Translation Blog

A low-budget translation may sound appealing, but a cheap translation fails in many areas. By getting a cheap translation, you’re always sacrificing quality. You are left with a bad translation that is inaccurate and unprofessional. Even a minor translation error can have significant repercussions for your business and result in major translation fails that destroy your brand reputation.

Think about it: having just one mistranslated sentence in an important document could hurt a company’s image and reputation. It can even cause a deal to fall through, harm your business or product, and cause legal repercussions. If your brand works in manufacturing or medical fields, translation fails could even place lives at risk or cause severe health implications.

There are just so many effects of translation errors that you need to be aware of. This article explains the main types of translation fails to be aware of and gives tips on avoiding a bad translation.

Objective vs Subjective Translation Errors

There are two types of translation fails to be aware of, both of which contribute to a bad translation. These are objective and subjective translation errors:

• Objective Errors: An objective translation error is something such as a text omission, spelling mistake, or grammatical error. There are no arguments about whether a word is spelt right or a header is missing. They are blatant and – with the right set of eyes – obvious.
• Subjective Errors: Subjective translation errors are harder to address as there might be numerous opinions on the “correct” translation. An example of a subjective mistake would be choosing the most appropriate synonym to convey meaning and tone.

To explain subjective errors more clearly, let’s look at an English example: you can use both automobiles and cars in a sentence. They both mean the same thing, and the one you select is simply down to your preference. Choosing the correct one could depend on the tone of the text. It could also depend on where you come from, your personal style, or the reading level of the recipient.

Most Common Translation Fails & Mistakes

Objective and subjective translation fails describe how matter-of-fact a translation error is. Here is a closer look at some of the most common examples of each:

• Omission: This is where the translation leaves out some information or words, changing the message of the text. This leaves you with a bad translation that doesn’t deliver your intended message effectively and is a common objective translation error.
• Mistranslations: Language is quite creative, and there are various ways to express the same idea. This can mean that text can be misinterpreted, resulting in a mistranslation. Sometimes this happens due to a lack of knowledge in that area. It could also be due to homographs, which are words spelt the same but with different meanings.

Of course, there are not the only mistakes that can result in a bad translation. Not considering the culture of your target audience, minor grammatical errors, or using the incorrect tone can all make your content ineffective. However, omission and mistranslation often lead to the most significant translation fails.

Effects a Bad Translation Can Have on Your Business

There are many impacts translation fails may have on your business. A minor translation error might make your look unprofessional, whereas an increasingly bad translation across your marketing materials might mean you don’t sell as many products or obtain as many clients. However, the biggest translation fails have significant impacts on your business transactions and brand:

1. Business Transactions

Cheap translation doesn’t only keep people from your business – a bad translation can impact your business transactions with partners and investors. If you don’t get professional translations, you are bound to make translation fails. Even a word that is missing or misinterpreted can alter the meaning of a message. One minor translation error can have a huge impact!

Accurate translations are thus always required when handling contracts. Basic phrases and words in the contract can create a misunderstanding when mistranslated. In some cases, it could create delays in the deal. It could cause the deal to fall through in the worst cases, even resulting in a lawsuit.

2. Poor Brand Management

No one intentionally makes a translation error, but even some of the biggest brands have made notable translation fails. A bad translation can be funny, if not a little embarrassing. But in worse cases, mistakes can be offensive and ultimately destroy your brand reputation.

Even if the mistakes in your translations are not offensive, they look unprofessional. People will always want to buy from a reputable company, and having cheap translations of your documents ruins that. Businesses seen as unprofessional are unlikely to get any patronage. Using cheap brand translation can turn your brand into a joke.

How to Avoid Translation Fails

Translation fails can happen as a result of human error. However, mistakes are much more likely when using an automated or machine translation. Machine translation, more often than not, disappoints. You are bound to get various translation errors as the system cannot grasp context and nuances. These translation errors will, in turn, reflect poorly on your brand.

