Will Native Translators Ever Rule the World?

Native translators, New1 March, 201620 May, 2020

Or, being more pragmatic, instead of speculating, we could name the main reasons your business needs professional translation services from native translators. Globalisation initiated a brand new era which means that the vast majority of companies have had to cross their national borders and penetrate new foreign markets.

We could say that there are a few arguments for why native translators should rule the world…

Or, being more pragmatic, instead of speculating, we could name the main reasons your business needs professional translation services from native translators. Globalisation initiated a brand new era which means that the vast majority of companies have had to cross their national borders and penetrate new foreign markets. Essentially, this means that if you’re looking to seriously bring your business and product before the eyes of consumers in emanating markets, sooner or later, you will need professional translation services!

What should I take into account when looking for a translation service?

One thing you should bear in mind is the importance of an accurate and thorough translation, carried out by a professional translator, and adequately edited and reviewed by an experienced proofreader. But, how can you be sure that you get a quality finished product every time? If your business communications are being translated into a language you don’t speak, how, you might ask, can I be sure that the service provider is doing an efficient job? The most important contributing element, without a doubt, is to ensure that your chosen language provider works exclusively with native translators of the language you wish to translate into. This way you will make sure that you avoid clumsy translations which can cost your company both money and reputation! A native speaker has extensive experience, not only conversing in the language, but of all of the subtle nuances and intricacies of the language: terminology, jargon, style, verbalisation and wording.

How can I make sure I’m getting all this?

Here at BigTranslation, we’re proud to offer language services with native in-house (as well as freelance) experts, who are skilled and reliable, and specialise in numerous different fields.

As with most things, the translation process is not black and white. Just as the life experiences of each translator are completely unique, the translation, language, and writing skills of each translator are all different. Every translation requires a specific, targeted approach with the right translator taking the job on, and we make sure that your job is always in capable hands. The authenticity and quality of the work of a professional native translator with knowledge of the subject matter in question is, unquestionably, an asset if your business is ever going to rule the world…

A Key Requirement for Translators: Keeping up to Date!

New, Professional translators1 March, 201620 May, 2020

When faced with a text, before starting to translate, we all know that there a few vital things that we need to bear in mind. Firstly, a translation should seldom be literal. A literal translation runs the risk of being false or superficial, creating stilted sentences or false meanings that do not take into account linguistic and cultural differences.

A translation should seldom be literal

When faced with a text, before starting to translate, we all know that there a few vital things that we need to bear in mind. Firstly, a translation should seldom be literal. A literal translation runs the risk of being false or superficial, creating stilted sentences or false meanings that do not take into account linguistic and cultural differences. This could give a negative image or undermine the credibility of a company. As such, it is necessary to modulate texts by using natural language and syntax in the target language.

Appropriate context and terminology is vital

We must speak to our public in their language and, for this, we need native translators. However, this is not always enough for a great translation. It is very important that these translators conduct the necessary investigation into the subject matter in hand in order to produce a contextually appropriate translation which has the desired effect on its end users. In order to do this effectively, they need to stay abreast of the latest tendencies, innovations and cultural norms not just in their target country, but also among their specific target audience and in the specific field that they are working. This is the only way that they will be able to focus their efforts and successfully produce a translation fit for its intended purpose. This means that translators need to constantly research, investigate and update their knowledge of terminology and social and professional norms and apply it appropriately, depending on the topic in question as well as the text type and target audience. Additionally, by focusing on a text’s intended purpose, we can choose key words by using tools such as Google AdWords, Google Trends, etc. which help us to know which words are most often searched for and used in certain geographic regions, in certain languages, and on certain topics.

The latest tools and trends for translators

Search engine optimisation in each language means that a translation will be more visible on the web its target market, appearing among the top results in search engines.
Translators, as well as keeping up to date and constantly developing their knowledge in the areas they work in, must also keep up to date with the latest tools and trends in translation, and in communication as a whole, in order to carry out their translations to the very highest standard.

Portuguese Translation: Style and Formatting Guidelines

New, Professional translators25 February, 201615 July, 2021

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Portuguese translations. When carrying out Portuguese translation on the BigTranslation platform, please follow these guidelines.

Portuguese Translation

Portuguese Translation: Style and Formatting Guidelines

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Portuguese translations. When carrying out Portuguese translation on the BigTranslation platform, please follow these guidelines. They will explain exactly how to format product descriptions correctly, and they also contain valuable general information on our style preferences for any Portuguese translation undertaken for us.

Style and Formatting Guidelines-PT

Why BigTranslation Loves Style and Formatting Guidelines:

Here at BigTranslation, we are big fans of style and formatting guidelines. As such, we make them available for all our team working in each of our target languages. This document is a useful tool, not only our translators, but also for validators, editors, project managers, the entire team. We know that you, like us, take content very seriously and we believe that this is the best way to provide a structure and framework that is easily accessible to everybody and avoid uncertainties or ambiguities. We find that it is an especially useful tool when working in such a vast team, via our platform.

