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3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

February 8, 2016

The work of professional translators is challenging even under ideal circumstances. While all stakeholders in the translation process (e.g., clients, translation companies, individual translators) have an interest in a translation project’s success, projects are sometimes unintentionally disadvantaged. Among the most common ways to impede a translation project’s success are: 1) Insufficient Project Time Allowance Skilled translators are professionals and the application […]

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

February 5, 2016

The question is “are translation services a commodity?” By this question we mean, are translation services differentiated by things other than the price of services? If translation services were a true commodity then consumers of translation services wouldn’t need to consider anything other than the cost of services. If the output of translation services was […]

3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

February 8, 2016

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

February 5, 2016

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3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

February 8, 2016

Among the most common ways to impede a translation project’s success are:

1) Insufficient Project Time Allowance

Skilled translators are professionals and the application of their skills requires a reasonable amount of time. On average a professional translator will competently process in the range of 2000-3000 words per day. At our company a second translator then proofreads the work of the first translator as a quality control measure. Sometimes the need to compress project schedules is unavoidable. Whenever possible planning ahead and allowing for sufficient time for the translation process to occur normally is ideal.

2) Withholding Project Resources

If preferred terminology glossaries or actual translation memories (TMs) are available, translators will gladly receive them at the beginning of a project. Since synonyms and alternate expressions exist in most languages, translators might independently select translations for terms other than those preferred by a client. When specific translation are preferred, clients have the option to provide preferred translations via terminology lists, glossaries, or an actual translation memory file. In the absence of resources such as these translators will apply their judgment in the selection of translation terms.

3) Inadequately Directed Client Side Reviewers

Client side translation reviewers can sometimes help to support the translation process although should they should typically be carefully instructed. Undirected reviewers internal to a client’s organizations will sometimes completely re-translate a project to suit their individual terminology or style preferences when the original translation was correct and acceptable.

The language skills of internal reviewers are often an unknown. Native speakers in any language are not necessarily qualified proofreaders or editors. For example, native English speakers are abundant in most US organizations, although of these native speakers how many are qualified to perform professional editing and proofreading of the English language?

In most cases client side reviewers should be instructed to look for departures from provided terminology or anything they consider to be potentially problematic. If something like this is noticed then the issue should be brought again to the translator for review prior to making a change.

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

February 5, 2016

The question is “are translation services a commodity?” By this question we mean, are translation services differentiated by things other than the price of services?

If translation services were a true commodity then consumers of translation services wouldn’t need to consider anything other than the cost of services. If the output of translation services was essentially the same no matter the translators or their processes, then the vendor selection process with be much easier. Simply seek out the lowest priced service provider and go with them.

Example Commodities

For those not familiar with the concept of commodities, examples of commodities might be wheat, corn, sugar, and other standardized items. Is there one kind of wheat that’s better (or more something) than another? If wheat is wheat, then buyers of wheat need only focus on finding the lowest cost source.

How Translation Providers Differentiate Services

Translation services then are to any knowledgeable consumer of them not a commodity at all. Translation companies routinely attempt to favorably differentiate their services (make it clear that their services are not a commodity) by any number of means. Differentiation methods might be in the qualifications or experience levels of translators. Some companies offer a variety of language services while other specialize in only one (and thereby position themselves as specialists). The customer service experience of arranging for translation services and carrying out projects can be another differentiation area. Analytically reviewing the process of purchasing translation services, successfully performing projects, and ultimately creating satisfied repeat clients, will reveal numerous ways to set apart an organization’s delivery of translation services.

In that case then, what’s wrong with the question “how much” with no other follow-up questions?

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

3 Ways to Sabotage A Translation Project

1) Insufficient Project Time Allowance

2) Withholding Project Resources

3) Inadequately Directed Client Side Reviewers

Are Translation Services A Commodity?

Example Commodities

How Translation Providers Differentiate Services

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