Elearning Translation | Expectation vs. Reality
What should a translation company client expect when they hire an organization to translate text for elearning materials? Is there a difference between what’s expected and what they actually receive?
In our experience clients should expect the following:
- A defined procedure, including quality assurance checks, in the translation process.
- Qualified native speaking professional linguists assigned to their project.
- Adherence to special instructions such as document formatting or preferred translation options.
- Delivery of translations within the quoted schedule window.
- Support on any post-delivery translation delivery questions or issues.
These are some of the main, among others, things that elearning translation clients should expect. Communications along these lines should be clear and unambiguous.
What should they not expect? They should not expect the translation to match 100% with another person’s approach to conveying meaning in the target language. There are typically multiple ways to express equivalent meaning in most languages. Professional translators, linguist that work with language on a regular basis, have as their responsibility to exercise their best judgment in approaching a translation project. Rarely will one person’s view of language and its use match 100% with another.