Additionally, style and formatting guidelines are very important for BigTranslation as a translation agency. They help us to maintain our credibility and ensure that we stand out from our competitors. This is because they ensure consistency between translators and between individual texts in terms of both style and quality.

What’s more, having a style and formatting guide to consult helps us to unify content and create a strong and reliable brand for each of our clients. This, in turn helps them to gain their target market’s trust.

As translators and editors, we need to have a keen eye for detail, and a style and formatting guide helps us to take care of the nitty-gritty grammatical points. It also helps us to have confidence in our choices, aiding us when selecting between more than one correct option and clearing up any uncertainties about the best way to format our work!

Our Philosophy – Native Translators

Native translators, New25 February, 201620 May, 2020

BigTranslation is a translation agency par excellence, a reference in the sector. Our slogan is ‘think big, translate big’ and this encapsulates our approach to translation – we are ambitious in our own working environment and are conscious of the way that our work can help to make our clients’ ambitions a reality too.

BigTranslation’s Corporate Philosophy – Native Translators and High-Quality Translation

BigTranslation is a translation agency par excellence, a reference in the sector. Our slogan is ‘think big, translate big’ and this encapsulates our approach to translation – we are ambitious in our own working environment and are conscious of the way that our work can help to make our clients’ ambitions a reality too. We believe that the approach and the principles on which companies are based can greatly influence their relationship with clients as well as the results achieved. As such, we would like to share the five key underlying principles of our Corporate Philosophy. These pillars help us to always stay at the top of our game, form the basis of our day-to-day business and shape the way that our company’s processes our developed.

Deliver a top-quality translation service that we are proud to put our name to.

We only work with native language professionals and have all of our translators undertake our selection test before being accepted to work with us. Every text that we translate can also be rated by both our quality checkers and our clients, so that we can ensure that our projects are always of the very highest quality. We use this rating and any feedback to continuously evaluate work and ensure that quality standards are adhered to. Additionally, we take great pride in doing everything in our capabilities to deliver on time 100 % of the time.

Make every part of the process as easy as possible for both clients and native translators.

Translation can provide your company with huge benefits, and we don’t want you to hesitate because the process is lengthy or time consuming. We also know that the easier the process for our translators, the abler they are to take on projects. All of our tools are designed to make the process of requesting our services, carrying out projects and delivering and receiving the final texts as easy as possible. We also offer clients customisable services, allowing you to request the exact service you need, exactly when you need it, without any fuss.

Constantly improve and innovate our translation services.

We are very proud of our customer satisfaction rate and we receive excellent feedback from our team. However, we don’t like to rest on our laurels. We are committed to working constantly with our capable IT team to make sure that our website and translation platform are as user friendly as possible. Likewise, we like to actively encourage our team of translators to continue to hone their skills by taking advantage of the tools, training and informative posts that we produce on topics such as SEO translation.

Offer extensive and comprehensive services, but tailor them to clients’ needs.

Our team is made up of translators with a multitude of different language combinations and specialisations. We like to be able to provide our services to clients from numerous sectors and locations, so we work with translators from all different backgrounds. Our methodology and our automated platform provide not only flexibility and simplicity, but they also allow a wide range of clients from all around the world, working in many different domains, to create new market opportunities.

Communicate with clients and with our native translators – it’s the key to success.

We always aim to respond quickly and effectively to any queries or any requests for information – our in-house team are well equipped to deal with any questions or requests you may have. We also keep our blog constantly updated with any new developments here at BigTranslation and we stay in close contact with our clients regarding available services, areas of interest, and any updates about our company through our newsletters. We also welcome any feedback from both our clients and our team regarding any aspect of our services and love to receive suggestions to help us improve in the future.

BIG Social Networks. Share the BigTranslation Journey with Us, with Your Friends, with Clients!

Marketing & Ecommerce, New23 February, 201620 May, 2020

BigTranslation’s social networks are now fully up and running! Find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Want to follow us daily and keep up to date with news or possible changes?

Check out our translation agency’s social networks

BigTranslation’s social networks are now fully up and running! Find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Want to follow us daily and keep up to date with news or possible changes? Don’t wait a second longer – add us as a contact or a friend and live the adventure from the inside. Our online community is growing every day, so don’t miss out!

Make the most of our social network content

Check out our posts and feel free to like or even to share. The more we all let the world know what is going on at BigTranslation, the better for all of our fab team of translators. We all know that social networks are now an important tool for connecting with potential clients and colleagues and we are keen to get the word out that BigTranslation works with the very best team, offering the very highest-quality services.

