How to Hire a Translator: A Quick and Easy Guide
This article was originally published on www.katedeimling.com. It is reposted with permission.
也许你以前从未购买过翻译服务,突然发现自己需要聘请一名翻译或口译员. There are lots of reasons you may need to hire a translator. Maybe your company is expanding abroad. Maybe you are organizing a meeting with international speakers. 也许你发现了另一种语言的有趣的家族史,想知道它是怎么说的. 这里列出了八件要记住的关键事情,这将使这个过程更容易一些.
1. Translation Versus Interpretation
许多人没有意识到笔译员和口译员之间的区别. 笔译人员处理书面文字,而口译人员翻译口头文字. If you have an online or printed document, you need to hire a translator. 如果你要和说外语的人面对面交流,你需要一名翻译. 口译员可以使用设备为一大群人工作(为需要口译的与会者提供耳机). 或者他们可以在没有任何特殊设备的情况下进行一对一或小组翻译. Don’t assume that a translator also does interpretation, or vice-versa; the two skill sets are quite different.
2. Directionality
Translators usually work in a certain direction within their language pair. For instance, from French into English or from German into Dutch. In order for the translation to be as well-written and natural as possible, it is best for translators to translate into their native language. (This is the recommendation of the American Translators Association.) Interpreters must be able to work in both directions. For instance, if a Spanish interpreter is working with a patient at an American hospital, 她需要为医务人员把病人说的话翻译成英语. 她还需要把医务人员说的话翻译成西班牙语.
3. Language Variants
当你雇佣翻译员或口译员时,你可能需要指定你需要的语言变体. For instance, if you want to translate your company’s website into French, is it for users in France, Quebec, or Senegal? If you are subtitling a video in Spanish, is it primarily for South American Spanish speakers, or for viewers in Spain? The destination country will determine the variant of the language you use. Ideally your translator will be a native speaker of that language variant.
4. Specializations
Translators specialize in various areas. 专业可以很广泛,比如法律、医疗或广告/营销. Many translators work in several fields. In previous blog posts, I’ve discussed approaches to academic translation, wine translation, and fashion translation, all areas that I specialize in. 在聘请翻译之前,要确保他/她在你的项目领域有经验. This information should appear on the translator’s résumé, website, or professional directory listing.
5. Cultural Advising
如果你需要文化方面的建议,你知道翻译或口译员也可以是一个值得信赖的合作伙伴吗? 例如,我曾经翻译过一份公司的法语报告,其中有一张美国地图.S. showing Minneapolis as located practically on the West Coast. 我让公司知道了这个错误,避免了他们很多尴尬. If you are in doubt about any cultural references, customs, or taboos, a simple question to your translator or interpreter may solve your problem.
6. More Than Just Translation
Many translators have a range of other skills: proofreading, editing, desktop publishing, subtitling, dubbing, voiceovers, localization, copywriting, SEO copywriting, game localization, language instruction…the list goes on and on. 如果你在其他方面需要帮助,可以考虑询问你的翻译,他/她还提供什么服务. 如果您有其他翻译需求,您的翻译人员也可以推荐其他语言对的翻译人员.
7. Freelancers Versus Translation Agencies
If you are planning a very large project, such as localizing your company’s website in several different languages, it is probably best to use a translation agency. 它将提供“一站式购物”,项目经理可以监督所有语言对的项目. 但如果你的项目规模较小,你应该考虑雇佣一个自由职业者.
A freelance translator is ideal for projects such as translating articles, reports, or websites, marriage certificate translation, or birth certificate translation. The American Translators Association has a directory where you can search for a translator or interpreter by language pair. 您还可以对专业领域、地理位置和其他参数进行高级搜索. By working with a freelance translator, you can communicate directly with the person working on your project. 直接沟通——消除“中间人”——将使项目顺利有效地运行. 你也可以要求翻译人员提供参考资料,而不是相信代理机构在没有任何机会亲自审查的情况下选择翻译人员.
请记住,与您的翻译或口译员良好的沟通是您的项目成功的关键. 例如,让你的翻译人员知道你的文件是关于什么以及谁是听众. 准备好发送文件或样品,以便他/她可以给你报价. If you need interpretation services for a meeting, 你需要告知口译员会议的主题和目的, who the attendees are, how many will need interpretation services, etc. 你事先提供的信息越多,整个过程就会越顺利.
8. Payment
Translators usually charge per source word (i.e., based on the number of words in the original document). 然而,在某些语言对中,按目标词收费可能是标准的.e., based on the number of words in the translated document). 一些翻译人员可能会按项目收费,他们通常会收取最低费用. Interpreters usually charge by the half-day or full-day, with a minimum fee. Interpretation requires sustained mental focus. For a lengthy job, 你可能需要聘请一组口译员,他们可以在需要休息时互相接替.
记住,翻译和口译是需要多年学习才能掌握的专业技能. 了解另一种语言,甚至会说两种语言,都不足以让一个人成为专业的翻译. Even if you only need an interpreter for one hour, or have a document that is only 两页纸那么长,要完成这项任务需要多年的研究. It’s just like hiring any other professional, whether a lawyer, an electrician, or an architect: you should feel free to shop around, but don’t expect to get quality service for rock-bottom prices.
About the Author
Kate Deimling 是ata永利登录网址的法语-英语翻译和英语编辑. 她的专长包括为艺术和博物馆界以及奢侈品牌翻译. She is also an active volunteer for the American Translators Association, which represents nearly 9,000 translators and interpreters in more than 100 countries. To hire a translation or interpreting professional, please visit 0b2g.m1997.com/directory/.
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