Language translation is a critically important element of modern business. Many of today’s biggest and most successful companies partner with translation professionals full-time to ensure that they can communicate effectively with clients and other companies across borders. Language boundaries are no longer a factor in trade!
However, there can be some hesitation on the part of companies who don’t have extensive experience with translation. You may wonder if you’re getting a good deal on translation services, or if you’re getting the best value for the money you’re paying. Here, we’ll help you make sense of that question by providing questions to ask the Vietnamese translators – or any language professionals – that you plan to work with online!
What is Your Translation Process?
Before you agree to pay for translation, it is a good idea to learn exactly how your translator conducts business. It is important to know if you will be dealing with a single person or a large group. Is there a project manager that you can speak with to learn more and give specific instructions to, or will you be working with a pool of professionals?
It’s also a good idea to know if separate services incur separate charges. Most translators offer translation, editing, and proofreading. Sometimes, these are all included in the price of the translation. Other times, you may be charged separate fees per service. Find out about this upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Some other important considerations you should have before committing to a partnership include:
- What does your translator need from you?
- Does your text need special preparation before being translated?
- What is the estimated turnaround time for a project like yours?
- What is the estimated cost of your project?
Who Actually Handles Translations?
At many translation agencies, the actual task of the translation may be outsourced to one or multipleother professionals . Companies do this to minimize overhead costs, which makes sense for their business. The problem is, it can have a major impact on yours!
When you work with a large translation agency, you may not have direct communication with your translator. Ask upfront about this, as communication between your company and the translator you’re working with will deliver much higher-quality results.
Freelance translation offers you the chance to work directly with the professional who is translating your text. This is important since working with the professional directly means that your team can offer specific information, discuss cultural considerations, and more. This helps you ensure that you are ultimately accurately conveying your message to your clients and corporate partners.
One popular option for hiring freelance Vietnamese translators and other language professionals is the hybrid platform website. These sites allow companies and individuals to directly access the information of freelance translators and inquire about their services, all while enjoying the convenience of websites that function much like large translation agencies. It’s the best of both worlds!
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Can I See Your Portfolio or References?
Unless your translator just finished their education, they likely have an extensive portfolio of experience. They may also have professional references that they can share with you. Don’t be afraid to ask for these! They will answer helpful questions that you may have, including:
- What type of services they offer
- What specialties they may offer
- What kind of work they have experience in
- The type of companies that they have previously partnered with
- The depth and types of relationships they hold with prior clients
What Values Motivate Your Work?
Translation is a field of work that is deeply and meaningfully impacted by culture. As such, it is important to understand the mission and values that motivate a translation company or professional before committing to partnering with them long-term.
This is especially true if your cultures are very different; you don’t want to end up in a corporate partnership that is embarrassing for yourself or your business. You also don’t want to enter into a contract that might be terminated or negatively impacted later due to misunderstandings between you and your translation provider. You want the opportunity to build a lasting, positive relationship with your translator, so seek to know as much as you can about them upfront.
What Sets You Apart From Your Competitors?
Every company and professional has competition and translators are no different. Ask them for information about what sets them apart from their competitors, and you are likely to see their greatest strengths on display. Ask them about their technology and tools. Talk to them about what kind of community partnerships they have to ensure cultural sensitivity and accuracy in translation. Push for the information you need to be sure that your company’s investment is the smartest one possible!