References for translators on their social networks

We recognise the importance of an online presence, not only for companies like BigTranslation, but also for freelancers and other professionals. This is why, if you’d like a reference for your online profile, we’ll take pleasure in providing you with a comment on the great work you’ve carried out for us!

Content suggestions

What’s more, don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any suggestions for posts! We’re open to new proposals, so if you have some content you’d like us to share we would appreciate your input. We look forward to hearing your ideas!

Join us – see you soon 🙂

Professional Native Translators: The Key to Success

Native translators, New22 February, 201613 May, 2020

The key to the success of any kind of translation is based on the existence and on the work of a professional who almost always works behind the scenes: the translator. The work of this professional is centred, fundamentally, on connection.

The key to your success is professional native translators!

The key to the success of any kind of translation is based on the existence and on the work of a professional who almost always works behind the scenes: the translator. The work of this professional native translators is centred, fundamentally, on connection. That is to say, the translator connects worlds and cultures so that information can pass from one side to the other and so that this information is interpreted by its target audience in the same way as it was interpreted in the culture where it was originally produced.

The background of a professional native translator is imortant. Culture matters.

The success mentioned before can be found in the mind and in the training of a professional native translator, a human translator and not an automated one, that has the ability and the necessary techniques to ensure that the translation is as effective as possible. An effective translation is a high-quality translation and this is dictated, above all, by the translator’s background. Only a native Spanish translator, for example, knows that to convey the real meaning of the word ‘sobremesa’ in any other language, the single-word structure will have to be sacrificed, because in no language other than Spanish does a corresponding word exist with the exact same meaning and nuance (in English it is akin to after-dinner conversation around the table).

Carefully selected native translators at your fingertips, thanks to BigTranslation.

As such, the key to success depends on the training and professionalism of the translator, but above, all it lies in their origin and their native language. BigTranslation’s work centres on giving this fundamental aspect of translation its due importance by continually looking for professional native translators whose work is always of a high quality. This ensures that the translation is effective, whatever type of document it may be, when transmitted to its new target audience. It is true that to translate is, to some extent, to ‘betray’ because, unfortunately, it is impossible to transmit all the shades and nuances of a language. However, to translate is also to connect, interpret, create and mould. It is for this reason that BigTranslation’s professional native translators are carefully selected to offer only the highest quality translation. This is BigTranslation, this and much more!

Swedish Translation: Style and Formatting Guidelines

Native translators, New, Professional translators18 February, 201615 July, 2021

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Swedish translations. When carrying out Swedish translation on the BigTranslation platform, please follow these guidelines.

Swedish Translation

Swedish Translation: Style and Formatting Guidelines

We pride ourselves on the quality of our Swedish translations. When carrying out Swedish translation on the BigTranslation platform, please follow these guidelines.

They will explain exactly how to format product descriptions correctly, and they also contain valuable general information on our style preferences for any Swedish translation undertaken for us.

Style and Formatting Guidelines-SV

Why BigTranslation loves style and formatting guidelines:

We are huge fans of style and formatting guidelines, so we make them available for all of our team working in each of our target languages. This document is a useful tool for, not only our translators, but also our validators, editors, project managers, etc. Essentially the whole team benefits! We know that our translators, like us, take content very seriously and we believe that this is the very best way to provide a structure and framework that is easily accessible to all and avoid any uncertainties or ambiguities. We find that it is an especially useful tool when working in such a large team on the translation platform.

Additionally, style and formatting guidelines are very important for BigTranslation as a professional translation agency. They help us maintain our credibility and ensure that we stand out from the rest. This is because they help ensure consistency between translators and between individual texts in terms of both style and quality.

Furthermore, having style and formatting guidelines to hand helps to unify all content and create a strong and reliable brand for each of our clients. This, then helps them to gain their target market’s trust and create a reliable and strong image.

As translators and proofreaders, we need a keen eye for detail, and a style guide helps to take care of the finer grammatical points. It also helps us to be confident in our choices, aiding us when selecting between more than one option and clearing up any uncertainties about the best way to format work!

Website Localisation

New, Translation services18 February, 201613 May, 2020

Localisation is the process of adapting a product or piece of software so that it looks and functions like a product manufactured or created in a certain country. Localisation allows companies to integrate into and prosper in target markets, with the consumer perceiving the product as if it were developed in their own cultural environment.

What is localisation?

Localisation is the process of adapting a product or piece of software so that it looks and functions like a product manufactured or created in a certain country. Localisation allows companies to integrate into and prosper in target markets, with the consumer perceiving the product as if it were developed in their own cultural environment.

Nowadays, websites and product descriptions need to be adapted for their intended public. Website translation does not only consist of the translation of content but also the localisation of cultural, political and geographical components, as well as graphic images, etc. Gender roles, time zones, national laws, currency, number formats, colours, contact information, etc. are all elements that must be taken into consideration.

How is localisation different to translation?