The most effective way to avoid getting a bad translation is to enlist the services of a professional translation agency. They ensure accurate translations by:

• Translating, Editing & Proofreading: Professional business translation services typically involve two or three linguists translating, editing, and proofreading your documents. This makes it extremely easy for an objective translation error to be noticed and rectified, while subjective errors can be debated and resolved.
• Translation Memories: When working with the same client for a while, translation agencies also create a Translation Memory database and style glossaries. Your translators refer to this database to maintain the right tone and brand voice. Business translation services might also include terminologies specific to your organisation or industry.

Of course, the results delivered by translation agencies are better when you give the company enough time to handle your project. A rush job is more likely to contain translation fails, whereas an accurate translation requires patience. Patience is vital when dealing with legal documents, government policies or investments. The last thing you want to do is mess up a deal simply because you chose a cheap translation!

Fast, Accurate & Reliable Translation Services

Are you worried about getting a bad translation? For dependable and error-free business translation, reach out to our team. We offer high-quality translation services in over 120 languages and subject fields. With a network of more than 10,000 professional translators, we can avoid every translation error and guarantee 100% accurate deliverables.

Renaissance Translations is an associate member of the Association of Translation Companies in England as well as SDL LSP Partner Programme. Say goodbye to translation fails and use our trusted service. Contact our project managers today to discuss your translation project!

As the world is becoming increasingly globalised, more companies need accurate translation services. Many businesses choose to adapt their content for other markets using free translator tools powered by AI. Using a machine to translate your materials is quick and cost-effective, but it scores low in another crucial criterion: translation accuracy.

An accurate translation is arguably the most important part of any translation. Without precise translation, you open your company up to embarrassing mistakes, confused customers, damaged reputation, and legal ramifications. Here we explain further why accuracy is vital to every good translation and give tips on checking the quality of your work.

Why is Accuracy So Important in Translation?

Accurate translation is important for many reasons, including:

• Business Expansion Success: Many expanding businesses count on an accurate translation to cater to global markets. They have to make their materials accessible to people in other countries who speak different languages, and accuracy ensures that their translated content is understood and communicated effectively.
• Maintaining Professionalism: Inaccurate translations – such as those performed by free translator tools and AI software – are riddled with mistakes in spelling and grammar. Even if the translation makes sense, these mistakes look highly unprofessional. Accurate translations avoid this issue, helping your company maintain its professionalism.
• Avoiding Embarrassment: When you use a machine to translate branding, mistakes can be even more damaging. Company names and taglines may translate to something that doesn’t have the intended meaning and can be seen as offensive or off-putting, such as these examples from global brands. Translation accuracy ensures you will protect your reputation no matter what markets you try to reach.
• Averting Legal Ramifications: Depending on the type of translation, inaccurate translations may result in legal ramifications. For example, if you are trying to send a message about the economy, the wrong wording could send stocks tumbling. Likewise, if you work in the legal field, using the wrong terminology can lead to lawsuits being filed against you.

How to Assess Translation Accuracy

You should now understand the importance of accurate translation services for any expanding business. But identifying whether or not your deliverables are accurate can be challenging, especially when you don’t speak the target language.

The best way to ensure this is to use a professional translation agency rather than free translator tools, such as Google Translate. A machine translates each word and phrase literally, whereas human translations follow advanced processes for guaranteed precision. Here are a few of the things professional translators look for when checking translation accuracy:

• The wording should effectively communicate the meaning of the original content
• The target text should be entirely free from spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
• The text should use proper conventions for measurements, dates, and addresses
• The translation should retain the style and tone of the source materials
• The text should reflect appropriate and modern uses of the target language
• If the client provides a glossary, the translation should adhere to all terminology provided
• The translation should take the culture of the language into consideration

It is also down to you to choose a reliable language partner that can deliver accurate translations. Only the best translation agencies have the experience and skills required to provide text that is accurate in its meaning, style, and tone.

