Newsflash: Translators are not miracle workers!!!

We think very highly of our network of translators here at Tongue Tied – they’re super smart, extremely qualified and have plenty of experience.

But we also know that they’re humans like the rest of us.

They can’t work miracles and they can’t read minds either…

And yet some people seem to think that our translators possess these superpowers!!

Maybe it’s to do with the fact that translation is often both misunderstood and underestimated…

We’ve spoken in the past about the misconceptions associated with translation – people think it’s easy or can be done in record time… Some people even question why we need translators at all – can’t Google Translate do that for free?!

It’s a strange situation… the work translators do goes unnoticed and unvalued but on the flip side, some people’s expectations of translators are off the scale!

Take a look at some miracles that we won’t be expecting our translators to perform any time soon…

1. Turning bad source texts into good translations

Jesus turned water into wine… So why can’t translators turn bad source texts into great translations?

We’ll say it again – because they’re not miracle workers!

Some source texts are impossible to understand and are laden with ambiguities…

Without explanations from the client, the translator can’t be expected to read their mind and figure out what they’re trying to say!

Of course, translators will always ask questions if they’re unsure about ambiguities but if they have a million questions about the same text, chances are the source text itself has been written badly!

Sometimes poor spelling and grammar might make it harder for the translator to make sense of the source text…

And yet the expectation will be that the translator should produce a wonderful text that reads perfectly!

So they’re left with a conundrum – do they produce a translation that reads as poorly as the original?

Or do they get their creative juices flowing and produce a ‘free’ translation that has very little in common with the original?

In cases like this, the source text would ideally be rewritten (not by the translator!), and any misunderstandings or poor spellings/grammatical constructions would be ironed out before the translator even thinks about starting their work!

2. Working formatting miracles

We receive source texts in all kinds of formats – photos of handwritten documents, CSV files where we need to strip away loads of code, a PDF within a PDF within a PDF…, etc.

This isn’t a problem and we’re able to work with most things!

But there is only so much that a translator can do with the formatting of the source text they’re given…

And when a client expects the embedded images and text in a PDF file to be replicated in the translation when they’ve said that they don’t want any typesetting services involved, they might be setting themselves up for disappointment…

Similarly, if a client wants the signature on a photo of a handwritten contract to be replicated in the translated document, there may be some issues…

Generally, a translator will try their best to stay as close as possible to the formatting of the source text in their translation, but there is only so much that they can do without the addition of typesetting…

If we have a PDF source text, for example, the translation will usually be delivered in a new Word file if there is no typesetting involved.

If we typeset a translation, the client will receive a lovely print-ready PDF that keeps the formatting of the original text.

But you’d be surprised how many people choose to bypass this option and still hope to receive a shiny document that’s fit for public consumption!

3. Reading the client’s mind

And finally, we come to that special skill that all translators are expected to have – the power to read minds!

We told you they’re smart but they’re not that smart…

Here are a few things that clients expect of translators without telling them:

• To use their preferred terminology
• To understand internal company jargon and acronyms
• To know what to do with any uneditable text or images in the source document
• To know which format to deliver the translation in
• To know the exact date and time that they need to have the translation back by

We encourage our translators to ask questions, but we also need the client to help us out at the start of a project, so we know exactly what it is they need!

There’s no point getting vague requirements from a client and then producing a translation they’re not happy with!

Here are some things that we ask our clients (especially first-time clients!!) to make sure that our translators don’t have to resort to using their mind-reading skills:

• When do they need the translation for?
•  In which format would they like the translation to be delivered?
• Would they like us to typeset the document?
• Do they have any reference material to make sure our translators use the correct terminology? Maybe a glossary, some previous translations, a link to a website…
• Will anyone be reviewing the translation?

Getting information like this from a client helps us to produce a translation that exceeds their expectations, as the translators will understand exactly what is expected of them from the start…

So there you have it – we hope we haven’t shattered any illusions about what translators can and can’t do in this article!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of this – both from the translator’s and the client’s point of view!

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About Tongue Tied

Tongue Tied (Manchester) Ltd has had the privilege of providing tailor-made language solutions for more than 30 years for thousands of clients, in even the most specialised of subject areas, including some of the world’s biggest brands and our local Italian restaurant.

Do you want a high standard of translation?

Talk to us about how we can manage your project on 01606 352 527 or email us at [email protected]