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The need for translation services is greater than ever

before. As the world economy becomes more integrated,

the importance of top quality translations will only continue

to grow. And, as industries and cultures continue to move

closer together, market forces will require that translations

be complete, accurate and culturally appropriate.

Approximately 337 languages are spoken or signed in the U.S. In

fact, according to the American Community Survey 2009,

endorsed by the United States Census Bureau, there are 35

million Spanish speakers and over 2.6 million Chinese speakers

living in the U.S.

96% of the world’s consumers do not live in the

United States and less than 6% of the world’s

population speaks English well enough to

conduct business, according to Content

Marketing Institute.

How to Select a Translation Agency

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WHAT TO CONSIDER

Language Experience – What is the

best way to make sure that your

translation will sound right to your

target audience? Go native. By native,

we mean a native speaker of the target

language. Native speakers have the

advantage of linguistic intuition that

makes it possible to say things so that

they sound right to the target audience.

Ideally, your translator will have as

much fluency in English as in his or her

native language. That includes

experience living and working in the

U.S. or in England.

Get References – This is perhaps the

most important way to ensure a quality

job. Clients typically don’t speak the

target language(s) and cannot make a

first-hand assessment of the finished

product. For this reason, agencies and

individuals in the translation industry

place a lot of importance on their

reputation. A good agency will be

happy to provide solid references.

Companies that bid on large

translation contracts are often required

to provide resumes for translators with

specific qualifications. A review of

individual translators’ resumes is an

effective way to predict how your

project will turn out.

Find an Agency Who Specializes in

Your Subject Matter – A translator with

a background in your subject matter will

be easier to work with. The more

specialized your translator, the better

the quality of the translation. Always ask

for samples of previous work.

Additionally, small, specialized

translation agencies can often provide

better service: (a) their translator

recruiting can be more focused than that

of general-purpose agencies; (b) they

often enjoy better and more up-to-date

training and experience, as they operate

in a more finely-tuned market.

HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY

Translation is a specialized skill that is very mysterious to some people. If you don’t speak the

“target” language(s), how can you be sure what you’re getting?

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Factors to consider when selecting a translator or agency include:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT, METHODOLOGY

Establishing a quality management system enables you to

fasten, harness and concentrate the collective effort and

resources of the extensive team in a singular collaborative

track. Done correctly, you get a fresh, proven model that is

superior in everything from quality and cost-efficiency, to

uniformity and reliability.

3 Things a great translation agency should do well

1. A great agency makes certain there are clear

lines of communication so you get questions

answered quickly, since often this information

must be filtered through three to four

individuals before it can be incorporated into

the final product.

2. The best translators create project-specific

glossaries and get your approval of them in

advance. Inappropriate or outdated

terminology can make the translator’s task

much more difficult.

3. An experienced translation agency will

understand and appreciate the need for an

internal review, welcome the process and

factor in the review time.

HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY

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The result of good translation is often silence, or at

least the absence of negative comments. When

everything goes smoothly, people don’t even realize

that the translation has taken place!

This underlines the importance of a review process, as described

earlier. In the final analysis, the best translations are those that are

so good, you don’t have to talk about it, and you can get on with

the other tasks on your to-do list.

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TRANSLATION AGENCY IN PLACE?

About VIA

VIA is a trusted provider of translation and localization services to

leading brands around the globe including Cisco, Oracle, Google,

Nike, Walmart, Sutter Health, San Francisco Health Plan, HP and

more.

Contact Us

To learn more about VIA’s localization solutions or

how VIA can help your organization achieve

improved translation processes, contact us at

1-800-737-8481 or visit us online at

www.viadelivers.com.

HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY