Why should we use a translator if we have bilingual staff capable of translating for us?

Feedback from your bilingual staff can improve the quality of the translation memory.  They can be a great asset to translators and often provide answers to assist in the quality of the project.

Translation and interpretation requires several refined skills.  Essential skills include local knowledge, cultural appropriateness, and specialized terminology. Remember that being bilingual does not automatically make someone knowledgeable in the market area for a project.  AZ World has developed working glossaries in several industries which saves our clients money over time. 

Can you manage large projects?

Yes we can—at AZ World we are proud to use translation memories which allow us to both manage large complex projects and provide high quality translations.

What is a translation memory?

A translation memory is a database created for your company where we store the translation results for all the documents translated for you. As we translate, our translation software analyzes each sentence and identifies where you repeat a sentence that is already in the translation memory as (i) a repeat (100% match), (ii) a fuzzy match (a phrase which needs some tweaking, usually 50-90% match) or (iii) a completely new sentence that needs to be translated and entered into the translation memory.

What do you think of translation software like Babel Fish, Google, etc.?

These are great tools and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them if you’re only looking for ideas.

Why do the documents I had translated look wrong?

Unfortunately, it means that you paid for a poorly done translation. When you read a translated document you should never be able to suspect that it was originally written in another language. Some words do not have an exact literal translated word but they do have an equivalent; translation is not the translation of words, it the translation of written meaning that makes sense and sounds right in the other language.

What is the difference between machine translations and professional translations?

Machine translation (MT) is an automated program that translates documents using algorithms and rules. You type in text and the machine compares what you wrote to its dictionaries and phrasebooks to produce and automated, instant translation.

MTs are available on websites like AltaVista’s Babel Fish, and are good for quick translations of single words or short phrases. Users can enter their own text or translate whole websites online.

The benefit of MT is its speed. MTs are word-for-word and quite literal. Also, MTs don’t understand speech rhythms, fluency, or word choice, so many MTs sound unnatural and awkward.

Professional translators can be found either at agencies or as consultants. A good way to determine the quality of translators’ work is to check their references and speak directly with their past clients. Make sure your translator speaks both languages fluently to ensure your translation will be right.

The benefit of professional translation is accuracy. Expert translators know the language and produce fluid, correct, and natural translations.