Types of Accurate Translation Services

Qualified translation agencies not only offer improved accuracy when compared to free translator tools. They also offer numerous types of accurate translation that machines cannot provide. For example, only literal translations are possible when using a machine to translate. Comparatively, all reliable agencies deliver the following language services:

• Translation Services: Accurate translation services are necessary for any business that wants to expand globally. They will need accurate translations of several materials, such as brochures, websites, apps, business emails, employment contracts, and more.
• Proofreading: Proofreading is essential before making any piece of content available to the public, helping to guarantee accuracy. However, it is especially important if that piece requires translation into another language. You will want a native-speaking translator to provide accurate proofreading services before distributing your materials.
• Audio Transcription: Audio transcription refers to the transcription of any audio file. This can include audio files that require an accurate translation from one language to another, increasing the audience and improving the searchability of the content.
• Video Subtitling: Another accurate translation example is video subtitling and captioning. Video subtitling is necessary to make a video available to people in a country that doesn’t speak your language. Another alternative is voiceover services, which adapts the audio rather than providing text subtitles.
• Transcreation: Literal translation may not capture innuendos, a sense of humour, and other factors that are difficult to convey in another language. Transcreation is a context-focused translation that ensures that the content carries the same feeling, tone, and message as the source. Accurate translation is an essential part of the transcreation process.

Trust Our Accurate Translation Services

If you need an accurate translation, look no further than Renaissance Translations. We have over 5,000 qualified translators able to offer accurate translation services in all languages and subject fields. So whether you need to translate machine instructions, marketing materials, or websites, we guarantee 100% accuracy every time.

We also offer numerous different services that free translator tools do not, including technical translation, proofreading, localisation, audio transcription, video subtitling, transcreation and more. Our company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England and we are also members of SDL LSP Partner Programme. Contact us  today to get an instant quote and ensure you make a great impression with any audience.

While it might seem surprising, audio transcribing services have been around for quite a while. The first record of audio transcription comes from Ancient Egypt, although they were sketches carved into stone rather than articulate words on a screen. Audio transcriptions have come a long way since then! Today, professional language service providers transcribe audio using modern and effective methods.

Choosing to transcribe audio carries any often overlooked benefits, too! This article highlights the many benefits of audio transcriptions and why you should transcribe your recordings.

1. Audio Transcriptions Help with Searchability

Audio content isn’t as easily searchable as written text. You cannot scan through recordings, and finding the exact segment you’re looking for can be difficult. When you transcribe audio, you automatically make the content more searchable. Users can now use the audio transcriptions to seamlessly find specific words or phrases.

When transcribing services include timestamps in the transcript, the searchability factor becomes even more beneficial. With the time stamp, viewers can find what they’re looking for and then listen to the audio file at that moment. This is particularly advantageous for longer audio files such as podcasts, lectures, sermons and webinars.

2. Audio Transcriptions Help You Repurpose Your Content

Brands and businesses looking to be relevant online must continuously create engaging and purposeful content. Considering how many competitors are currently online, brands need to stand out from the pack. Being unique, however, requires creativity and many resources!

Audio transcriptions are an easy way to help you repurpose your content and fulfil this requirement. Rather than transcribe audio into text to supplement recordings, transcribing services can transform audio content into eBooks, website pages, and infographics. These types of content are unique and a great way to produce more while doing less.

3. Audio Transcriptions Help with Translation

The first step towards translating any audio content is first to transcribe audio to text. Translating written content is a lot easier than directly translating your videos and recordings. A transcription services agency can then render the text file into another language.

Translations make your audio files more accessible to wider audiences – if they cannot understand the audio, they can obtain the information by reading the translated audio transcriptions. Most professional translation agencies offer transcribing services and translation services as a package, providing access to a written version of your audio file in various languages.

4. Transcribing Audio Improves Learning

Audio transcribing services have been known to improve learning in an academic setting. Universities can transcribe audio lectures, for example. This helps students avoid the need to frantically write or type every word they hear. They can simply enjoy their lectures, focusing on the moment. After classes, use the audio transcription to help solidify the information and better comprehend the lesson.

If transcription is not offered by your school, choosing to transcribe your recordings can be advantageous as a student. Not everyone learns the same way! If you find it difficult to learn simply by listening and prefer reading content, having an audio transcription can help your learning process.

5. Audio Transcribing Service Help to Save Time

Using transcribing services can help you save time. This may seem counterintuitive, given that an extra step is necessary to produce content. However, certain professions can benefit from the efficiency provided. For example, educators can employ transcription companies to transcribe audio from lectures into text, saving time in their lesson preparation process.

Journalists also record interviews with their sources. These recordings offer them a record of their research. However, without an audio transcription, they lack an effective way to find specific quotes in the recording. Employing transcription companies to transcribe audio to text can streamline a journalist’s workflow.

6. Audio Transcriptions Can Help with Legal Compliance

While engaging in audio translation might seem like an afterthought, there are legal ramifications for choosing not to do so. Specific laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act mandate that public places be accessible to everyone. According to the law, the internet is a public place. So, video and audio files aren’t exempted from being made accessible.

You need to transcribe audio or add video subtitles to make it possible for people who are hard of hearing to understand. Not only does this avoid legal ramifications, but investing in audio transcribing services prevents you from cutting out a significant part of your audience. It can be economic suicide for a brand to marginalise a section of the population in today’s climate, making this a crucial service for businesses.

7. Audio Transcriptions Improve SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) deals with creating website content that shows up on search engines. It ensures that your website is listed when specific key phrases are searched. Since its inception, Google and other search engines have been biased toward text content. Search engines find audio and video difficult to understand, so they don’t appear as much in search results.

With audio transcribing services, you can seamlessly transcribe audio into easily crawlable text content. This is slightly different from a standard audio transcription as you must follow SEO best practices, including headings with targeted keywords, bulleted lists, bolded target keywords, internal and external links where applicable, and images with alt text and keywords.

With these practices implemented, your audio transcription can be indexed and crawled. Your page can now rank higher on Google, helping drive more website traffic and secure more sales.

Professional Transcription Services You Can Trust!

Investing in audio transcription is beneficial for businesses in all industries! From driving more website traffic to appealing to a broader target market, a single audio transcription can significantly impact revenue and overall business success. Unfortunately, it can also take much time to transcribe audio – something that all busy business owners are short of.

If you want the benefits of transcriptions without the time investment, we can help. We offer professional transcribing services for all recordings and audio files. We have provided professional transcription services to many UK and international institutions such as NHS, CRDF Global and more.

As a leading translation agency, we can also transcribe your audio files into other languages. This is an excellent option for businesses wanting to expand globally or connect better with the multicultural UK population. Our company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England as well as SDL LSP Partner Programme. Contact us today to discuss your audio transcription project.

There are many fascinating languages all around the world, and the Arabic language is one of them. It is one of the languages that includes many curiosities, and many of them stem from the Arabic culture. Given that there are many Arabic speakers, it’s no wonder why so many interesting quirks were developed. From Arabic letters that sometimes get lost between English and Arabic translation, to having 14 Arabic words for ‘Love’, here we will show you 5 of the most fun facts about the Arabic language.

The Arabic Language Is Spoken in Approximately 20 Countries

This fact is amazing by itself! Although the number can be somewhat imprecise, you will find on the Internet that approximately 20 countries are Arabic speakers. According to Wikipedia, several countries share this trait with the Arabic culture.

As described by the website, 22 sovereign states use Arabic as the official language. Some countries mentioned therein possess a second language, such as French and English. It is said that four unrecognised states and territories can exist and have Arabic as their official language. If you consider the latter, more than 20 claim the Arabic language as theirs! Something you may find shocking is that the Arabic language is also the 6th most spoken language. National Arabic Day was created on December 18th, 2010, to celebrate the Arabic culture.

