💸 💸 Bad translations cost so much more

If you are one of those people who think that a good translation is expensive, you should try a bad translation! 

“You get what you pay for” is a gem of popular wisdom that needs no further explanation.

In the case of companies, many know that it’s worth spending money on good translations because they know the value of good communication, are aware of their clients’ needs, and value their own content.

Companies today know that only a quality translation will open doors to audiences in other countries. In fact, they know that they are not only paying for quality translations of their communications and the satisfaction of foreign audiences, but also for the growth of their customer base, which will ultimately increase their market share and profit.

However, the general public and many small businesses have a harder time understanding the value of a good translation and hardly ever consider the financial loss they sustain when choosing to pay less when getting a translation.

Think twice!

If the content is worth translating, then it’s certainly worth paying enough for someone to devote their time, effort, and expertise to do it properly.

If you decide to pay inexperienced, untrained “amateur” translators who may charge you much less because they don’t need to consider every issue discussed in the previous article when making their rates, you will also pay the higher cost of his or her inexperience and incompetence.

🗫 Language is very important for communication flow and interpersonal relations.

We have all read things that sound as if they have been “translated”—so-called “translationese”—where the text may be error free but it’s everything but fluid and natural in the target language.
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Quite often, a low-quality translation loses all meaning or even becomes unreadable.

It’s up to the client to decide whether they want the translation to be an expense or an investment.

The expense is related to the time and money spent on the translation. This expense is an investment if the quality of the translation allows you to use the translated content to generate greater benefits in the future.

It can be very tempting to try to cut down costs by using machine or amateur translation, but when it comes to results, there’s no substitute for a translation agency that combines CAT tools with a team of translators, proofreaders, and editors.

It’s not surprising that about 25% of current Internet users use English when surfing the web and more than 60% of existing Websites are in English. On the other hand, research also confirms that there’s a significant number of people who only buy products if offered in their native language.

A website that’s correctly translated in multiple languages exponentially increases your customer portfolio and profit opportunities; whereas the costs of a poorly translated website that doesn’t represent your services/products accurately, or misrepresents your message culturally for the target audience, will outweigh any of these benefits, killing your chances of a good ROI. 

That’s when you realize you’re throwing away your money.

Is it worth it to find the right professional?

If you cannot find the right translator—one not only proficient in both languages, but also with a deep understanding of the subject being translated, good writing skills in the target language, and the right resources to produce a good result—you will never be able to deliver your message in the right way.

💬 The meaning, not the words

Good professionals translate the meaning of words, not just the words themselves.

Good professionals know that:

• sometimes they need to replace negatives with affirmatives to convey the meaning correctly;
• they might have to join or break phrases for fluidity and clarity;
• they must get rid of any “decals;”
• they have to consider regionalisms, slang and jargon, popular expressions, colloquial, informal, or formal style, the etymology of words, contextual issues, etc.

Interpretation is an essential part of the process! A good ability to interpret texts is a fundamental skill that not all of us have.

Do you want to lose money due to translator misinterpretations in your communications with employees, associates, and customers? Surely not.

Not to mention that only professional translators can protect their clients in terms of responsibility, ethics, confidentiality, data protection…

At Verbarium, we are at your disposal to answer any queries and meet your specific needs, and we guarantee a range of linguistic services: translation, translation certification, proofreading, localization and transcreation, as well as high-quality copywriting.

Be sure to check out our FAQ page where these questions and many others are addressed!

If you need any of our services, do not hesitate to contact us today to clear all your doubts with no obligation!

Reading suggestion:

https://www.slideshare.net/dr.shadiabanjar/methods-of-translation-presentation