Devising a workflow for professional translation services entails the study of a number of minute aspects so that the service provided is within the stipulated turnaround time and is of optimum quality. To start with, the translator must be well aware of the “why”, “what”, “who”, “where”, “when” and “how” of the assigned project.
Questions pertaining to “why” deal with the purpose or objective of the translation as specified by the client or as perceived by the end-user. This is usually based on the field or sector to which the project belongs as well as the profile of the end-user. For instance, the style followed for translating a technical document like a product manual will be very different from the style followed in case of a literary document like a novel. Also a manual for explaining the features of a new product will have different translation styles based on the profile of the end-user, be it the factory personnel who assemble the product or the marketing team who sells the product. The “who” aspect is inter-related with the “why” aspect as it analyses the psyche as well as social, economic, political and cultural background of the end-user of the translated text and the statement “Know your audience” says it all especially in case of the translation needs of companies that are on the expansion mode and need to connect with prospective multilingual customers in indigenous markets. Under the “what” category of questions for effective translation, it is necessary for a translator working on a particular project to gain insight into the “complete picture”. This means for instance that if a translator is working on localization of a video game, he has to be apprised about the packaging content, user manual, the display text, the graphics, music as well as the sub-titles for effective translation, even if he is assigned to work only on the display text. The “where” aspect connected with the translation process is again a key differentiator in determining the technique of translation, the choice of appropriate words, phrases, idioms, terminology etc. Here the cultural sensitivity and dialects come into play, for instance if a translator is asked to translate a business proposal from English to Mandarin for a multinational wanting to liaise with a China-based company, considering that Mandarin has eight sub-groups of dialects, the first step would be to understand which specific dialect is involved. Thereon the translator must make proper use of context-specific, dialect- specific as well as culturally appropriate text in order to avoid hurting cultural sensitivities or causing miscommunication, as the same word could have different meanings in different dialects of the same language. It is always better to confirm all details before undertaking a project to avoid out-of-context or inappropriate translations. The “When” aspect defines the deadline of the project. In the current global scenario, what companies primarily desire from professional translation service providers is high quality work with fast turnovers. Therefore before undertaking a translation assignment, the service provider needs to confirm the deadline to enable proper planning and efficient service. Finally the “how” aspect is related to the actual requirements of the process of translation in terms of the number of translators to be working on the project, the hardware and software requirements and any other specific requirements (for example, whether the source text is accurate or requires proofreading), which helps determine the overall budgetary considerations.
The projection of a translation services provider as a young, dynamic team of qualified, energetic, reliable and well-experienced translators that generates highest quality, efficient services and guarantees quick turnovers is the best way one can stand apart from the hoard of service providers in the market, create a distinct identity and foster relations with premium clients.
