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Issues
to consider in translating questionnaires
Verification - does your translated work really
say what it should?
Additional services on offer for the market research
industry
Are
you asking the same questions in every market? How can you be
so sure?
Minimum
Charge
Did
you know…
Etiquette Tips for doing Business overseas
Think
Strategic… be linguistic!
Delivery
Times
In-Country
Translators: Ensuring your Translations are spot on
Online
Surveys: How to get the most from your Translation Agency
Responding to your Feedback: RP Translate
gains ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation
ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation
brings improved quality at no extra cost
To translate or not? The Pros
and Cons
Website Translation - why bother?
Market Research companies reach
record high
Source vs Target
I don't speak Swahili so how do I check it?
Issues to consider in translating questionnaires
There are a number of key issues that will affect the way a questionnaire
is translated. Cultural issues in a number of countries mean that
if translation is not handled correctly the questionnaire simply
will not work. Some important issues to be considered are:
- The
Target Audience – in many countries the age of the audience
will dictate the level of the language used and the formality
required. It is important that we are informed of this to ensure
the suitability of the translated text
- Research
Method – for example, will the research questionnaire be
conducted face to face with participants, or will it be presented
over the telephone, via email or through the post. The differences
in these options will indicate whether the language should be
friendly and conversational or of a more formal nature. (NB. Often,
the reason why the translation falls down is because it has been
translated as a written document and is rarely suitable for face-to-face
research or for spoken language requirements).
- Clarity
of instructions for the Interviewer– this is extremely important
in terms of validity of the research itself. All researchers should
have clear and consistent instructions (in the relevant language)
on how it needs to be conducted – any differences could
carry consequences.
- Referencing
used within questionnaires – the numbering or lettering
sequence which separates one question from another needs to be
considered - an example is that Q1 becomes D1 in Italian, and
this can affect the interpretation of results depending on how
they are collated
- Document
Spacing – some languages are lengthier than others and there
is a possibility that the questionnaire format will need to be
re-spaced. Languages such as Hebrew will require reformatting
entirely, as unlike standard European languages, they read from
right to left. Additionally, they require careful spacing to ensure
that words are not split incorrectly at page margins.
Verification - does your translated work really say what it should?
Have you ever considered the possible effect on your
research results if even one of the words in your translation
is incorrect? RP Translate offer a specialist verification service
with a 79-point check to ensure this does not happen, so you have
no need to worry.
General back translation is used to check that the translation
is consistent and accurate. The procedure for this method is to
translate the source language into the translated language (using
a provided document), and then get an independent person to translate
it back to the source language without using the original documents.
For
example - An English Questionnaire needs to be translated into
Italian, so…
The first translator would use the English Questionnaire and translate
it into Italian.
A second, independent translator would then be introduced and
asked to translate the Italian Questionnaire into English (but
would not be given the original English Questionnaire). You are
then able to compare the two English Documents to assess reliability,
meaning, consistency and accuracy.
The
pitfalls of back translation are that you will never get the same
text back as you started with. It is therefore difficult to ascertain
exactly what may or may not need to be changed in the translation
to make it fit for purpose.
Unlike
back translation, verification involves a skilled translator sitting
with both the original and the translated text and pointing out
any differences—identifying if there are any mistranslations,
omissions, additions, misunderstandings or ambiguities. This saves
you both money (as you do not need to have the document retranslated)
and time as you are not then charged with a game of “spot
the difference” between the original and the verified text.
You can then concentrate on the decision as to whether the difference
is significant and therefore needs changing.
Additional services on offer for the market research industry
At
RP Translate we appreciate the need for specific services for
the market research industry. We can help you to complete international
research projects, by providing services such as:
- Translation of stimulus material
- Live interpreting for one to one or group interviews
- Audio and video transcription or translation, including timecodes
and frame references where required
- Translation of results analysis and client presentations
We are able to provide translations
in any format you may require, and we also offer a facility for
typesetting more unusual fonts!
Are you asking the same questions in every market? How can you
be so sure?
We often consider
the direct translation of words in a questionnaire to be sufficient
to ensure that respondents in different countries see or hear
the same questions. After all this is the best way to ensure that
there is no bias in response isn’t it?
