You need an accurate and compelling translation, and debunking Myth #1 has convinced you it should be done by a human. But if you’re the one paying for the translation, you’re concerned about the expense. And if you’re the translator, you’re concerned about the time involved. Take a deep breath… good translation doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take an eternity!
Today, I’m going to show you how good translations can be created efficiently, whether you’re coordinating translation or doing the actual translation. I’ll share some of the secrets I’ve learned from forming and leading a nonprofit translation team for the last decade.
I remember the moment when I presented The King’s Translator’s first translated book at a local French conference. I told the audience that the book was worth $10,000. You could have heard a pin drop! But with professional translator rates in Quebec being about $50.00 per page, that’s what it would cost for the translation of a 200-page book.
I was so proud of our team of volunteers who had completed that book for free! It was truly a team effort blending several skills: project management, translation, revision, graphic design, layout, and proofreading.
TRANSLATION COORDINATORS: SAVE MONEY BY USING A TEAM
The alternative to hiring a professional translator is creating your own in-house team of volunteers and/or staff. The people already connected to your organization are passionate about your mission, and they are familiar with your values and terminology.
The best translations have more than one set of eyes on them. For some reason, it’s easier to find someone else’s mistakes than your own. And each person has a unique skill set, and can shine in a certain area. By spreading the work among translators, revisers, designers and proofreaders, you can move projects along quickly.
Case in point: My team, The King’s Translators, is wrapping up a 3-year project during which we have translated 30 ministerial training books. What would have been a $500,000 project was completed for about $200,000 by using the process I just described and incorporating volunteers along with remunerated workers. That’s a savings of 60%, and these are high-quality translations.
TRANSLATORS: SAVE TIME WITH TRAINING
If you’re bilingual, written translation sounds so easy until you actually sit down and try to do it. Then the words just don’t seem to flow like you thought they would. In Myth #3, you’ll learn why speaking a language is not enough to be able to translate into it.
During my doctoral research, I explored the common mistakes made by translators on my team who did not have formal translation training or experience. One of my discoveries was that they needed to experience several paradigm shifts in order to think like translators.
The transformation that followed in their perspective and logic skills enabled them to translate easier and better. Yes, there are 3 and 4-year university translation programs that teach you hundreds of translation strategies. But maybe that just doesn’t fit into your life plan right now. You need accelerated training that will teach you to Think Like a Translator. Then you will naturally begin to use the right strategies when you translate, and you will be able to translate efficiently. (Find out more at the link above.)
Today, you’ve learned that good translation doesn’t have to cost too much or take too long. Think of the possibilities this opens up!
Now, in the Comments section below, it’s your turn to tell me what translation project you plan to do next.
Have a great day!
Liane 🙂
