Many people have misconceptions about the ins and outs of the translation services industry, and the majority of myths about translations are formed by a lack of knowledge and an underappreciation of the industry as a whole.
The fact of the matter is that the translation and interpretation market is very demanding. But because there’s a lot of confusion about the industry, most myths surrounding professions in the language services department are blatantly believed by the public.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about translation and bust them once and for all!
Myth 1 – Language Service Providers Only Offer Translation and Localization Services
Fact: The Language Service Provider (LSP) industry revolves around much more than just translation and localization. A Day Translations, we also offer transcription, interpretation, transcreation, multilingual copywriting, global SEO, and global marketing solutions, along with our expert translation and localization services.
LSPs provide data solutions to help their clients improve AI-powered systems, which means their expertise stretches far beyond just translating written and spoken language.
Myth 2 – You Can Become a Translator if You Know a Foreign Language
Fact: This myth is related to the belief that a native speaker of a foreign language can translate content better than someone who translates or interprets by profession. The problem is that translation and interpretation is a very demanding profession and knowledge of two languages just isn’t enough to cut it. It takes a lot of preparation, sacrifice, dedication, and a wealth of general (and sector-specific) knowledge to become a professional translator or interpreter.
KFC, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola are just three examples of big brands that didn’t bother hiring professional translators. If you don’t want to go down the same route, it’s always best to hire qualified, top-notch translators.
Myth 3 – A Translator and Interpreter are One in the Same Thing
Fact: Language service providers focus on either translations or interpretation and develop their expertise accordingly. Translation converts written content from one language to another, while interpretation converts the meaning of spoken content in real-time.
While translators need excellent reading and writing skills to excel in their jobs, interpreters must have excellent listening and public speaking skills to deliver professional results.
Myth 4 – Machine Translation is Just as Good as Human Translation
Fact: While the digitization process does affect the translation industry, it is improbable that machine translations will replace human translators any time soon. But there is really no need to weigh up machine vs human translation as each option has its uses. Computerized translations are great for translating large quantities of content within a short time if the quality doesn’t have to be top-notch.
E-commerce catalogs and bazillion-page product documentation for online help centers can be translated with machine translators. But where nuance and messaging are important, human translations are the obvious choice.
Myth 5 – Knowledge of Another Culture Isn’t Important for Translations
Fact: Cultural is an inseparable part of any language, which is why any professional translator or interpreter must know the target language’s culture. Familiarity with national history, holidays, idioms, and cultural nuances allows interpreters and translators to convey the meaning of spoken or written content in the most easy-to-understand way without omitting any detail.
Myth 6 – Translations Can Be Done in a Jiffy
Fact: Unfortunately, humankind hasn’t yet invented the time machine that allows us to translate thousands of words per minute. Professional translations take time, and translators are also people who have personal lives, which is why you can expect to pay premium prices for rush jobs. Even if you have a rush job, it’ll require the input of more than just one translator to get it done as soon as possible. The more time you allow for a translation, the better the quality of your content will be.
Myth 7 – My Company Doesn’t Need Translation Services
Fact: Eventually, all businesses need translation services if they want to reach a wider audience. Are you putting off translation indefinitely because you feel you’re not ready to target foreign markets yet? The simple truth is that you’ll never know if you’re ready until you actually take the plunge. You could be missing out on potential sales and a growth opportunity while you’re stuck on the plateau of your home market.
Always Rely on Professional, Human Translation Services
Simply knowing two languages isn’t enough when it comes to translation. Professional, human translators have experience and expertise that enable them to work with all kinds of content because they understand the complexities and nuance of the target language. To learn more about what experienced translators can do for your business, get in touch with Day Translations!