Imagine the effect then
of the translation which read “Would you never consider
buying this product” when it should have read “Would
you ever consider buying this product”.
But how can you ensure this doesn’t
happen when you are not familiar with the language in question?
At RP Translate we appreciate
how important the accuracy of translation is when conducting international
research projects – both technically and culturally. That’s
why we have introduced a specialised verification service to check
that your work is 100% correct – whoever translated it.
Unlike back translation this verification
service involves a skilled translator sitting with both the original
and translated text and pointing out the differences. You will
be supplied with a comprehensive table showing the differences
between your original document and the translation, supplied in
a way that empowers YOU to make the decisions on any differences
between them.
Minimum Charge
How much… You cannot be serious… it is only
a few lines! This is something we often hear… and fully
understand. You may only have a few lines of text but the problem
is that this is the minimum level set by the translators themselves
to ensure a minimum income per assignment. A lot of the time we
are able to negotiate on your behalf to get the charge reduced,
but this is heavily dependant on word count. The best thing to
do is to send you text over and we will do our very best for you!
Did you know…
In Switzerland
the language used is actually…three different languages!
Yes that’s right – The Swiss speak French, German
and Italian depending on which area they are in. In terms of translation,
the written language is the same as used in France, Germany and
Italy – however it is spoken differently. Think of English,
we are all able to read it the same, but we pronounce and use
it differently in London as opposed to Scotland! Austrians speak
Dutch and German
Etiquette overseas
"Etiquette would not seem to play an important part in business,
and yet no man can ever tell when its knowledge may be of advantage,
or its lack may turn the scale against him."- Emily Post,
1922.
It's easy to offend, especially
abroad. Understanding cultural nuances can make or break
your career. Although the face of business has changed drastically
since 1922 when Emily Post wrote the words above, the secret power
of etiquette is just as relevant today. Even in England, where
unspoken values about manners are nearly innate, it is frighteningly
easy to offend.
But overseas, where the proverbial
scales may be calibrated in the metric system or may be spring
loaded, you must be particularly attentive to etiquette, or risk
unintentionally offending someone.
With today's advanced communication technology and global marketplace,
the workplace is becoming more international in nature, and local
customs seem to have less sway. But the lightning speed of globalisation
can be deceptive - the office environment is thoroughly influenced
by the local culture, even in multinational companies. Cultural
differences manifest in all aspects of life overseas, but in a
few areas they are especially pronounced. Throughout the world,
attitudes about time management, personal space, gift giving,
humour and food vary enormously. In order to make a good impression
on a potential business partner overseas, it is critical to have
some understanding of the way in which these topics are treated
in the country. Below are a few tidbits about international business
etiquette that illustrate some important differences in various
areas of the world:
- Business Card Protocol
Who could have imagined that so much decorum would surround such
small pieces of paper? Before you set off to work overseas, make
sure you know the right way to slip someone a business card. In
parts of the Middle East, you should never use your left hand
when you offer someone a business card; while in many Asian countries,
you should always use both hands. In Japan, China, Singapore and
other Asian countries, you should spend several seconds studying
any business card you are given, and you should never put the
card in your pocket or write on it in the presence of the giver.
- A Friendly Pat on the Head?
A pat on the head is not a particularly common business salutation;
so, it's unlikely that you will feel the urge to greet your coworkers
in such a manner. But, if you are ever tempted to pat someone
on the head and you happen to be in Thailand, think twice. The
gesture is a grave insult in the country where the top of the
head is considered sacred.
- Gift Giving
One of the most difficult aspects of doing business in another
country is knowing when it is appropriate to give gifts and what
is appropriate to give. In some countries, a gift is a necessary
precursor to a business partnership that expresses a willingness
to work together. In others, gift giving can be seen as ostentatious
and inappropriate in certain circumstances. Gifts are particularly
important in Japan - but you should never give a Japanese company
or individual a set of four or nine of anything, as these numbers
are unlucky in Japanese culture. Around the world the wrapping
can be just as important as the gift itself. In China, you should
avoid wrapping gifts in white or green paper, as they are considered
unlucky colours.