Arabic has Many Different Dialects

As you can tell, languages usually contain several dialects. In the case of the Arabic language, it is on a whole different level. Since it proceeds from Central Semitic origins, it is closely bonded to Aramaic and Hebrew. Roots of these can even exist in Quranic or Classic Arabic. This form of speaking and writing exists in many formal settings, such as the Holy Quran.

Modern Standard Arabic is the form of the Arabic language that is used in books, newspapers, movies, and daily conversation. As you would expect, there are a lot of dialects from region to region. From the ones that normally stand out, the vernacular that is mostly understood by many Arabic speakers is Egyptian colloquial.

You can deduce that many of the words will change, making English to Arabic translation somewhat complex for foreigners. This is one of the reasons, along with many others, that make the Arabic language difficult. Therefore, Arabic speakers are in demand! Regardless of this, Arabic is a language that doesn’t cease to surprise with its facts!

Arabic Words Can be Found in English

Considering it’s a 1,500-year-old language, it’s a natural expectation that the Arabic language blends with other languages and regions. A normal occurrence is that both Arabic speakers and time move on. Hence, so does the language, adopting features from other languages into its own, and vice versa. When learning about Arabic, some of the common English words that come from Arabic include: ‘algebra’, ‘coffee’, ‘ghoul’, ‘loofah’, ‘tariff’, ‘racquet’, and more.

On a side note, here we will tell you the reason for the use of the letter ‘X’ in algebra. “Shay” means “thing” in Arabic. This word was adopted by the Spanish, resulting in “xay”. This would later evolve into the renowned “x”. Provided that math and numbers are the subjects of conversation, you should note that Arabic numerals replaced Roman ones. Therefore, it’s easy to tell that the Arabic language has influenced many others in ways that one normally doesn’t notice. Arabic words can be found in English, Spanish, and many others.

The 14 Ways of Love in the Arabic Language

Lovebirds will certainly enjoy this. In the English language, the word “love” can imply many different concepts. Yet, most of the diverse stages and “gradients” of love can get quite fuzzy. However, the Arabic language got this down right. Arabic speakers have 14 words to express the different stages of love. Yes. 14 words!

What makes it more interesting is that these 14 words from the Arabic language entail the different intensities of the stages of love. Meaning that the characteristic feelings of this emotion are thoroughly described into one single concept by Arabic speakers. However, the fervor of the descriptions may slightly fade away if you do an Arabic to English translation.

For instance, what we would loosely translate as “Passion”, the Arabic language describes it as “al-shaghaf ”, or should we say الشغافة. This term alludes to the outer layer of the heart. It resembles the surfacing of actual feelings of love, and when the members of the relationship feel “love-struck”. On the other side of the equation, there is “al-hoyam”. Arabic speakers use this word to reference the insanity and madness caused by drastic feelings of love. In short, when people lose all sense of self and reasoning, this one seems to be a perfect fit.

More Curiosities About the Arabic Language

Another feature of the Arabic language that can leave one scratching their head is that no capital letters exist. This means that, at least in written form, quotations add emphasis. Arabic speakers should consider this when doing an English to Arabic translation.

On the other hand, the Arabic language also uses a system of writing named Abjad. It is a form of writing that involves using consonants instead of vowels. How are vowels indicated, though? Very simple. Vowels are simply implied by the sounds of the consonant letters. This signals that the reader needs to have full knowledge of the alphabet to be able to decipher vowel sounds. Arabic is also read from right to left. Contrary to what Westerners use, reading from left to right, Arabic speakers do the opposite.

Arabic is an Amazing Language!

As you can observe, the Arabic language has much more depth than what meets the eye, and a rich culture. Many Arabic-speaking countries use it as their official language and it has many dialects, influences in other languages, and much more. We can also tell that Arabic to English translation is a quite challenging task too!

Do you have a document to translate into Arabic? You can trust our Arabic translation services if you are looking for a high-quality translation. Our Arabic speakers are professional and native to the target language. Moreover, our project managers have long and wide experience in Arabic translation projects. Get in touch with one of them today to discuss your project.