Asking Questions About A Delivered Translation
Sometimes clients will have a question about a delivered translation. Quality control procedures (such as post-translation proofreading by a second translator, our standard level of service) means actual mistranslations are rare.
Questions therefore typically come up when alternate translations (e.g., preferential translations) are suggested by a client. In many cases there are multiple approaches to expressing equivalent meaning in languages. Sometimes clients will have an alternate preference and we try to accommodate these requests, preferably prior to delivery if we’re informed (e.g., via a bilingual glossary), but also post-delivery.
New clients unfamiliar with the operational workflow of professional translation companies might suggest having a teleconference with a translator to discuss a requested change. Below is our response to a request for a teleconference with one of our translators.
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Unfortunately telephone contact with our translators is not logistically practical, nor recommended even if it was possible. We’ll explain:
- Translation companies like ours work with a network of professional linguists. While we have worked with the translator for your project on numerous even larger projects before, the translator for your project does not work from our office. The linguist for your project works from a non-US location with a much different work schedule in terms of time zones.
- Even if logistics allowed direct contact with translators we would not recommend it. As you know translation involves subjective judgment. Verbal communication adds another layer of subjectivity, is open to misunderstanding, and does not provide a continuing reference. Since translation is a written discipline, instruction for a translator is most effectively given in writing.
