When interpretation becomes necessary, it can be tempting to make do with the people you have around you. It is natural to work through translation issues by leaning on nonverbal communication and the limited abilities you or staff have. It might be fine if the exercise is unimportant or primarily a social activity. But when you are doing business, you can’t afford to leave things to chance. Bad translations can be worse than inconvenient; they can cause accidents and financial loss and be offensive as well. The best decision to make is to always hire a professional translator when professional results are essential.
- Saves Time: One of the most fundamental reasons to use a translator is to speed up the process of communication. Good translators can make communication efficient, and they will ensure that both sides understand what is being said or agreed to. Professional translation services, like Global Citizens Translation, can simplify the experience of bilingual communication. This way, your business can move forward at a faster pace.
- Avoid Costly Mistakes: Translation errors are hard to spot once they are made. Poor labeling or instructions are usually not noticed until mistakes begin to pile up. When errors are detected too late, it can be financially devastating to start over, not to mention the damage to reputations, especially when there is a global audience. It is less costly to ensure you are saying the same thing to everyone the first time.
- Cultural Misunderstandings: Every language and culture have their cultural nuances. What might be funny or cute to one group could be highly offensive to others. Just because someone has learned how to speak another language doesn’t make them an expert on the foreign culture they are communicating with. Professionals are more likely to avoid accidental offenses.
- Professional Experience: When dealing with technical or industry-specific terms, your translator must understand the jargon. It is even better if they know the business involved. For example, legal contracts are better accomplished when the translator understands legal terms. It is best to use translators with specific professional knowledge.
- Ease of Doing Business: When you work with professional people. You are more likely to get professional results. Easy communications mean less time will be spent explaining things and starting over. It is less expensive to use amateurs, but you will find that poor translation will make things even more complicated.
- Consistency: It is essential to have consistent translation over time. If you hire professionals, you will have a better chance that professional standards and common translations will be duplicated and will be more trustworthy. Slight changes in definitions or the meaning of a term often go unnoticed until negative results appear.
Many people know a thing or two about other languages, but there is no way to tell how poorly someone is translating your message unless you know the language too. Amateur translators often pretend to know what is being said to avoid losing face. And usually, they will not be around to see the trouble they have caused. Professional translators have standards to uphold and can be accountable for their service.