To a greater or lesser extent, localisation is already present in professional translations, for example, in legal translations from Spanish, the translator will very often be confronted by textual elements which are legal formalities in Spain. The translator will need to make a decision on the level of localisation required for the document’s translation, bearing in mind its intended purpose and target users. This can lead to a structural change in the target text, explanations or additional information, changes to the size of the document, and other significant differences to the original text.

How can localisation help you to succeed?

Currently, the creation of multilingual websites is the basis of companies’ commercial success and, contrary to what you would think, the translation of content into different languages actually reduces costs which could arise from telephone support. It also saves time and money for both the company and its clients. When doing website translation into different languages, the first step in the localisation process is to identify the local elements. These elements can be easily substituted for other local elements according to the needs of each target culture. This process of identification is known as the internationalisation of the product, as it allows it to be easily adapted to the needs of a specific market.

To a certain extent, localisation is also an intrinsic part of website translation, however, in some cases it can lead to drastic changes in the design and functionality of the site. This can be costly and can take time, but once the website translation has made it international, it can be easily adapted to any language.

What are the important factors to take into account when considering website localisation?

In order to effectively carry out the localisation of websites or any document in general, it is vital that the translations be carried out by translators who are native speakers of the target language and that, in addition, they have the appropriate specialised knowledge for the correct use of terminology. Localisation tools are currently in full expansion and every day there are new programs appearing which are more advanced and more adapted to the needs of professional in the sector.

Why Do I Need a Translation from BigTranslation?

BigT news, New16 February, 201613 May, 2020

Quite simply, because choosing BigTranslation is the key to the success of any kind of translation you need! BigTranslation’s team of translators is made up of native professionals, specialising in diverse fields, who will fit your needs and transform your text into a precise and high-quality translation.

Why choose BigTranslation?

Quite simply, because choosing BigTranslation is the key to the success of any kind of translation you need!

BigTranslation’s team of translators is made up of native professionals, specialising in diverse fields, who will fit your needs and transform your text into a precise and high-quality translation. All of the native translators who work with BigTranslation are appointed via a rigorous selection process which ensures that, with each and every one of our translation services, we deliver an unbeatable final product to our customers. We work hard so that our translations are authentic reformulations, faithful to the text’s content, so that the translation reads like an original creation written in the chosen target language. At BigTranslation, we go beyond the just the individual words on the page to get to the core of your message!

High-quality translation services.

BigTranslation knows that, for every translation carried out, it is essential that the central meaning of the text is sought out and conveyed. This pursuit of a text’s message and its purpose is what allows the translator to transmit exactly what the client wishes to convey, so that the concept is received and understood by the target audience. In this way, the process of internationalisation carried out by BigTranslation in the translation of your projects is completed successfully and effectively.

A wide range of translation services from experienced professionals.

The importance of selecting a professional translation agency like us lies in our experience. It is this experience and expertise that will make all the difference for your business! We specialise in numerous different sectors such as e-commerce, economy, finance, business, tourism, academia and education, journalism, and marketing, among others. Our experience in the world of translation, the combined years of experience of the native translators who work alongside us, the team of capable IT experts that support us and our background in e-commerce, localisation and multilingual SEO, all mean that we are the trump card that every company is looking for.

Musings of a Translation Trainee: The Responsibility of a Translator

BigT news, New, Professional translators16 February, 201615 July, 2021

The responsibility that is taken on by a translator is huge! This is the overwhelming impression that I am left with whenever I stop to think about what it actually means to be a translator, the profession which I have chosen and the role which I am working towards!

The translator’s responsibility

The responsibility that is taken on by a translator is huge! This is the overwhelming impression that I am left with whenever I stop to think about what it actually means to be a translator, the profession which I have chosen and the role which I am working towards! This is both terrifying and incredibly exciting at the same time! We all know that those jobs which hold the most responsibility are also, very often, the most rewarding!

A translator needs knowledge and creativity

The job of translator requires not only skill but also great cultural knowledge, good judgement, and also a generous helping of creative problem solving. Let’s have a little think about just one of the anecdotes which have been recounted to me during my studies, which I have retained and springs to mind when I think of the importance of contextual adaption and a target orientated approach. I was told of the situation where a Jamaican politician said to his French counterpart that an event he had seen in France was as exciting as the best cricket game. Nevertheless, the interpreter facilitating the communication between the two of them decided to translate it as “what I saw here was as exciting as a cycling race”, which undoubtedly speaks more to a French speaker.

Consideration and courage

Whilst, obviously, not all situations call for this kind of alteration to the content, (and caution should always be exercised) I do think that bearing in mind the effect of the text on the target audience is something which cannot be overestimated. I know that we have all witnessed examples of literal translations which have lost the message among the jumble of verbatim words…

Be brave my fellow translators, translate the message of the text and not just the words on the page!