This is a very important question that AZ World has been asked many times of our decades in the industry. There are many factors influencing why AZ World does not recommend companies use bilingual staff to perform translations:
1. The most important reason is it is not an optimal use of staff hired to do something else! Engineers, managers, and coordinators are most effective when they do what they are trained for. It can be very costly to have these professionals spend their time doing translation and not other work.
2. Professional translators are trained and experienced in linguistics, syntax, grammar, and nuances of language. They possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages.
3. Translators are adept at understanding and conveying cultural nuances. This is crucial for ensuring that the translated content is culturally appropriate and does not inadvertently offend or misrepresent.
4. Professional translators use translation memory tools that maintain consistency across documents. This is especially important for businesses that have ongoing projects or documentation that needs to be updated regularly.
The feedback of bilingual staff is a valuable resource, and they are a great asset as point person, administrators of a company’s translation memory or just to answer questions. But professional translators bring a level of expertise, precision, and reliability that is essential for high-quality translations.