-established and experienced professional document translation company offers several types of document translation services that are industry-specific. Industry-specific document translations include business and financial translations, marketing brochure translations, intellectual property law and patent contract translations, scientific manual or textbook translations, and pharmacology or medical report translations. Professional translators assigned to such projects are experts on the subject and familiar with the terminology and concepts of the particular field. Specialized material, such as medical, technical, and legal documents, needs the careful translation of experienced translators who are professionals in the field in question.

What is the estimated turnaround for document translation?

It is crucial for every document translation that there is enough time to translate, edit, and proofread. Fast service should never come at the cost of accuracy and quality. However, a reliable, professional document translation agency can offer quick turnaround times should you need urgent translations, but only if they work with a global network of certified translators that allows them to take advantage of different time zones. Some document translations are more time-consuming than others, and the project or account manager taking your translation request will advise and discuss details with you.

How are document deliveries handled?

When you set up an account with a reliable professional document translation service, which can be done online, you will be assigned a project or account manager. Account managers are often assigned to corporate programs that provide special rates, such as volume and yearly discounts. Should you need an on-site document translation anywhere in the world, the account manager will be able to arrange it. Most document traffic, however, will be done online and you will be asked to email or upload your documents to be translated, unless you prefer sending them via fax or mail. Once the document translation is complete, email deliveries and uploads to company ftp or similar sites are performed via secure web servers. Professional document translation providers will always assure confidentiality in all document delivery processes. If you need certified hard copies, they will be sent by authorized shipping services like USPS, UPS, or FEDEX.

Whatever your document translation needs are, let professional document translation companies such as Legal Translation Solutions and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, assist you in carrying your message to all corners of the globe!

Clients unfamiliar with the process of document translation will sometimes ask the translation company to complete a “quick and easy” document translation. It may be because the text seems relatively short or the subject matter pretty straightforward—as in a business letter, for example. When it comes to professional translation services, however, it is important to understand that all document translation jobs, no matter how small or straightforward they seem, can become quite complicated very quickly and need, at the very least, time allotted for activities such as terminology research.

All documents sent for translation must thus be carefully evaluated before translator and translation agency commit to a deadline. A short text dealing with a complicated subject, such as the latest trends in technology, or with extensive use of scientific jargon, can take as much time to research and translate as a much longer text of a different subject matter or in a simpler linguistic style. Translation company and translator will draw from their experience to identify and overcome difficulties when reviewing and completing professional document translation assignments.

While computer-assisted translation tools such as translation memories may seem like they could be a big time-saver, one of the risks of using them—as discussed in an earlier article—is the tendency to recycle translations. Translation memories can be very useful to assure consistency when dealing with larger professional document translation projects, but they basically involve reusing past translations. Due to context considerations, it is almost impossible to use the exact same translated string in a new document, even if it is similar and deals with much the same subject. This does not mean that every phrase necessarily needs to be retranslated, but that the translators have to make sure it is translated in the most accurate way possible.

Although the sheer size of a document in terms of word count adds to the complexity of document translations—and of course, if the volume is greater, there is more room for errors—close attention to details must be paid regardless of the word count, and every text has to go through a 3-step process of translation, editing, and proofreading.

Last but not least, it is crucial to get tone and formality level right in any document translation—particularly in business correspondence, as a matter of fact, even it is just a short letter, but also in fields like marketing and advertising. This cannot be accomplished by a computer program, and it requires thought and in-depth knowledge of source and target culture on the part of the professional document translator.

Professional translators working for top document translation services companies such as Legal Translation Solutions  and its parent company, ASTA-USA Translation Services, take every translation assignment equally seriously and complete every project with uncompromised professional dedication.

By: L. Amado 02/03/2010

One interesting and seldom discussed aspect of professional translations is the fact that the length of a text in one source language will typically expand or contract when translated to certain target languages. When translating documents from one language to another the content will typically change in length as measured by the number of words. This variation is known as text expansion and text contraction.

When translating documents text expansion and contraction is not a constant ratio… It varies according to the languages involved in the translation of written content. For instance, an English document professionally translated into Spanish can be as much as 25 – 30% longer (a case of text expansion). Conversely, a Spanish document professionally translated into English will, on average, be around 10 – 15% shorter (a case of text contraction). Texts in other European languages may similarly be affected. On the other hand, documents translated in Asian languages tend to be shorter than the English source content.

Text expands and contracts for different reasons. The structure and rules of a language – aspects such as grammar, syntax, terminology, and sentence structure – all play a part in this outcome. The English language is generally more concise and to the point than Romance languages. Subject matter is also a factor in text expansion and contraction in professional document translations. Formal text covering technical, legal and academic subjects tends to be more affected than informal text, such as letters or personal papers.

In the professional translation services industry there are several reasons why it is very useful to know how much texts will expand or contract. Some professional translation services providers calculate costs based on the target language word count, that is to say, the number of words in the finished translation. Some others calculate costs based on the source language word count, that is to say, the number of words in the document to be translated.

Text expansion and contraction is also a major issue when dealing with software localization, web page design, desktop publishing (DTP) and artwork design. In the case of software localization, before the actual professional translation takes place, software developers typically perform what is known as “mock translation”, replacing text lines in the source language with strings of letters, taking into account the average text expansion and contraction ratios. The aim is to make sure that the extra length of the professionally translated text does not affect functionality or the way the text is displayed.

Likewise, in the case of web page design, DTP and artwork, designers need to know if the translated text will fit into an existing webpage or artwork file. Text expansion and contraction will be a major factor to determine the required font size, how much room is needed, the number of pages, amount of block space and so on.

Professional translation services companies such as ASTA-USA Translation Services (www.asta-usa.com) and its legal division Legal Translation Solutions (www.legaltranslationsolutions.com) can help its clientele deal with text expansion and contraction and other issues affecting professional translations.