International Communication Planning
(extracted from Solvit website - http://www.solvit.org.uk/international/index.htm)
With one in five companies losing business because of language and
cultural barriers, it is vital for international businesses to address
these obstacles to success. This can be achieved by establishing a
comprehensive international communication plan.
The development of such a plan should be an integral part of the normal
business planning cycle for companies that have an international
dimension. This is particularly relevant for exporters in any number of
industries and sectors.You will benefit from developing a plan,
however simple, if for example you are:
- Selling to customers in overseas markets
- Dealing with suppliers overseas
- Part of a multinational organisation
- Dealing with incoming goods from overseas
- Responsible for multilingual and multicultural
teams
This section introduces your business to the
concept of an international communication plan, and shows how the rest
of this site and other resources are available to support you in
formulating a plan to the benefit of your business.
Read more...
Using the Services of Translators
(extracted from CILT
website - http://www.cilt.org.uk/langservices/translating/index.htm)
Why should I use the services of a professional translator?
In a shrinking business world, more and more companies will encounter
the need for translation, by which we normally mean the transfer of
meaning between the written or printed forms of languages.
This could range from the need to understand the meaning of incoming
correspondence or printed matter in foreign languages to the need to
produce material (e.g. promotional or technical) in the language of
foreign clients or associates. The effects of inadequate translation can
vary from laughter to serious misunderstanding and even offence on the
part of the recipient. While we may relish the ‘howlers’ perpetrated by
translators of foreign language notices and instructions into English
‘We take your baggages and send them off in different directions…’, we
are often unaware that reciprocal errors are amusing, baffling or
enraging our customers!
Whom should I employ and on what basis?
Depending on the frequency of this need and the level of technicality
required, you might either employ competent linguists as in-house staff
translators or buy in the services of a freelance translator (whom you
might contact personally or through an agency) or a translation company.
Translation companies (rather like large law firms) can collectively
offer a wider-ranging service than individual translators (who may
nonetheless be excellent in their chosen areas).
Translation companies, because they employ their staff on a regular
basis, are more likely than agencies to be able to vouch for the
competence of the staff they offer you. If you deal with either an
agency or a company, it is worth enquiring what quality assurance
systems they operate with respect to their employees. What is the
minimum required level for any language from which they translate?
Competence, in the context of business or industry, may often be best
provided by a fluent or native writer of the target language who is also
experienced in the specialist field in which you want them to work.
You will of course need to specify from what language to what other
language you require translation. It is customary for professional
translators to translate into their mother tongue rather than into a
language which is foreign to them.
Once engaged, the translator must be clear about the nature of the
task and the required outcome.
How can I find a translator?
It is difficult to gauge how many professional translators there are
in the UK. The problem is one of definition: there are in-house company
translators working both full and part-time. There are freelance
translators whose translating work may account for any percentage of
their income: they may be full-time, part-time or even 'mini-time',
supplementing their income from other employment. At this moment in time
there is no single register of recognised professional translators.
Providers of translation services advertise in professional linguist
publications such as THE LINGUIST as well as Yellow Pages.
The Insitute of
Linguists and the
Institute of Translation & Interpreting will provide lists of
members but will decline from any guarantee.
What do translation agencies offer?
Translation agencies operate as intermediaries between client and
translator. Agency costs are normally shared between client and
translator. The client might pay less by direct contract, the translator
might earn more, but each would sacrifice potential benefits.
Potential benefits to the client
- Screening of translators
- Group work for large contracts
- Ready identification of translators to suit specific needs
- Indemnity insurance
- Regular contact point
Potential benefits to the translator
- Referral point
- Reference archives
- Indemnity insurance
- Regular contact point
- Office support services
- Agency bears the brunt of any issue
- Reputable agencies guarantee payment even if client defaults
What does the translator need to know about the translation
task?
Apart from the obvious matter of which languages are involved, a
translator must be briefed as to the purpose, the target readership, and
the required quality and style of the translation. It can be very
helpful to the translator if reference material in the form of prior
documentation can be provided (e.g. earlier technical specifications in
the language of the intended translation). If they are given a regular
contact person in the company who is familiar with the material, a lot
of time can be saved in clarifying problems arising.
In determining needs, it is often useful for the translator to have
studied the client's promotional literature and, wherever appropriate,
any other documentation that will help in understanding the
organisation, its product, services, approach etc. If translations have
been commissioned before, they will be useful reference to preserve
house-style and continuity of register.
The following checklist identifies the points in defining client
needs. Items followed by * indicate that surcharges would be customary.
Completion Date
Is the translation required for a specific date or a general date?
Delivery
Is the translation to be collected, posted (normal, recorded,
registered), faxed, e-mailed or sent by other means (courier)?
Use
Is the translation for information, publication, etc... Are there any
special requirements for the translation which affect presentation and
applicability? For example, script for voiceover, camera-ready form,
legal purposes requiring sworn statements etc.
Presentation
Are there any special requirements such as paper quality, paper format,
copy format other than original, special pitch, binding, additional
copies, pagination.
Non Text
Should diagrams, graphs etc. be redefined or given translation inserts
and numbered keyor mounted in text?
