Translation

Translation is the written rendering of a document in one language (called source language) into another (called target language). After the document is translated, a second translator or linguist proofreads the document for accuracy, consistency and terminology. Sometimes, the proofreader makes comments on the translation, mainly related to grammar, meaning or style issues, which is called editing. The proofreader also verifies that all cultural issues and/or regionalisms related to the particular language have been considered. This two-stage process guarantees that the final version of the document in the target language is an exact and reliable reproduction of the original text.

When is translation required?

Companies need translations at different levels. For example:

Corporate Administration: The translation of corporate documents such as job performance instructions, insurance benefits, technical handbooks, and OSHA regulations helps non-English speaking employees in a company understand internal polices and be easily integrated into the corporate culture.

Sales/Marketing/New Markets: Translation can be a very powerful resource when a company is planning to launch new products domestically or in foreign markets. Advertising campaigns and Web sites are much more effective when they are communicated to non-English speakers in their own language. In these cases, translation also involves localization - customizing a product for consumers in a target market so, when using it, they have the impression a native of their country designed it.