How your helper could actually hinder…

When any material is to be read in a foreign marketplace, referring the translation to your contacts in the target territory is recommended. Your far-flung colleagues will appreciate the chance to help, and may suggest valuable improvements. We are always pleased to receive their feedback, too, because it helps us to gain a greater understanding of your organisation and what it’s all about.

But, to save unnecessary expense and wasted time, it is advisable to:

• Give your contact a clear, detailed briefing on what is expected. Hours may be wasted on unnecessary amendments, simply because your opposite number didn’t want to let you down by returning the text unchanged. He or she may carry on altering returned proofs, feeling duty-bound to make changes (while costing you a lot of money).
• Remember that your colleague may not have strong English and should not always be expected to interpret the original correctly, or even give an opinion on how well it has been translated. Vague instructions such as “Please check this translation” can cause problems. Instead, try to be precise: Ask: “Please check the terminology” or: “Is this text suitable for your marketplace?”
• Always ensure that the translation is sent for checking long before it goes to typesetting or artwork. This will avoid costly formatting changes, if unexpected alterations are needed.
• Bear in mind that the translation you receive from us is based closely (but not literally) on your original copy. If you refer it to an overseas colleague and it comes back with many changes, you should ask: “Have you followed the original text? Or have you written something new?”