By Hannon TranslationsTranslator's Kit: Tools and Skills to Deliver High-Quality Translations
Translation is not as simple as the two languages; it is a mixture of specialized tools and finely-tuned skills that can only be learned with experience. Technologies and other best practices are constantly evolving in a lot of industries, and the professional translator must stay informed, as they are expected to provide a unique qualitative offering that fulfills industry expectations of accurate and nuanced translation. It covers both practical tools and soft skills required, so you can truly work toward excellence as a translator.
“Translator's Tools like audio and video materials into written text by accessing professional transcription services.”
Christina Peter
1. Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tools:
CAT tools aid the translators by segmenting the text into smaller chunks so that they can tackle working one small piece at a time while also storing translated chunks in a translation memory (TM) for reuse and consistency in projects.
2. QA & Proofreading Tools:
QA tools help to be on the lookout for translation mistakes, grammatical errors, and terminology consistency across a document. These tools are needed for the last checks.
3. Adaptability and Sensitivity to Culture:
It means, being aware of and respect the culture of both the source and target languages in terms of their nuances, idioms, and context. Adaptability helps translators to meet cultural expectations through the translation.
4. Excellent Communication and Account Management Skills
There are clients, their project requirements, ambiguities, feedbacks, and revisions involved that a translator often deals with.
5. Having Knowledge of Adjusting Voice and Tone
Tones vary depending on the client and content type. Mature translators are able to vary their translations to appropriately reflect the intended voice and tone.
The Takeaway: Enjoy the Dream of Your Ideal Translator’s Toolbox
In the end, a combination of the right tools and skills is a requirement for professional translators to ensure high quality, accurate and culturally relevant translations. Armed with advanced CAT tools, the necessary language skills, and the cultural knowledge to back it up, translators can now approach a global audience with confidence.