You’ve got a big project on the go. We’re talking INTERNATIONAL big. Naturally, you’re going to need that project translated into another language. So what do you do? Pop it through translation software? Search “translators” on LinkedIn? Or do you go with a translation company?
Chances are, if you value your job, you’re not going to rely on translation software. We’ve all seen too many #translationfails to fall for that. While it’s great for conveying the general meaning of words and phrases, it’s still not great at handling figures of speech, metaphors and, well, natural-sounding human speech patterns. So you’re left with the freelancer or the company.
Working With A Freelancer
Maybe you find someone that looks great on paper. They’ve been translating the French language for 8 years! Plus, their rates are super reasonable. Your boss is going to be so happy with your choice!
Unfortunately, unless you have the French language skills to check their work, you really don’t know what you’re getting into. What if their “8 years’ experience translating the French language” is actually the 8 years they studied French from elementary through high school? I mean, I GUESS translating chien into dog and back again counts as translation experience. Or, worse still, what if they’re like Joey from Friends? By the end, he definitely THOUGHT he was fluent in French . . . but trusting him with your Very Big Project wouldn’t be much better than the software.
While these are extreme examples, you still don’t know what you’re getting into with a freelancer. Plus, once the translation is complete, there’s nobody else to check their work and make sure you’re getting what you paid for. If you’re working on something important, you need a translation company.
Working With A Translation Company
At a translation company, every member of the team has been carefully selected based on their skill level and experience. With so many fantastic translators on hand, it’s easy to find the right one to deal with your specific project. When you went looking for a French translator, you may not have realized you could request a French translator who specializes in legal documents written in Quebecois French, which is very different than that spoken in France.
With a company, you’re not relying on just one person to get it right – there’s a team there to make sure your translation is accurate, and written in the appropriate vernacular of the specific region you require. If you’re working on a large project, having more than one person working on it can mean it’s finished and in your hands much sooner. And, as a bonus, if you suddenly need the work translated into Spanish and German, too, a translation company will have options available for you tout de suite.
Don’t risk your job on a freelance translator. Go with a trusted team of translators who can do the work accurately and quickly. We think we can be the company for you. If you’d like to know more, contact us now to see all the ways we can help make your Very Big Project a success!
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