- Gestures
Gestures vary greatly from country to country, and can easily
be the source of slight misunderstanding or serious offences.
In Bulgaria and Albania, the gestures are so confusing that they
could make your head spin: Nodding your head means no, while shaking
it means yes. In Iran, you can go ahead and cross your legs if
you want to. But, be careful that the sole of your foot isn't
facing anyone, as this would be an insult.
Think Strategic… be linguistic!
We are all aware of the huge impact of the internet on our lives,
giving us access to a world library of information and resources
and, most importantly, a global market place.
The internet has broken down many of the traditional barriers
to international trade, resulting in unprecedented transparency
and cross-border business. It has opened the door to smaller companies,
who may not previously have been able to risk investment in international
markets. Globalisation is an increasingly important part of the
business strategy, particularly for small to medium sized enterprises
(SMEs).
While the Web enables you to reach a wider audience, the very
nature of the internet means your potential clients are being
targeted by a range of companies worldwide. To stand out, your
website must be easily accessible to your potential international
clients.
50.4% of web users speak a native language other than English
(Global Research), so speaking to your potential customers in
their own language gives you a real competitive advantage. In
other words, communicate only in English and you put up a language
barrier between yourself and more than half your potential market.
The German, French, Spanish and Japanese language online markets
are particularly lucrative. Recent studies have shown that visitors
to a website are 300%* more likely to buy from a site if it is
in their own language and 500%* more likely to read to the bottom
of the page if it is in their mother tongue. As well as this they
are also spending more and more.
When it comes to websites, speaking your customer’s language
means localisation, making your site linguistically and culturally
appropriate to the target audience and translation is, naturally,
an important element of localisation.
Delivery Times
A major element of business today is that everyone seems to want
everything yesterday. As part of the chain we all find that the
pressure is put on us to deliver the goods and it passes from
link to link, gathering urgency and momentum as it goes! It is
the same for us at RP Translate. We do have means to try to alleviate
this stress such as our Rapid Response Service, however just for
your information here are some rough estimates of how long things
actually take.
As with everything in life, the quicker you work at something,
the more likely it is that you are risking the overall quality.
Translators can comfortably translate approx. 2000 words per day,
some even more, depending on subject matter and how much research
they have to do. When working for a company you become familiar
with terms and abbreviations that are used almost as a new language.
Some companies even put a type of ‘dictionary’ together
to help new starters get with the localised lingo used within
the company. Sometimes company-specific terminology is used so
frequently it becomes second nature and sometimes you do not realise
that external people may not have a clue what you are talking
about!
Translators, whilst professionals in their specialist areas, may
need a little longer sometimes to decipher this – their
preferred emphasis is on quality… we only use the best!
This is why it is important to try to leave as much time as possible
to have your translations completed – however as we all
know this is not always possible!
As for verifications, they can sometimes take longer than a translation!
Why? Well because with a verification you are checking for differences
and errors, and then correcting them! Not quite as straightforward
as a basic translation!
In-Country Translators: Ensuring your Translations are spot on
A
major consideration for translators is keeping up to date with
their languages. Often, translation agencies prefer to use established
translators based here in the UK to be certain of complete understanding
of the English source text and any client instructions which may
accompany the documents.
However, whilst this is not an invalid argument by any means,
here at RP Translate we prefer to have initial translations carried
out by residents in the target country, and then evaluated or
edited through our independent Quality Assurance procedures by
a suitably-qualified translator back here in the UK.
This way, we believe that you will receive the best possible solution.
The in-country translator will be certain to use the most up-to-date,
appropriate terminology for your translation, and the UK-based
editor will ensure that the source text and all instructions are
fully understood and adhered to.
Moreover, our final in-house check will reveal anything requiring
further attention, such as layout or technical issues.
And the end result? Well, the feedback speaks for itself: over
95% of clients interviewed rated our service as ‘Good’
or Excellent’, and with our dedicated system of continuously
seeking feedback from you to ensure we meet your requirements,
it appears that our approach to modern-speak is working!
