A lot of companies employ in-house bilingual employees to create multi-lingual versions of their products. It is usually done on an informal basis, with employees being removed from their regular duties to complete the work. The primary reason for taking this approach is to cut money, the method is obviously ineffective. The most evident problems are:
The fact that a person is bilingual doesn’t make an employee to be translator. Would you choose to assign an employee to examine your marketing material based on the fact that English is their first language? It is more likely to employ an employee who is proficient with the process of writing marketing material in English The same is true to the creation of copy in other languages.
Are you really more efficient to assign a task that is not yours to an employee who has other priority, or to outsource the job? You can be sure that your employee will be more productive when they work in their area of expertise. It is possible to save money on the expense of outsourcing But have you considered the hidden cost?
However, there are more serious issues that go beyond these. Languages change quickly. It’s not long before people who aren’t natives to be unable to grasp the latest developments in the language and fashion. New words are introduced, become trendy and become trendy; new expressions emerge as well as colloquialisms emerge and fade away; phrases and words take on new meanings or lose their popularity. It is easy to become disconnected from the current trends in your language of origin, particularly when you spend the majority of your time talking and writing in a different language.
The seven advantages of employing translators in the country.
All of these issues can be avoided by getting your content professionally translated by a translation company which employs translators from the country. Professional translation services improve the quality and value of your content, will help you reduce time and cost using inefficient internal resources, and will improve your financial results. Here are seven main advantages of employing translators from other countries:
Good customer experience. A positive customer experience is ensured by providing them with content that is localised and is appropriate to the region. This is not the case if they’re provided with information that’s faulty and hard to comprehend. Only a translator from the country who has relevant experience in the field can offer the latter; any other alternative could damage your reputation.
A better employee experience. A better employee experience is when they are trusted to perform the tasks that they were hired to perform. We’ve already discussed the shortcomings of allowing an employee who is bilingual to translate the contents into their native language however, there are important motivational risks. The job will be a low priority on the list of priorities for your employee and the added workload will likely be met with resentment.
Elimination of the loss of a language. First language attrition is a common phenomenon for those who frequently write and speak in a non-native language. This means that the person slowly loses their language previously spoke. Like we said, languages change quickly and are fluid and the person who speaks them changes as well. The language knowledge influences the other, and in essence, they are mixed. This is prevented completely with the help of an in-country translator.
Rapid and reliable delivery. A timely and reliable delivery is assured when you confide your translation work to experts. It is not likely to occur if you try to complete the task on your own, but even if you do, the quality will likely to be affected.
Expertise in the field. When you hire a professional translator in the country, not only will you get the assistance of a highly skilled expert in translation but also be an expert in the field who understands the industry that the project is intended. This means they are up-to-date on the latest terminology, developments, and features of the product.
A well-organized workflow and documented quality control. The production of professional quality translations is an intricate process that requires the right management as well as quality assurance. The workflow involves editing, translation and proofreading. The strictest standards are needed such as the translator should be fluent of the language being used and be experienced in the particular field. Quality control documentation must remain in place throughout the entire process So, make sure your translation company is ISO9001 certified.
A professional team is available. Professionally efficient translation is based on collaboration, with every person on the team being skilled and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. Every project is assigned a project manager who ensures that each stage of the project is completed in time, within budget and to the requirements of the client and the client’s expectations. Excellent communication with the client is essential to the process. A team of this kind available will guarantee the success of your project.
A consistent message
If the translation you are working on is crucial for your company, the decision to rely on your internal bilingual employees is a risky option. The creation of a professional, localised translation is a difficult job that requires a lot of resources. If you’re translating into several languages, the issues are made more difficult and the chances of getting an unison message are greatly reduced. The best solution is to employ an experienced team of professionals with experience translators in the country, which is the reason why many of the major companies do this.