RE: Translation service

["technical writing plus" <doc-x -at- earthlink -dot- net>]

Kim Nylander said: A client of mine is interesting in having a software
manual translated from American English to Spanish and French. He asked me
for any recommendations. I have limited experience with translation services
(and it's been a while).  
 

1. What should be done to prepare the manuals for translation? (Vernacular
has been removed.) 

Jim says: Don't know whether that's a good idea. Actually, if your company's
manuals are written in vernacular, translators in general should like it. In
fact, a professional translator should be able to convey the tone and feel
of the original. With no problems. Now, idioms are another animal. IF the
original English has some idioms or metaphorical language (which it
shouldn't, because we're talking about a company's manuals, right?),
problems might arise for the translator as he or she tries to put that stuff
into the other language. 

2. Any advice or guidelines for choosing a translation service?  

Jim says: The STC has a SIG (called translation, international or global
communication, or something like that) that used to have a very informative
'kit' of information available for free from their website (stc.org). I'll
look it up. 

Always use a native speaker of the target language (in this case, Spanish
and French). Also, you want to get people who are native to the areas in
question, because for example the Spanish of Spain is somewhat different
from the Spanish of South America.

3. Any translations services you would recommend?

Jim says: No. However. The American Translator's Association (ATA) is a
professional organization of translators that also gives qualification exams
to translators. Some translation agencies are institutional members and
advertise such. The STC runs ads of some translation agencies in its
publications. 

Jim Jones	http://tinyurl.com/4arjc

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.