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"Cheap":
 
Surely, every client aims at the cheapest translation solution for his assignments. Lower cost translations can be achieved by ever faster, or ever smarter output. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Yet there are quite a few catches to inexpensive translations.
 
Disadvantages:
 
  • Required expertise is neglected. The lowest bidder is a volume buyer.
  • The (foreign) client considers the translation to be "amateurish" and unreliable.
  • Working under unreasonable pressure. Mistakes are easily made.
  • Hardly any research is done, or none at all.
  • No or little after care.
 
Advantages:
 
  • Stimulus for translators to use Translation Memory.
  • Dead cheap (not).
 
A real life example:
 
A client presents a Dutch text for a brochure. He needs a translation into six different languages. Targeting optimum purity, the desired translations are carried out with maximum expertise. Because these are single translations, they are briefly checked for completeness. An employee from one of the client’s branch offices finds the German text amateurish and submits it to a random translator for proof-reading. The proof-reader comes up with quite a few remarks, after which the text is adjusted. Very disappointed with the large amount of corrections in the German translation, the client decides to have the documents in the other five languages "corrected" by random translators as well. An expert check, unfortunately after the issue, showed that these corrections were based on a free translation. In other words: the text used for correction purposes differed from the original. It also showed inaccurate use of several terms. In the end, the corrected versions proved worse than the original, first translations.
 
How to avoid this situation or what to do:
 
  • Ask that the original text is proof-read.
  • Appoint the right translator for the job.
  • Give the translator enough time for research (if required).
  • Use Translation Memory where necessary.
  • Request an additional examination by a proof-reader and have it done in consultation with the first translator.

Finally:

The above information aims to give you an insight into the possible sources of considerable price and quality differences between translations. Since most of the work is done by "real people", errors can never be completely excluded. We hope this information will help you to define the proper route when outsourcing your translation assignments.
 

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