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Translation Errors & Their Consequences | Quality Assurance | Professional Translation, Globalization & Localization Solutions | Wagner Consulting – Your Favorite Language Service Provider

Translation Errors: Choosing The Right Language Service Provider
Why You Should Not Save On Quality In Translations

The worst nightmares came true for a Chinese Pharma Company in October 2017, who brought it to rather unwanted fame in the language industry, a story at Slator and put them in trouble with the US Food and Drug Administration, for failing to translate a drug label correctly.

While this incident happened to a Chinese firm, similar incidents happened in the past to U.S. and European firms alike, across a variety of industries.

Being yet another “famous” incident of a rolled-out mistranslation, it should showcase how crucial choosing the right Language Service Provider (LSP) is.

Companies and Managers in charge for supply management or procurement should not underestimate the importance of translations.

While in our earlier case the situation was tracked by the FDA, translation errors may be responsible for death or life, if the translator interprets ingredients or instructions in a wrong way.

Translation errors can also destroy the brand image of a company in different ways, by being culturally awkward or even offensive, to confusing the consumer resulting in an opposite result than anticipated.

How to choose the right Language Service Provider

When it comes to LSPs, the sheer number of offers is endless. As translations are mainly done over the internet, a firm based in New York City, does not necessarily work with a local LSP, but might prefer a supplier in London or Tokyo, some choose a provider in Los Angeles, because they believe they might be a good fit due to a later time zone.

But all these assumptions are not helping, if you e.g. come to a LSP like Wagner Consulting, who operates 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays.

So, what should firms focus on when picking the right LSP? There are some general facts that should be checked, as well as some more preferential ones:

Insurance

The most important aspect of picking any LSP is to make sure that they have Professional Liability Insurance. Even the best of the best of the best can make a mistake, after all we all are humans. To prevent yourself and your firm from any harm, do make sure that the LSP has this basic insurance in place. When you pick the right LSP, they most likely will never need to use it, but your mind can be at peace knowing this is in place.

A LSP representative will provide you with a copy of the insurance policy upon request. Make sure that the insurance coverage meets your requirements, if not discuss with them to raise their coverage.

Translators

Crucial will also be who will actually translate your content. You might think, well he or she is a native speaker of the target language, but think differently: will a translator that works in the legal industry be understanding medical terminology? Or do you want a translator in marketing be put on your patent translation? So do make sure that you are assigned with an expert, as this will make the difference to your translation.

Quality System In Place

What Quality System does the LSP have in place, if any? A professional LSP should have different stages for the project in place, not just limiting themselves to translating your document, but actually have an editor in place, and do a quality check before returning your translation.

ISO certified

Being a certified firm give you the assurance that certain steps, such as quality procedures, are up to industry standards and will make sure your project receives the attention it deserves.

Native Speaker Principle

A good point, make sure that your LSP only puts native speakers of the target language on your translation. A linguist that speaks French, but is not a native French speaker will most likely not be able to communicate the natural flow of the French language, or fail in interpreting certain local preferences, and in a worst case scenario, create translation errors.

4-Eye Principle

Aren´t 4 eyes better than 2? Yes, they are! And this is why two independent persons should work on your project: 1 linguist who translates the text, another linguist that actually checks your text and then discusses changes, preferences or style with the original translator to make the most out of your translation!

Quality Assurance Division

Well, a great LSP has their own Quality Assurance Division. Some smart guys that sit around and annoy their colleagues to make sure quality procedures are in place, maintained in a high expectation environment and applied to all projects!

Turnaround Capacity & Estimated Time For Completing An Order

Just think it like that way, if you go out for dinner to a small restaurant, that has 100 guests, but only 1 waiter and 1 cook around, can you afford to wait on your food and drinks? Same applies to the translation industry. Some LSPs have more capacities than others, and if you are someone that needs their translations fast, has a lot of content to translate or wants work to be done on holidays and vacations, you better make sure that there are capacities in place.

Opening Hours

If you are based in the US and deal with a LSP in India, do you really think you will have a smooth communication? Well, at the beginning for sure, as they want your business. But think twice, as the great communication will come to a halt in case of issues and problems. Suddenly, you will have issues reaching someone.

So, pay attention to their opening hours, make sure that someone is around to support you if needed.

Now, if you are someone that has a huge demand, think about some additional things:

Their Supplier System

How do they hire staff and suppliers? What system do they have in place and how does the LSP guarantee that the suppliers deliver the quality they promise?

Trainings

Good staff can be hired, great staff can be trained and developed. Does your LSP has a training and education division in place?

Extra Work

What happens if I have extra work, can my LSP cover that or do I need to hunt for another resource?

Supporting Divisions

Does my LSP be able to support additional requests, increase capacities or do graphic or video work if needed? What divisions of the LSP can provide some helping hands?

IT Security

Imagine you are a law firm, or a financial institute? You need content to be translated, but do not want it to fall in the wrong hands? What system do they have in place so that my data can be securely transmitted?

Feel free to check out Wagner Consulting, who will exceed your expectations and has all of this procedures in place, can turn around large demands of content to translate in short amount of times, and understands that security is as important as the quality of the translations you are about to receive!

Language services and Quality Assurance | Quality | Professional Translation, Globalization & Localization Solutions | Wagner Consulting – Your Favorite Language Service Provider

If you wish to receive a detailed offer or consultation on Wagner Consulting´s editing & proofreading solutions, then please feel free to contact our Sales Team, who will gladly assist you.

Quality Assurance Division – Editing & Proofreading Solutions at Wagner Consulting
Phone:
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