Save Money, Save Face: Hire A Professional Translator | Big …

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Donna Jodhan

Top of the day to you out there!  I’m Donna J. Jodhan and today I would like to discuss the benefits of hiring a professional translator to carry out your translations.
 
        Save Money, Save Face: Hire A Professional Translator | Big …
 
So many companies make the fatal error to have their signs translated into a second language using either translators who are not skilled in translation, or they use software to do it.  The dangers to choosing either of these paths could be catastrophic and many companies do this in order to save money.
 
Too often we see where yes, the company has managed to save money but no, the company has not managed to attract more customers as it had hoped.  This is often due to one big flaw and that is:  The translation is incorrect and no way resembles the meaning of what is being meant.  This often happens in China but I can report to you that companies are learning very quickly. 

 
Up until now, companies have been guilty of erecting signs that are written in perfect English but the Chinese translation does not come up to mark.  For example:  The company in question may want to advertise its menu.  It is an English menu but when it comes to producing it in Chinese, the translation has gotten lost.  On the other side of the coin, the same fatal mistake is often made by those companies operating in English-speaking territory.  The English translation is often lost in the midst of everything because the company did not take the time to have the translated text professionally translated by a professional translator.
 
Much damage can be done if a company does not spend the money to have its translations professionally translated.  There is everything to lose if a company tries to save money instead of trying to save face.  I will close by giving you a reference to check out.
 
        Save Money, Save Face: Hire A Professional Translator | Big …
        By Corporate Logo
        In China, a restaurateur eager to attract an international clientele decided to display the restaurant’s English name on the storefront next to its Chinese name. Unfortunately, the machine translation application he chose to perform the task … Typographical conventions vary from one language to the next. For example, neither months nor days of the week are capitalized in French and Spanish. Do not be tempted to “correct” translated text to follow an English convention. …
        Big Promotions Blog –
http://blog.bigpromotions.net/ 
 
I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day.
Donna J. Jodhan is the president of Sterling Creations
Now you can view blogs and editorials written by Donna at:
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com (Donna Jodhan!  Advocating accessibility for all)
 http://numpadplus.com/blog/?page_id=7 (access and accessibility)
http://www.accessibilitynews.ca/acnews/editorials/donna.php (accessibility issues in Canada)
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com (under the editorials section, an international perspective)
http://www.onestopbookcafe.com (under the café talk link) 
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm (important answers to consumers concerns)
https://www.sterlingcreations.ca/magazine.html (monthly editorial)
https://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog/blog.html (blogs for language professionals and accessibility consultants)
 
]]>

About Donna Jodhan

Donna Jodhan is an award winning blind author, advocate, sight loss coach, blogger, podcast commentator, and accessibility specialist.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.