Why it's essential to work with specialist translators
If we simplify the concept of translation, we could define it as the act of transmitting the meaning of content from a source language to a target language. For more general content, working with a native professional translator with the right skills and experience is enough to make sure the resulting translation is natural and faithful to the original text. But for some translation challenges, experience and linguistic competence aren't the only factors you need to take into account. Certain sectors require translators who are specialists in a given field. Today we'll look at why you should opt for a translator who specialises in the subject matter you're translating.
Types of specialist translation
The following types of specialist translation are particularly noteworthy.
- Medical translation: it's not enough to master the language, you need scientific/medical/pharmaceutical training to understand the subject matter of the text and produce a rigorous translation that could, for example, be published in a specialist international journal.
- Technical translation: this type of specialist translation involves technical documents such as manuals, guides, patent applications and specifications, etc. Again, specialist knowledge is key.
- Legal translation: this relates to legal documents such as contracts, rulings, commercial contracts, etc. Added to the complicated matter of mastering both languages, you need to consider the significant differences there are between countries in terms of law, for example.
- Sworn translation: this is a translation that needs to be signed and stamped by a sworn translator. According to Spanish legislation any documents drafted in a language other than Castilian Spanish which are to be used for legal purposes in Spain must be accompanied by a corresponding sworn translation. A sworn translator is a translator who has received authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide stamped and signed documents that confirm the authenticity of a foreign document.
- Financial translation: a financial translator is a professional translator who specialises in the complex world of finance: financial transactions, stock market investments, personal and professional savings plans, etc.
For a more precise translation
Specialist translators working in the field are used to following processes that go beyond a word for word conversion of the text. In fact if they did that, the resulting translation would be littered with errors, confusing for the reader, and would fail to transmit the meaning of the source text. This can give a negative image from a professional perspective, and undermine a company's credibility in new markets.
In translations with a high level of technical content, as is often the case in the legal or medical sectors, every word has a specific meaning, but the most important thing is that the overall message is transmitted. A translator who specialises in the field they translate will understand all the terminology used in the industry, and will be able to grasp the purpose of the text and successfully adapt it to the new language.
Working with specialist translators will save you time
It's often necessary to extend delivery deadlines, and one reason for this is a lack of experience and expertise in the subject being translated. At AT Language Solutions we always stress how important it is for companies to support professional translators by providing as much information as possible on a project. We know that this will always lead to better results, and when you work with translators who specialise in a field the time spent on research and familiarisation with the source text will be significantly shorter.
Ultimately, knowing the sector a text being translated relates to is crucial to getting a high quality result, and at ATLS we work with native professional translators who specialise in different sectors. If you need our help with a particular project, don't hesitate to get in touch.
