Why do you need professional translation services? Part 2 – Individuals.

Some time ago we discussed why companies need professional translation services. It is important in business, but even more so in private lives. Every day, countless numbers of birth certificates, university diplomas or payslips get translated. Why using professional translation services matters?

Safety

Translating documents with a professional translation company ensures a high degree of safety. Clients know that their documents are not disclosed, that they are kept secure. All translators working for translation agencies are bound to confidentiality agreements.

Reliability

Professional translation services mean receiving a high-quality text on time. There’s a whole group of project co-ordinators, project managers, and quality managers in charge of delivering the right translation.

Quality

Because of a complex quality assurance process, professional translations provide higher quality. In most companies, texts go through a demanding stage of proofreading and editing before being sent to the client.

Communication

With customer care departments on board, translation agencies make it much easier to communicate. If you have any questions or queries, a representative is there to take your call.

Go ahead and order your professionally translated texts from Verbo Translations!

Understanding Language Services

Most  translation companies around the world, including Verbo Translations, offer much more than just translation. Usually, the field of expertise covers a wide range of language-related services. Learn the differences and find the service you really need!

Translation

Translation means communicating the meaning of a source text into the target language. Translation relates to written texts from various domains: technical, business, and literary.

Interpreting

Interpreting, or language interpretation, means facilitating oral or sign-language communication, usually at the time of speaking. It can be done either simultaneously, where interpreters sit in booths and listeners have their headphones on, or consecutively – the interpreter renders a larger chunk of speech after it has been delivered in the source language.

Proofreading

As one of the sub-categories of editing, proofreading relates to reading the text in order to detect and correct typographical errors, such as spelling mistakes. Proofreading also includes correcting the format and checking numerical values.

Editing

Editing is a broader service including stylistic and content editing. Editors check facts in the text against other sources, or improve general readability of the text. Editing is usually done by native speakers.

Transcription

Transcription means the process of representing the speech in written form. Transcription specialists listen to tapes or recordings and write down the text.

Subtitling

Subtitling means providing textual versions of dialogs and conversations, in films or television programs. They are usually displayed at the bottom of the screen, at the same time as the original text is being spoken.

Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing means the creation of documents using computer software. It includes all sorts of documents, from local newsletters, to books, magazines and newspapers.

Localization

This more general term relates to a whole process of product translation and cultural adaptation. Localization includes translation, but also adaptation for different markets, depending on comprehensive studies of the target culture.

Competing for translations
In the last 10 years that we’ve been in business, we’ve had lots of opportunities to think our competition strategy over and over again. We have realized that there are four different ways in which we can compete with other translation agencies. The same applies to freelance translators, of course!
1. Cost
The easiest way to compete, or to win over your competition, is to offer lower prices. The current translation market relies hugely on this competition strategy.
2. Quality
Yet price is not always the overarching principle. It is a good practice for all translators and agencies to offer higher quality instead of lower price.
3. Flexibility
If you are not the cheapest one, you can still outdo your competition by being extra-flexible, accessible, and easy to contact. Your ability to adapt to clients’ needs may be crucial!
4. Speed
Translating fast is another way of gaining more and more clients. Some companies out there need texts translated ultrafast, and they won’t be bothered with costs. They just need their texts right away!
At Verbo Translations, we’re trying to compete at all these four levels. It depends on our clients and our resources.

What are the steps for translation?
Over the years, we have learned that clients are pretty often unaware of the actual steps involved in translation. And we know for sure that there are people out there (non-translators) for whom translation is simply rewriting a sentence into another language straight away. Let’s shed some light on the process!
1. Management
It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelancer, a medium-sized company or a huge translation agency; management is always the key step to start off a translation journey. Management involves planning for time and resources, as well as ensuring timely delivery of the project.
2. Pre-translation analysis
This step involves analysing the brief and discussing client expectations in detail, as well as performing a text analysis. This step is essential in order to ensure client satisfaction.
3. Decoding
In other words, reading the text to understand it. This step involves working with dictionaries and resources in order to decipher all unknown words and constructions. During decoding, a translator has to read the text at least once.
4. Encoding
This is where translation happens! A translator writes the content in another language, sometimes also referring to dictionaries and resources.
5. Post-translation analysis
This step ensures that all requirements stipulated by the brief are met, and that the translated text reflects the client’s needs.
6. Editing and proofreading
The text is then carefully scrutinized to be free of any content, stylistic or translation mistakes. Also, the format is very often checked for reflection to the original. The text is also checked for typos and spelling mistakes.
7. Sign-off and delivery
Every project has to be safely delivered to a client in the desired format.
As you can see, translation is not only about translating. Keep that in mind when ordering your translations! Make sure that you and your provider agree on the same definitions!

Why do you need professional translation services? Part 1: Companies
In our ever-growing market, advancing in globalization, translating products, marketing materials and websites into several languages is becoming more and more important. Internationalization of strategy is an important step, and it is not only about targeting new markets and opening offices around the world. Entering into a global market is about communication, that’s why we think that professional translation services are a must. Why?
1. Professional translation is professional
Every company is serious about its business and operations and they want to be treated seriously. You are always extremely picky when it comes to your business stationery, marketing materials, and details on your website. Why would you leave language services to mere luck? Professional translation services are indispensible!
2. Quality assurance
No-one can ensure quality to such a high level but a professional translation company. With tested and approved quality assurance systems in place, you can be sure that your multilingual content reflects your professionalism.
3. Professional translation stems from commitment
If you have your texts translated professionally, you can expect a level of commitment that reflects your dedication to your company. Think of the way you treat all your customers and products, how valuable they are to you. Well, if you order professional translation services, you are our customer, and translation is, in a way, our product.
4. Professional translation equals consistency
Sticking with one professional provider ensures that all your texts are top quality and that your message is consistent. We make sure that we use the right words all over, and you can expect a stream of new customers!
A teaser for next week: why not only companies need professional translations? Adiós!

We would like to give a warm welcome to our readers! Since this is our first post, we will entertain you explaining how and why we decided to start our company blog.
We have been building up our experience in Spanish-English translation for over 10 years now. With our great network of translators and satisfied clients, we decided to grow and expand. As a part of our plan, we wanted to offer a few more languages and to upgrade our website.
And then we were struck by the idea that having a company blog would be great to share our experience, our insights, and to show our passion for languages.
Who is this blog going to be for?
We would like to appeal to everyone who works with languages: translators, agencies, and clients. Everyone, from a freelance translator, to a project manager, or a manager in a growing company, will find our blog interesting. We like translating for SME’s , so dear owners – don’t miss our blog.
What is this blog going to be about?
We will be writing about a whole range of topics related to translation and the business environment. Expect a mix of tips on the trade, insider information, and advice to translation buyers.
How often will it be published?
We intend to have a new piece full of invaluable information once 15 days, waiting here for you.
Where to find Verbo Translations?

We would also like to invite you to follow us on Twitter and like our page on Facebook .
See you next week! Adiós.