Suggestions on how companies should prepare their documents for language translation and how to choose the best translation services provider for your industry. These tips will help you to get the best results at the minimum price.

• Explain, in detail, your translation need. What is the subject matter? Who is the target audience? How many words does the document contain?

• Describe the original document. Is it available in an electronic format? Is it industry specific? Does it require desktop publishing or certification?

• Determine ahead of time which portions of the text do not require translations. Often times, logos, graphics and slogans do not need to be translated.

• Advise the translation services provider of the time frame in which the project should be completed. Don't expect lengthy documents to be returned quickly. Competent companies have one language translator translate the original document and an equally qualified translator to edit and proofread the assignment. This significantly decreases the chance for error.

• Use a translation services provider that uses translators to translate into only their native language. Foreign language translators translate into, not out of, their native languages, and most translators only have one native language. Most translators cannot have the education and experience to translate technical, legal or medical documents in more than one language.

• Avoid companies that provide translations using machine translations. The accuracy of machine translation (translation performed 100% by computer) is at least 10 years away. Even then, editing and proofreading will still need to be made by human translators. Today, machine translation still can't disseminate the many nuances of other languages. In addition, documents that are not in an electronic format cannot be translated by machine.

• Understand that there are variations of many languages. If you are requesting a document to be translated for a Spanish audience in Spain, the completed language translation will be a different version of one for a Hispanic audience in Mexico or Latin America.

• Provide contact names and telephone numbers from your office who can assist with questions about the assignment.

• Find a company who wants to work with you, your deadlines and your budget.

Source: Mondial Translations and Interpreting, Inc.