The quality of the source document does influence the end result of the translation to a large degree.
It would not be correct to state that the end quality of any good translation is entirely dependent on the original source document. We know that the skill and professionalism of the translator involved will be the most influential variable when it comes to the quality of the translation, in addition of course to the number of review steps applied. However, the quality of the source document does influence the end result of the translation to a large degree.
Below we’ve listed some key steps to keep in mind when sending your documents to be translated –
If you have an editable original document, then you should avoid forwarding PDF files. Many times documents are converted to PDF format to ensure transparency, so if you are sending a PDF file to be translated, please ensure to check to see if there is an editable version – PPT, Word, IDML, and so on. This means that your document won’t need to undergo a conversion process, allowing for direct handling of the document. Conversions often interfere with the quality of the original document.
You should ensure that the content is free of grammatical errors, so, prior to sending your document for translation, we advise that you perform a final review of the content of your document. This should prevent any errors which might lead to a misinterpretation of the content to be translated.
When scanning documents ready to send for translation, aim for high quality copies. If you don’t have a digital version of the content you wish to be translated, then your only option is to scan it, so it’s very important that you pay attention to the scanning process and ensure that there are no creases on the pages, the text has not been cut off from scanned areas, and that the entire document is legible.
If you have a glossary for technical translations, make sure that it’s sent with the file, ready for translation. You may have had your technical content translated previously, or have preferences regarding specific terms for your products, so you should share this information with your translator in order to avoid costly changes that may be required later.
So, by following these simple steps when sending your documents for translation, you’ve now ensured that there should be no issues with the quality and timing of your translation. Please contact Eging Translation if you require any assistance at all prior to sending your original files for translation