Online Surveys: How to get the most from your Translation Agency
As
the Internet starts to take over from CATI and CAPI techniques,
more and more companies are looking to upload their questionnaires
and carry out research across the Web, thus taking full advantage
of it’s worldwide yet totally private capabilities.
Here at RP Translate, we have been heavily involved in this growing
trend, and have noticed a large increase in post-project amendments
and missed instructions where online surveys are concerned.
These seem to stem from several sources, not least of which is
the client changing their minds at the last minute and assuming
it’s all OK, because it’s all just ‘so easy’
to change, isn’t it? But this causes significant frustration
for the Research Executives at the coal face, and leaves them
having to go cap-in-hand to their suppliers not just once, but
several times, to ask for small additions or changes to the text.
Naturally this method of working creates ripples throughout the
supply chain, and can even lead to revised start and finish dates,
reduced interest from respondents and late delivery of results
to the end client. Moreover, when it comes to the translation
aspects, even small amendments can lead to inconsistencies within
the overall questionnaire, so for each change the whole thing
has to be rechecked to make sure the quality remains high.
As a result of these observations, RP Translate has developed
a new working procedure for Online Surveys. As long as we are
advised at time of order that you will be uploading your survey
and using it online, we will hold your project open for you so
that you can simply email any additions or queries over to us
as part of the overall project, without having to worry about
incurring minimum charges or feeling uncomfortable about contacting
us for ‘yet another change.’
Responding to your Feedback: RP Translate gains ISO 9001:2000
Accreditation
Following
analysis of your much-appreciated feedback in the form of completed
Customer Evaluation Surveys, 90% of you who completed the forms
advised us that you would feel more confident in using an ISO
9001:2000 accredited translation agency.
Ever keen to respond to our customers, we finally decided to embark
on the long haul of accreditation to give you more confidence
in the end product you receive from us.
Anticipating a good few months’ hard work licking RP Translate
into shape, we set about preparing our systems and paperwork for
inspection. We have always prided ourselves on a water-tight ship
in terms of quality control, and were delighted to receive ISO
accreditation in double-quick time, just 8 weeks after our initial
application.
This provided a tremendous boost to morale internally, and has
also spurred us on to create ever-tighter quality control procedures,
to give you even greater peace of mind when using RP Translate.
Quality control is a sensitive issue when it comes to translation,
as language is an ever-changing ball-park with new words being
introduced daily and changing ideas. It’s difficult to forget
the interpreter who got the sack in the 1970s for using ‘gay’
instead of ‘happy’. Such a faux pas now seems outdated
and laughable to us in the 21st Century, but it was a major incident
30 years ago.
On a daily basis, your frustrations regarding the subtleties of
language are multiplied a hundred-fold for us, and in response
we now have two complete checking procedures on each translation
provided: an independent evaluation, which ascertains the translation
on a linguistic level in terms of suitability and fitness for
purpose, and is carried out by a native speaker and subject specialist
in the target language, and an internal 79+ point checking procedure,
which looks out for formatting, font and other basic textual issues.
ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation brings improved quality at no extra
cost
Further to receiving our ISO 9001:2000 accreditation earlier this
year, we have been working constantly to solicit feedback and
improve our processes to give you, our client, complete peace
of mind when placing work with us.
One of the concerns expressed by a long-standing client was that,
as a rule of thumb, they found ISO-accredited companies seemed
to increase prices automatically once accreditation was received.
Conversely, here at RP Translate, we have found that ISO accreditation
has enabled us to maintain, and in some cases even reduce charges
as we have been able to cut through some of our own red tape and
fine-tune procedures.
Because translation by its nature is such a subjective issue,
quality control is very sensitive. To respond to this, RP Translate
now has a two-stage checking procedure for each translation provided.
Firstly, the translation is evaluated independently by an appropriately-qualified
translator to ascertain the translation on a linguistic level
in terms of suitability and fitness for purpose. The evaluator
is both a subject specialist and a native speaker of the target
language, so the translation will be edited at this point if required
to ensure smooth reading and proper understanding by its potential
readers.
The second check is an internal 79+ point checking procedure,
which looks out for formatting, font and other basic textual issues.
