How to find the right translation agency
Looking for a translation agency that best suits your needs? Finding one that delivers top-quality translations can be a challenge, especially when there are so many to choose from. To make the right choice, it’s important to first identify the specific type of text you need translated – different agencies specialise in different subject areas.
Not only is it essential that your translation agency handle the correct language pair, but also that it has expertise in your industry. Top-quality translations demand an understanding of the technical terminology, whether the texts are legal, medical, technical or IT-related. A translation agency should not only offer linguistic precision, but also reliability and a high level of commitment.
Want to be sure of choosing the best translation agency for your project? Then expertise, quality and dedication are among the essentials for making your choice!
Consider the following:
- Does the translator need in-depth knowledge of any specific subject area?
- Does the translation need to be certified?
- What is the volume of the text for translation?
- What is the purpose of the translation – information, instruction or inspiration?
- Is the translation a one-off or recurrent?
- Is the text suitable for machine translation, or does it require a human translator?
- How important is the level of service at the agency and having a single contact for all your assignments?
The following seeks to help you approach these different questions. A general tip is to look at the type of translations an agency has done before. An agency will often have established contacts with translators who specialise in precisely what you’re looking for.
The translator must have specialist knowledge
Because no translator can master everything, it’s essential to choose a translation agency that can deliver top-quality translations in your specific field. Translating an operating manual for a car requires a completely different type of expertise than translating a manual for a defibrillator, even though both are technical texts. To get a top-quality translation, you must first find a translator with the right expertise.
In many cases, a combination of specialist expertise is required. Annual reports are a typical example, where the translator not only needs an in-depth financial understanding but also insights into the company's industry. Thus, it’s essential to choose the best translation agency for your needs – one that can handle your subject area with rigorous precision.
Before deciding, make certain your translation agency has the right expertise. It’s a good idea to submit the text in advance so that the translator can make a professional assessment to ensure you get the best translation.
How important is authorisation?
Not all texts need to be authorised. However, certain types such as some legal documents or certificates, may need to bear a stamp indicating that they are authorised translations for them to be legally valid. This requires a translator who is something more than a skilled writer and expert in the subject area. Accordingly, translators in Sweden may apply to become authorised translators, and undergo the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency's authorisation and conscientiousness test. Successful candidates then become authorised translators (which is a protected title) and may apply an official stamp to their translations where this is required. If you’re unsure whether you need an authorised translation, consult the translation agency and ask for assistance.
Text volume matters
If you have large amounts of text for translation, you should consider using a translation agency with the capacity to handle large volumes. A typical client would be a company that is involved in online sales with thousands of new items and several hundred thousand words every month that need to be on its website quickly for the items to become saleable. In the case of really large volumes when time is also tight, it may be necessary to divide the text among several translators. Some agencies also offer automated, integrated solutions. Smaller volumes of text are probably better suited to a small translation agency. Building a relationship with a project manager who knows what you want your translation to achieve and makes sure your texts are always handled by the same translator so that the tone and feel of the translated text turn out just the way you want them, might be more important for you.
The purpose of the text
Precision is critical in certain textsl; every word of the source text must be rendered precisely in the target text. There is absolutely no scope for interpretation or rewording. Examples include instructions, manuals and certain types of contract, where every step must be ordered in the correct sequence and in precisely the same way every time. The reader must do A before doing B and so forth. Texts of this type can be very repetitive.
If a text is purely informative, such as educational material or public information, it’s not enough to simply translate the text; the translator must also localise the content, which means adapting it to suit the country in which the text will be used or, a particular readership. If a text concerns encouraging teenagers not to use alcohol, it will most likely look completely different when aimed at the teenagers themselves rather than at their parents and other adults. Adaptations must also be made regarding the country where the text will be read, as there can be big differences in what we say and how we say it in different countries, regardless of the language spoken. In this case, it’s important to give the translators information on where the text will be used and how it should be adapted.
Talk to the translation agency and clearly describe what you want to achieve so that the right tone of voice is used. If the purpose of the text is to sell a product, even greater adaptation will be necessary. The translator can then be advised not to worry too much about the actual wording in the original text, but rather to convey the feeling. The mood evoked by the text must be the same for the reader regardless of the language the translation is in. This is known as copy translation, and it gives the translator a very free hand.
It’s important to choose the very best translation agency to be sure of getting a top-quality translation that works in the right context. An experienced agency will make sure the right translator handles the text and receives the information necessary for adapting the translation to the target audience and field.
How often will the text be translated?
Do you have a big, one-off project for translation? It can be difficult to know which agency will be right for you if you’ve never been in touch with one before. Then it’s best to take a look around and see what other types of texts the various agencies have done before in order to get an idea of who seems suitable for your type of text.
Will the text appear multiple times? Will it involve similar assignments from year to year, in which case it’s a good idea to stick to one translation agency who is familiar with you as their client and knows what you’re looking for. After all, a quarterly report has more or less the same content as the previous quarterly report, and will be very similar to the next one. Or maybe you have several short texts every week with short deadlines. Then it’s best if the same translator always takes care of your translations so that your company always has the same tone when speaking to the customer.
What Språkbolaget delivers
It’s important to us that you feel you’re getting good service. Språkbolaget provides a single point of contact through a project manager who gets to know you and your company well. We always use human translation and we try as far as possible to make sure you have your ”own” translators for all your projects. This lets the project manager and the translators know what you usually ask for and which style suits your company. All of our translators have solid translation experience and extensive knowledge of the industry they translate in. Some of them are also certified translators.
We’ll be more than happy to help you with everything from assignments large or small, one-off or recurring, and we’re used to projects that need that personal touch and special feel, but we only take on assignments we are experienced in and where feel we can do a good job. If we decline an assignment, we usually recommend a suitable industry colleague. The most important thing of all for us is that you are satisfied with your translations!