The Funny Thing About Translation Quality

Buyers of translation services count on translators to render their content faithfully in another language. But there is a hiccup: most clients are unable to judge the quality of the translations they receive because they are not proficient enough in the foreign language. While some clients may be able to discern whether the translation conveys their original message, they might not have sufficient knowledge of grammar or understand the nuances of many idiomatic expressions in order to identify grammatical errors, omissions or mistranslations. So how can you be sure that you are getting quality service? I have said it before and I will say it again: the key is to hire a translator who translates into their mother tongue and who follows best translation practices.

If you have ever attempted to learn a foreign language, you are probably well aware that grammar is one of the most difficult aspects of language to master. While vocabulary can be easily learned, knowing which verb tense to use or how to properly use adjectives or adverbs will trip you up countless times in the beginning. And then, as your vocabulary gets bigger, you will be able to translate idiomatic expressions, but it can take years to understand the contexts in which they are used.

For example, there is an expression in French, “tomber dans les pommes,” which literally translates to “to fall into the apples.” In a dictionary, you can learn that it means “to pass out,” but why would you use an idiomatic expression in French instead of the single verb “s’épanouir”? The reason is that the idiomatic expression conveys that the person passed out due to extreme fatigue, and not simply due to a drop in blood pressure. It also makes the language more colourful.

These are the types of things that a native speaker doesn’t have to look up and, since a good translator should also be a good writer, they use the correct verb tense and expressive idioms without even thinking.

To ensure that a translation is flawless, translators will also have their translations revised by a second translator to catch any typos or to improve their writing. This is not a sign that your translator isn’t good at what they do. On the contrary, the translator is ensuring that they are delivering a quality service because revision always makes a translation better, and even impeccable. (Read more about the value of a bilingual reviser here.) While not every translation can significantly benefit from revision, it is a best practice to have a second pair of eyes finalize every document.

In sum, when you hire a translator who translates into their maternal tongue and, even better, who consistently has their work revised, you can be sure that you are getting a quality translation. Certification, training and a significant number of years of experience are also good indicators that a translator takes their work seriously and prides themselves on being a professional language services provider.