This is the stage where any issues regarding presentation or font
irregularity will be picked up and rectified.
And the end result? Well, in theory, with two complete checks
covering all potential pitfalls, it should be perfect. And the
verdict? Feedback, both directly and from our project follow-up
questionnaires, indicates that this new process has really made
a difference to you and your clients. With over 95% of you rating
our service as ‘Good’ or Excellent’, it appears
that ISO accreditation really works!
To translate or not? The Pros and Cons
RECENT RESEARCH CHALLENGES THE TRADITIONAL AXIOM OF TRANSLATING
ONLY INTO YOUR MOTHER TONGUE…
Translation into a non-mother tongue has always been considered
unprofessional and of dubious worth in the business arena. When
it comes to standard translation, we would probably agree, and
we strive at all times to use native speakers of the target language
to ensure smooth translations that work for you.
However, there may be times when it is advisable to use a native
speaker of your source language (NSSL) to produce a translation,
then to use a native speaker of your target language (NSTL) as
editor to fine-tune and quality-control your work.
Such times could be translation of hand-written or hand-amended
texts, as handwriting in your own language can be hard enough
to decipher, let alone another language. Or verbatim responses
to questionnaires, where abbreviations and inference could easily
be misconstrued by a non-native speaker. The shock on my Russian
friend’s face when her English born and bred teenage daughter
responded ‘wicked’ for the first time was a real picture!
So there is argument to suggest that an NSSL can produce a more
accurate representation in the target language in certain circumstances,
than an NSTL.
Recent research has also come to this conclusion, assessing the
quality of a translation and its fluency and acceptability in
the target language environment depend primarily on the individual
abilities of the particular translator.
Back-translation is another area where one could argue both for
and against use of NSSLs. If the back-translation is for information
purposes only, then an NSTL could produce as effective a translation
as an NSSL. However, if the purpose of the back-translation is
to ascertain whether there are any errors (spelling, grammar etc)
in the source document, one could argue in favour of using an
NSSL to point these out. Furthermore, a translation carried out
by an NSSL will also pick up on any non-intended inferences which
may have crept in, such as incorrect perception of the word ‘business’,
(cf French: ‘société’, ‘commerce’,
‘entreprise’).
At RP Translate, as a rule of thumb we use NSTLs to ensure the
best possible translation. However, we would argue in favour of
using a NSSL in identified situations to produce the initial translation,
then an editing process by an NSTL to ensure smooth reading and
understanding of the final text.
Website Translation - why bother?
ARE COMPANIES STILL MISSING AN INTERNET TRICK?
We
are all aware of the huge impact of the internet on our lives,
giving us access to a world library of information and resources
and, most importantly, a global market place.
The internet has broken down many of the traditional barriers
to international trade, resulting in unprecedented transparency
and cross-border business. It has opened the door to smaller companies,
who may not previously have been able to risk investment in international
markets. Globalisation is an increasingly important part of the
business strategy, particularly for small to medium sized enterprises
(SMEs).
While the Web enables you to reach a wider audience, the very
nature of the internet means your potential clients are being
targeted by a range of companies worldwide. To stand out, your
website must be easily accessible to your potential international
clients.
50.4% of web users speak a native language other than English
(Global Research), so speaking to your potential customers in
their own language gives you a real competitive advantage. In
other words, communicate only in English and you put up a language
barrier between yourself and more than half your potential market.
The German, French, Spanish and Japanese language online markets
are particularly lucrative. Recent studies have shown that visitors
to a website are 300%* more likely to buy from a site if it is
in their own language and 500%* more likely to read to the bottom
of the page if it is in their mother tongue. As well as this they
are also spending more and more.
When it comes to websites, speaking your customer’s language
means localisation, making your site linguistically and culturally
appropriate to the target audience and translation is, naturally,
an important element of localisation.
Market Research companies reach record high
MARKET RESEARCH TRANSLATIONS NOW FORM LION’S SHARE OF RP
TRANSLATE BUSINESS
Over
the years, RP Translate has specialised in supplying the Market
Research Industry, and as such has focussed heavily on choosing
the right translators with the right levels of experience in both
their specialist subjects and their understanding of Market Research
requirements and terminology.
