Context is the Key to Quality Translation

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In order to get an accurate quality translation and within the deadline the context is essential. Content without context can be extremely difficult to be translated even for the most experienced native speakers. That is why providing clear direction through instructions or referrals is vital if you want to get high-quality results.

 Here at Magma, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of our translations, and for that we use the following 4 resources whenever possible.

1. Style guides

Since translation quality can be subjective, a style guide that expresses your company’s brand provides translators with enough information to ensure that the tone of your brand remains intact. Using this feature saves time and money by eliminating the time spent on stylistic corrections.

Common components of a style guide for a quality translation include:

• Style and tone of voice• Spelling and word usage• Use of upper or lowercase letters, punctuation, and grammar• Images and examples

 

2. Glossaries

Translation glossaries generally consist of a list of approved and standardized terms in the source language that are specific to the industry or the company. Glossaries make the translation process simpler as they provide translators with knowledge of the terminology that should be used and when to use it, resulting in greater consistency across all projects.

 

3. Preferred translators

If you have a Magma translator who has already worked on your projects and you’re happy with his/her performance and quality translation, you can request the person again and give him/her preference in all your future projects.

Preferred translators promote better consistency in translation quality, but can increase the time needed to complete your work because you will depend on the availability of the translators.

 

4. Support contextual information

In order for you and the translator to always be on the same page and that results in a quality translation, it is essential to share some key factors about your project, for example, what exactly are you translating? Who is your target audience? Do you want a casual or formal translation? Which would be the best translation method for this project?

Providing features such as style guides and glossaries at the beginning of any project ensures a solid foundation for consistent, high quality translation.

 

If you have any questions about localization, do not hesitate to ask us: we are here to help!

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