Medium
Is the translation to be presented on disk or other electronic medium?
Are there any special requirements:disk type, disk format, data format,
software, etc...?
Supplementary Services
What supplementary services will be required? For example, extensive UK
communication, international phone calls/communication, interviews,
visits?
References
(In-house)
What company reference material relating to the style, register and/or
content of the translation is available? Examples include: glossary or
terminology list, company literature, revious draft translations, target
language references, supplementary material (illustrations, etc)?
(Public)
Are there public standards governing the translation, for example,
published references or international tenets/guidelines?
Contact
Who can be contacted in the event of a query? Give details of name,
role, address, tlephone and fax numbers, e-mail address, availability
and deputy.
What practical issues need to be made clear?
The translator must know whether they are required to incorporate any
layout and typographical features into their finished version and in
what form they should submit it (e.g. in hard copy or on disk and if the
latter in which word-processing or desktop publishing application).
Delivery dates and legal and financial matters regarding the
translation should be discussed and fully agreed before the work is
undertaken.
How long will my translation take to complete?
Most translators nowadays use word processors and advanced software.
A daily turnaround of 2,000w used to be the norm. The current norm could
be 50% higher than this word count. This figure can often doubled or
trebled. But with dictaphone, secretarial support and other back-up
facilities some translators achieve much higher production rates.
Most translators work under extreme pressure and often on their own.
The art and science of translating do not receive just recognition: the
place of translation in the production programme invariably suffers from
earlier time loss and the need for clients to get back on schedule.
The pressures to rush the job, take short cuts and improve turnaround
time should be resisted. Work is almost always required yesterday! The
translator, while showing s/he can deliver, must establish a
relationship with the client to agree a realistic deadline for
submission of copy. An inadequate translation is detrimental to
translator and client alike.
How can I have any idea whether I am engaging a competent
translator?
Translators have their own qualifications and professional
associations. The best known of these include the
Institute of Linguists,
Institute of
Translation & Interepreting,
Association of
Translation Companies. It should also be apparent when you talk to a
translator whether they are organised and systematic in their approach
to your requirements. They will probably be proactive and suggest
helpful approaches to the task.
Membership of ITI or IoL is normally associated with recognised
translating qualifications. As a general principle anyone aspiring to
work as a translator would have a minimum of a good honours degree in
the language from which they translate. (The above professional bodies
might accept on application one of a number of acceptable alternatives
judged on individual merit.)
Additionally, it would be normal for the individual to have followed
a postgraduate diploma course or a course leading to the Institute of
Linguists’ Diploma in Translation.
The Institute of Translation and Interpreting requires those with
qualified member status to have passed a membership test, in addition to
having practised for a specified time.
CILT, the National Centre for Languages has developed the National
Standards for Translating. For further information please see our
Standards
pages.
How much will a translation cost?
Pricing
Prices are normally assessed according to 1000 words or
equivalent of source language (i.e. the language from which the work is
commissioned. Languages not employing Roman script require special
attention). It is unusual but not unknown for translators to quote in
folios (72 words) or key strokes. Progressively the target count, as
identified on disk, is becoming the basis the costing.
Costing
The general band of costs ranges from £50 to £120+ per 1000w although
extremes to this band are not uncommon, at which point the subject is a
matter for negotiation.
Proofing
In normal terms proofing charges constitute 10% minimum of relative
translation costs.
Abstracting
This is a service in ever-increasing demand. Many companies prefer to
pay for an abstract or summary of a text at 15% minimum of the
translation fee. Subsequently the decision may be taken to translate in
full.
Surcharges
These may include extra speed/sophistication of presentation e.g., a
rapid turnaround (10%+), special delivery (e.g. courier), sophisticated
presentation, stylising etc.
Finances
Translations can often involve a range of services. Sometimes the
translator is involved in sub-contracting (e.g., to printers) and
others. Large commissions may require 'forum response' from a group of
translators. Extensive financial commitment can be a burden. In such
instances some form of financial guarantee - perhaps a percentage of
agreed final price - can be negotiated as payment in advance.
Fees also vary in accord with requirements:
Language - the scale rises from Romance through
Western European to Eastern European, Arabic, Oriental and others.
Category - the scale rises from basic correspondence
to the highly scientific/technical.
Presentation - the scale rises from disk or basic
hard paper copy to include all manner of formats.
NB. It is usual for a translator to offer two scales of charges: one
for direct contract with the client: the other for commissions through
an agency.
What is indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity insurance provides financial protection for
translators and translation agencies alike. It covers the cost of
defending claims and any damages payable should a client suffer
financial loss as a result of alleged neglect, error or omission.
Like anyone concerned with providing professional services, the
translator or agency must consider the implications of offering a
professional service. Indemnity insurance is increasingly more difficult
to arrange - the risks are high, procedures may involve lengthy analysis
of staff - but anyone involved in translating or offering translation
services would be ill-advised not to have cover. This cover may be held
personally by the translator or collectively by the agency. Agency
indemnity may cost from £250 p.a. minimum for £0.25m. of cover.
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