Context is everything when it comes to translation
If you ask a translator: “How do you say x in y language?”, their answer will likely be: “It depends on the context”. Context is everything when it comes to translation. The market information To make the most of your international content, provide your translator with as much context as possible! Brief them with the […]
IF TRANSLATORS WERE CAR MECHANICS…, or 4 common questions to ask before buying a translation service.
“Can you repair my car? I need it for tomorrow.” “Can I see it?” “No. Not until you tell me if you can fix it.” “Um…What kind of car is it?” “A blue one.” “I mean the manufacturer and model.” “That’s personal information I don’t want to disclose. When will it be ready?” “Well…what […]
Web Application Localization Best Practices
This video is a summary of 27 best practices shared by Nataly Kelly, VP Localization at HubSpot in her blog post on www.borntobeglobal.com. Following these guidelines will help make your content easier to localize. Read Nataly’s brilliant advice and tell us about your localization journey! Would you like to receive a copy of this video […]
Old translator – young entrepreneur, or how I launched my independent translation business
Happy first birthday to edIT Translations! A year ago, I took the plunge, took French leave 😉, jumped ship [insert your favourite image here] and became an independent business owner in translation, proofreading, editing and language coaching services. And what a journey it has been! This time last year I was leaving a permanent […]
Does Your Translator Ask Questions?
Why should a good translator ask you questions? From very generic ones before the project starts, such as asking you about the purpose and audience of your content, to more technical ones, such as preferred terminology or style, questions are a sign of a professional approach. This is the equivalent of the gathering of requirements […]
Too much “thank you” in France puts you in the position of inferiority
When I lived in the UK, I often heard a judgement about French businesses, restaurants or commerce that the customer service is rude and unhelpful. It is true to say that phrases such as “I’m afraid we don’t…” or “I am really sorry, but” are not really part of the French language. The excessive use […]
Why should you hire a professional translator if you have bilingual staff?
I’ll be the first to admit: I have built my industry knowledge and maintained my translation skills in my in-house software development jobs. In other words, I was part of the in-house staff who spoke languages. A lot of translation work landed on my desk. However, in many cases, especially in development and testing […]
“Can’t read: won’t buy”: why you should localise your website
“Can’t read: won’t buy”: why you should localise your website “Can’t Read, Won’t Buy: 2014,” is a catchy title of a report published in April 2014 by an independent research firm Common Sense Advisory (CSA Research). The report contained findings of a survey of more than 3,000 global consumers in 10 non-Anglophone countries in Europe, […]
