Pitfalls to Avoid When Preparing Your Text
- Build a relationship with a Translation Agency before you need their services.
- Decide into which language(s) the document is to be translated as well as your target country or countries.
- Keep the English text simple, and the sentence structure uncomplicated. Use abbreviations and acronyms as little as possible.
- Assign
a key person to field technical questions for the translator, to manage
the translation, editing and typesetting process along with our Project
Manager. For consistency purposes, all changes should be channeled
through this individual.
- Provide any relevant technical background and/or material to translators.
- Provide
clear, complete specifications for the text lay-out, design, point
size, statistics, etc., and allow for expansion of foreign language
text.
- Supply electronic version of material to be used for typesetting specifying
software version.
- If
you are handling the typesetting in house, we suggest that you have the
formatted foreign language versions proofread by a native speaker.
- Specify if product names should be translated.
- 800
numbers can NOT be used abroad. Please use your local number with area
code, unless you have a toll free number for your overseas offices.
- U.S. measurements need to be changed to their metric equivalents.
- Standard
International Publications are A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) size, a slightly
different size than our standard 8.5 in x 11 in. What size will your
end product be?
- Letters that convey a meaning in
English many not be understood in a foreign culture or spell
undesirable words. Avoid Americanisms. References to trends, local
events may confuse a foreign reader.
- Gender roles vary around the world. A role we consider appropriate for a man or a woman in the United States may NOT be appropriate in your target country.
- Everyone
laughs in all cultures and languages, but do we laugh at the same
things? The answer is NO! Foreign humor is not funny after all. Avoid
clichés, they will not be understood in foreign countries and cultures.
Copyright © 2006, Global Link Language Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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