Translation

English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, European languages

We deliver in any format you need, text, word processor, or final presentation
We use native speaker translators
We use field-specialized translators
We employ strict quality control for small to large projects

What is Translation?

Translation is the transferring of meaning of text from one language, the source language, into another language, the target language. Sounds simple? One might think that once a person has developed a facility for a second language the job of translation would be quite simple, right? Wrong. Here are the skills required of a translator:

High level of literacy with above-average ability to express concepts and nuances in the target language.
Native or near-native ability to read source language.
Field-specific knowledge of subject to be translated from source language.
Ability to hold meaning of source sentence while honing and crafting the meaning into the target language. This requires two "compartments" in the translator's brain to be working simultaneously, a feat that demands a high degree of concentration.
Ability to creatively, yet accurately see through the writer's intentions of the source language.
Ability to do research. While translating, even when field-specific knowledge is present, the translator must demonstrate resourcefulness when an unfamiliar concept arises. This may require advanced dictionary work, or even delving into specialized reference materials, which the translator must have on hand.
Ability to concentrate for long periods. Translations can be hundreds of pages long. Translators must have the capacity for hard, sustained periods of concentration spanning many hours over many days.
Possession of tools of the trade. Translators today use computers with word processing software. They also keep a fax machine for sending and receiving hard copies as well as an Internet connection for sending and receiving data. Additionally they keep a not-too-small library of reference materials that including numerous dictionaries.
Experience. One cannot become a translator over night. Even for those endowed with a high proficiency in a second or third language, and even when field-specific knowledge is present, it takes quite a lot of practice before one can skillfully craft accurate, well-written sentences into a target language.

Confusion between Translation and Copywriting

What happens when you give a piece of highly creative advertising copy to a translator? Well, even assuming the translator is highly literate and perhaps even in possession of a talent in creative writing, there are two possible results:

An exact rendition of the original copy that may not make the grade as ad copy in the target language, or, at worse, is culturally totally inappropriate.
A highly polished piece of ad copy in the target language that, by necessity, has veered from the meaning and nuance of the source.

The issue here is that translation is not copywriting. Therefore, at UniDoc we make a distinction. Culturally bound copy, whether it appears in advertisements, catalogs or any other format is handled in a two-stage, two-job process: first translation by a translator, then copywriting by a copywriter. In some cases, in fact, the translation step could be skipped, with the copywriter starting from scratch based on the original conceptual material from the client.

Garbage in Garbage Out

Translators deal with all sorts of source documents written by people of various levels of literacy and in some cases even non-native speakers. The translator is faced with a dilemma when a source document is not written clearly. If the client cannot provide clarification for ambiguous passages, the translation will be rendered with the same ambiguity, or worse, with a meaning not intended by the author. Garbage in garbage out.

Translators are only Human

Translators work hard, under deadline pressure, with variously written source documents in various fields. Even the best are not superhuman. It is often too easy for a client, who possesses knowledge of the target language, to poke at a translators work because his or her style of writing is different, or whatever. Translation and writing in general is a subjective process and no two persons are going to render the same concept in the same way. If there is a quality issue that demands attention, UniDoc will do what it can to cooperate with the client to either work with the document in question or secure measures to ensure that quality will be increased in forthcoming jobs.

Client Cooperation

In order to ensure a satisfactory translation we ask our clients to provide ample reference material and, if possible, a glossary of terms prepared specifically for the product or field of business in question. We also ask the client to provide ample delivery time to ensure that the translation is not rushed. Under any given circumstance UniDoc does its best to make sure that the quality level is as high as possible, however, we always recommend that the client review all translations by qualified in-house staff who are natives of the target language.

Job Flow and Quality Control

Click here for an overview of UniDoc's job flow and quality control.