Translating an article, video script, ad or marketing piece can be challenging. Translators can confuse terms or fall into the trap of faux-amis. A proofreader can come in to try and save the day and a copy editor might enhance style, taking into account the intended the audience. The client gets to see the final version, signs off on it, signs a check, et voilà.

But… What happens with appreciating the whole act behind the curtains? Is there any additional value that should be attributed to it?

Written by: Bryan Lattke | Co-authored by DTP expert: Gary Lattke

Languages come in myriad alphabets and written directions depending on their script. From a Russian alphabet based on the Cyrillic script to the variations of Latin characters in Spanish, French, Italian, English and Portuguese — to name just a few — , from Hebrew that is written right to left (RTL) to ideographic languages like Japanese that can be written either left to right (LTR) or vertically (top to bottom, TTB), or even, in the case of Chinese, in which you could find the newspaper publishing in multiple directions on the same page: LTR, RTL and TTB. Certain languages, such as Azerbaijani, can be found written in Latin, Cyrillic or Arabic scripts, depending on their historical background, and as such, subject to script, it would be written LTR or RTL. Language is infinitely fascinating.

These linguistic nuances make multilingual DTP (Desktop Publishing) a complex task. For the translation industry, DTP is the service of typesetting content in a new language on a document with a specific layout to allow a consistent design that is similar to the original document, employing top-notch graphic design skills, taking into consideration numerous linguistic and cultural gradients / filters. In layman’s terms, not only does the written content change languages, but the visual content also needs to be adapted.

As a translation company offering language solutions in over 125 language combinations, Trustlations.com has vendors worldwide. In our 14 years in business we have worked with over 160 vendors in 30 countries. We have meticulous processes for selecting our vendors, including areas of expertise, years of experience, accreditations, certifications, grammar tests, etc.

We were recently defrauded by an agent of evil… someone who used either a false identity or copied someone else’s résumé and used it to bypass our system. They then requested a payment in advance, which although unusual, is not illogical since they had never worked with us before. The client rushed the project (which is very typical in our industry) and we really needed the vendor to deliver quickly, so we acquiesced and paid prior to delivery.

Clients often ask us why they need the services of a proofreader if the translator should be doing a good job, reviewing their own work before submitting it to the client and thus the work should be flawless. Truth is, we all make mistakes. And more often than not, we need a second pair of eyes to review our work and detect the errors that we cannot detect ourselves. Human beings have a tendency to overlook their own mistakes, simply because it is within our limitations to do so.

Here are 11 reasons why you need to hire a proofreader when having work translated or even when writing in your mother tongue:

The Difference Between an Expert Translation and a Basic Translation

Is translation an art or a science? This is not really a dilemma. Translation is many things, and among them, it is an art and a science. Translators use dictionaries as a guide and as a tool of discovery. Finding out words, definitions and equivalent terms, and as such, it is a science. But translators also use their brains when translating, when comprehending the meaning of what is being said, understanding the audience and the intention of the content… Translators use their accumulated knowledge to bring in smart workarounds for “untranslatable” terms, tones and hidden meanings.

As professional translators, proofreaders and copy editors we have our limits. Individual translators for the most part can translate up to 2,500 words a day, meaning they can translate around 315 words per hour on an 8-hour workday. Trustlations.com operates under these limitations so that we can handle our clients’ expectations and deliver on time.

A client came to us some time ago, for proofreading needs. They sent us a menu that was originally in Latin American Spanish and its translation into American English (carried out elsewhere). We immediately detected that the translation had been filtered through a machine. We do not proofread machine translations, and we let the client know. They decided not to pay for the full service (human translation + proofreading).

On a typical Wednesday morning I get to work and check my e-mail, only to find a client telling me “What’s up with your website?” I didn’t think much of it, but I did open it up to a horrific site. Some ill-intended hacker had filtered his way into our webpage and posted an image of a religious fanatic holding a machine gun and wearing a face veil similar to a Niqab most typically worn by women, covering all but his eyes. Needless to say, it was striking (see image).

Authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, on their book, “The One Thing”, explain that research shows it takes 66 days on average to create a new habit. I’m testing myself out, hoping it’s true for me. According to the results of a test I took a few years back, I’m neither a morning nor a night person… I’m a midday person! This revelation posed a conundrum for me, as it left lunchtime as the most productive part of my day. I didn’t do much at the time to change that, but it did remain in the back of my mind.