This degree of concentration means that clients can be confident
that their needs will be fully understood, and enquiries handled
in a professional manner specifically tailored to suit Market
Research documentation.
‘The net effect of such focus and dedication to a particular
sector has really paid dividends for both us and for our clients,‘
says John Temple, recently-appointed Customer Services Manager
at RP Translate. ‘There will always be queries, that’s
the nature of the job, but we have developed a highly-tuned service
offering for the Market Research Executive which we hope now fits
the bill better than most offerings in the market place.’
And this certainly seems to be the case, with Market Research
translations and interpreting assignments now forming a staggering
65% of RP Translate’s total annual business.
‘We’d like it to be higher, ‘ says John. ‘With
this in mind, we seek continuous feedback from our clients, so
we can continue to fine-tune our offering even more to the industry.’
Source vs Target
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR IN ADVANCE. BE CAREFUL AS IT IS COMMON
PLACE TO BE QUOTED ONE COST, AND THEN WHEN THE WORK IS FINISHED,
THE INVOICE IS QUITE ANOTHER MATTER…
There are two main ways of quoting for translation work, both
based on word count. One is to charge on the word count of the
source document, the other, on the word count of the translated
material. Charging on source word count means that you will know
in advance the cost of your work, and this cost will not change.
Charging on target word count, however, can mean an increase of
up to 50% in your quoted costs.
At
RP Translate, wherever possible, we charge on source word count,
so you will always know the bottom line in advance. Sometimes
other agencies may appear cheaper, but because they base their
charges on target word count, the net result is more expensive.
So it may look like you’re getting a real bargain, but…
chances are… as with most things in life… you’re
not!
Being
in a specific industry, jargon and terminology develop and compliment
the way we speak everyday but it is easy to forget that not everyone
understands what your are talking about, so just to be clear,
here is a brief description of what the terms source and target
mean in our world:
Source
– the actual number of words of the original un-translated
document
Target – the number of words after translation (this can
expand or decrease from the source count)
Wherever
possible we will charge on source word count. This is normally
possible with electronic formats such as Word or Excel. However
if only a static hard copy or scanned hard copy of a document
exists (meaning therefore that we are unable to manipulate the
text) then we will charge on target as we are unable to ascertain
an accurate source word count. This will be clearly stated on
our order form to you, and no work will be undertaken without
your prior written approval.
We
will take into account the expansion rate between the language
combinations and give a you an approximate word count, enabling
you to budget, and once the work is done we charge only for the
number of words, even if this is below our original estimate,
so you can rest assured that you will only pay for the exact number
of words you get.
I don't speak Swahili so how do I check it?
Well, without being flippant, and short of finding yourself an
agent who does speak the lingo and whom you trust, you can’t.
That means you’re reliant on your translation agency to
get it right.
But there are some checks you can ask for over and above soliciting
just a translation, which are tools to help you ascertain the
quality of what you’re getting.
Here at RP Translate, we have developed a specialist verification
service, which provides an independent check of your translation,
complete with proposed changes and full explanations of those
proposals. The document is designed to put you in charge, whether
you speak the language in question or not, and to leave you with
as good a translation as possible, fit for purpose and error-free.
Alternatively, you can opt for a back-translation service. This,
as with Mr Ronseal, does exactly what it says: it translates from
the target language back into English, hopefully enabling you
to pick up any mis-translations or other errors in the process.
However, we have found over time that back-translation may not
always provide you with the best solution. Any translator worth
their salt will adapt a translation so that it can be read more
easily and comfortably by its target audience, and back-translation
is no exception to this.
Back-translation will NOT, therefore, reveal any typos, mis-spellings,
grammar errors or even minor mis-translations. Moreover, costs
are based on final word count, so you will effectively end up
paying twice for the same thing, once to have it translated in
the first place, and once to have it back-translated for checking.
Verification, on the other hand, as a rule of thumb, and working
on the assumption that the translation is of a reasonable quality,
will cost approximately half the original translation cost, and
is designed to provide you with a fully-usable text of which you
can be completely confiden
To
find out more - just ask
us
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