A GUIDE TO TRANSLATION SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON THE CHINESE MARKET

With a population of around 1.4 billion, China’s global influence is staggering.  For many businesses, China is a huge potential market, relatively untapped and becoming increasingly open to outside ideas and investment.
When comparing the Chinese with that of countries such as Australia, there is a huge difference. The main consideration that anyone that wants to do business with China, is the language. It’s not enough to “assume” the other parties will speak English. If you can speak to someone in their own language, comfortably matching their cultural expectations, then you’re more likely to be able to build rapport, motivate and influence them And the best way to do this is with the use of a reliable, accurate and professional translator.
Finding someone to translate your text is never an easy task. When a good impression could be the difference between making a big deal and scaring away your audience, you will want to get it right.
What To Consider If You’re Looking For Chinese Translation Services
Mandarin is now the most popular language in the world with around 1.2 billion speakers. However, there are many languages spoken throughout China. In this vast landscape there are many differences between dialects, written characters and sentence structures.
Chinese languages, including Mandarin are generally tonal languages. Blunders can easily be made by saying a word in the wrong tone. It can be all-to-easy to shock and offend if you don’t understand the structure that a language has.
If you’re looking for Chinese translation services, some considerations include:
  • What specific part of the country are trying to communicate with or do you want to use “standard” Mandarin that will reach as many people as possible.

  • How quick can the translation be done?

  • Before hiring a service provider, ask yourself will be the skillset of the translator? Ideally you want a professional linguist who is bilingual and experienced in moving between both languages.

  • Do you want your translation to have a more professional tone, or will it be more casual and informal?

  • Will any software, robot, tools be used or will it be reliant on human judgement?

A General Guide To Translation Services

There are many places offering translation services around the world. But how can you rely on them to translate to the impeccable standard that is expected by a local?
First off, it’s important to clarify exactly what you want:
  • What content do you want translating? Is it a professional document, such as a legally binding contract, or is it a more conversational and friendly piece of sales copy? Beware that some legal documents, such as embassy applications, require an officially credited notary to have reviewed it.

  • What language do you need it to be translated into? Are their multiple languages? Is it a specific region you’re targeting or the general population of those who speak the language or languages?

  • How much work is required? Is it a one-off, or will there be multiple jobs. Will there be back and forth communication or is it one-way?

If you want something fast and easy, then of course there is Google Translate. It’s reliable, quick, but not something you want to use if you really want to communicate with a customer or individual with an ounce of credibility and intelligence.
Hiring a single translator is also an option, especially if is small and requires a “local” to make sure there are no errors. Before doing this, ensure the person translating has the relevant cultural knowledge.
There is also advanced software that provides a fast and accurate solution. This can be great if you have a lot of content and scalability is a priority.
However, the recommended approach is a hybrid one. Why place your entire reliance on a human being who can miss important nuances and make careless errors? After all, we all make mistakes sometimes. Alternatively, why would you want to rely wholeheartedly on a machine. Which may be accurate, but lacks that cultural knowledge and adaptability that you can only get from a human touch.
Especially in China, where the culture is so different to that of the Western civilization. A place where many languages are spoken by its massive population.


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