Technical translation is a field that requires high-quality and allows no misunderstanding. Good technical translations not only require a strong command of the languages involved and of translation tools and techniques, but also detailed knowledge of the specialty that is the subject of the translation. Quick and cheap translation is never the best choice for technical documentation.
Here are some tips on how to improve the quality of your technical translations.
Keep in mind localization during the writing process. The better your English content, the better your translation will be, so it’s good to give it more time! Write clearly, short, and to the point. Clear up errors, confusing parts, create a glossary with technical terms, etc. It’s also good to standardize the writing software. All these efforts will save you time later and will lead to a high-quality translation.
Organize and label your files for translation and remove all hard return spacing from the files before sending them.
Choose the best translation company for your business. Well, quality isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. It’s best to choose a highly professional translation company with experience in your field. If you’re looking for a long-term partnership, you can train the team on your business and products or services. This will make future translations less time-consuming and even more accurate.
Make good use of translation memory (TM). TM keeps track of all the content from your previous projects. This database of stored sentences, paragraphs, and terms, supports the localization process and significantly improves the quality, speed, and consistency of the translation. TM and glossary together are tools, essential to the entire translation process.
QA tests and reviews are required to ensure the quality of the translation. Quality assurance (QA) testers are part of the last circle of the translation process and are usually conducted by native speakers. They check over the final version of the project. This includes the context, the formality rules, the terms, etc. If translation quality assurance discovers an issue, the next step is to send it back to the translators.
Technical translations will allow for a wider audience to understand your technical jargon, so don’t neglect it in any way.
