Translators and Interpreters in business. How do they work? (Part 3)

Translators (using the written word) and interpreters (using the spoken word) work on many different commercial assignments, in almost every setting.

In Parts 1 and 2 of our 3-blog series, we heard from language professionals on the manufacturing shop floor, in HR meetings, pharmaceutical trials, in the boardroom, surfing the web to monitor brands, and much more.

In this final part, we hear some more examples from Western Regional Group of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) members, including some from areas of business that you might not have thought of, and we reflect on how you can collaborate with language professionals in your own business.

COUNCIL INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Violetta Paine (Russian<>English and Estonian>English translator)

Violetta translated a leaflet about recycling for a borough council in the South of England. The client needed the information translated into a few languages, including Russian, to make sure that useful “do’s and don’ts” about kerbside recycling reached all their residents.

By making the information available in many languages the council has increased the efficiency of their recycling service and improved the links with the community. The Community Planning Toolkit [https://www.communityplanningtoolkit.org/sites/default/files/Engagement.pdf ] mentions language as a key aspect of encouraging local engagement.

PRO TIP:

• It’s a good idea to let the translator check the final copy of any printed leaflets or brochures, as they can make sure no accidental omissions or errors were introduced at the design stage.

 

CORPORATE INFORMATION AND DATA PROTECTION

Alison Hindley (German and Italian>English translator) 

Alison translated the data protection policy on a company’s website from German into English, to make it compliant with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

The GDPR requires companies and individuals to reference certain set details and phrases in their policies in order to comply. Since one of its principals involves transparency and clarity, translating your policy into your clients’ language is a significant part of reassuring them you are compliant and treat their data fairly. 

PRO TIP:

• Write your policy in simple, easy-to-understand language. This ensures you will comply with ICO guidelines and also helps your translator make sure the translated version is similarly clear and accessible.

 

Karine Leroux (French<>English translator) 

Karine recently translated a series of updates for a psychotherapist’s website. The updates had to fit in seamlessly with the existing texts in terms of both terminology and written style. 

Translating small sections like this meant that the client was able to update their site without having to go through the costly exercise of re-doing the whole thing.

PRO TIP

• A key aspect of translation is context (out of context, a word can have several meanings and therefore be translated in many different ways), so do not send new or updated text in isolation. Try to send your translator any reference images or data that will help them identify the right terminology

 

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS

Lynn Urch (German and French>English translator)

Lynn translated monthly investment reports to enable a Swiss investment fund manager to report to their professional investors abroad about the performance of their managed fund, helping to raise the fund’s profile and boost demand.

Translating your investment reports gives your fund wider appeal among English-speaking investors, which will have a positive impact on your fund price. 

PRO TIP:

• Work closely with your translator to develop a glossary of technical investment terms and abbreviations tailored to your company.

 

SPORTS EXHIBITIONS

Lisa Davey (German>English translator)

Lisa translated documentation for a large mountaineering exhibition to celebrate the Deutscher Alpenverein’s 150th anniversary. The exhibition focused on the joy of mountaineering and hiking, the relaxation and danger involved and the battle to save the environment.

By translating the material into English, this became a truly international exhibition, accessible to a global sporting and environmental community.

PRO TIP:

• Hire a translator who is also passionate about your subject and therefore familiar with the relevant equipment and slang. Or put them in touch with someone who can advise on specialist aspects.

 

TV INTERVIEWS

Louisa McNeela (Italian>English transcriber and translator)

Louisa transcribed and translated video interviews with judo champions to be used for a TV documentary. The producers filmed in Naples and sent the material as soon as it was available. Louise directly translated and time-coded it so they could easily edit it and create subtitles.

By using a transcriber who could also translate, the company saved valuable money and time on their production.

PRO TIP:

• Keep the translator updated with regard to any delays in filming, etc., so they can organise their workload and be available for you in real time.

 

COMPANY TAGLINES

Sandra Mouton (French>Latin translator) 

Sandra helped a graphics and video consultancy firm, who had chosen an acronym for their firm's name, create a tagline in Latin.

Although it was only a few words long, because the tagline had to correspond to the acronym, the project took serious time and thought, as the impact for the company was far-reaching.

PRO TIP: 

• Allow time for your translator to come up with several proposals and meet to discuss your company’s preferences for particular sounds and phrasing. 

 

As we have seen, the examples of translators and interpreters in the business world are endless and include varied settings such as the boardroom or sports halls, technical manuals and processes or accounts and financial papers, and even include the brochures where we buy our jewellery or the forms we use to leave online feedback.

If you have any queries about this 3-part series or you would like to know more about translating and interpreting for your own industry, please feel free to contact the authors.

Written by Emma Plested and Sandra Mouton of the ITI Western Regional Group.

The Western Regional Group is a professional association of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. Its members provide services covering a wide range of languages and specialisms and services. To find out more about the people mentioned in this blog and more, visit www.itiwrg.org.uk.