3 Attributes To Look For In A Translator
Whether you are hiring someone for language translation services as an individual, small business, or a large corporation, there are a number of things you should look for in order to get the best possible translation. It is not enough to hire someone with advanced knowledge of a language; translating requires much more than a good understanding of grammar and vocabulary. If you are committed to hiring the best language translation services available, keep reading to discover just three attributes you should look for.
Cultural Knowledge
Language is influenced by culture to a much greater extent than many people realize. As such, a translator should have a deep understanding of cultural context and the implications or connotations that language has — that is, beyond how it may be defined in a dictionary. Someone translating English to Vietnamese, for example, should be well-versed in Vietnamese value systems and customs. Translators who remain ignorant of these aspects of culture may deliver translations that are confusing at best and downright offensive at worst.
Experience with Specialized Translations
Another absolutely essential quality of any language translation service is the ability of the translator to deliver specialized translations. A translator who has no experience with technical translations of engineering documents, for example, is unlikely to turn out a quality translation no matter how thorough their linguistic knowledge may be. Similarly, someone with impeccable technical qualifications may not be suited to translate literary prose if they are unfamiliar with the ways in which fiction is crafted. For these reasons, it is best to prioritize specialization when it comes to hiring a language translator or interpreter.
Adherence to Tone
Style and register are two qualities of language that are quite difficult to translate, but the best language translation services ensure that both — as they appear in translation — consistently align with the original text or speech. If the information that is casually delivered is then presented in translation in a more formal register, it is likely to result in a translation that is unintentionally comedic. Likewise, a text that contains archaic vocabulary or a more formal register should not be presented in a more casual or contemporary language just for the sake of readability. A good language translation service should provide a translated text that adheres to the tone in such a way that the intended reader or listener is not distracted from the meaning of the text itself.
For more information, contact a company like Atlanta International Language Institute (AILI).