TalkingHeads Release a Beginner's Guide to Translation Services for Businesses in the UK

TalkingHeads is a rapidly expanding company based in Sheffield. Here's a guide (instruction manual for translation services - you could call it) describing the latest techniques that a translations company will use.

Translation is a fairly straightforward concept: it simply means to translate a piece of writing from one language (the source language) to another (the target language). For example if a French translation is needed, it may be from English into French. Translation shouldn't be confused with interpretation, which is the act of translating the spoken word from one language to another.

Translation services cover a broad spectrum of materials, and are necessary to almost every industry that involves the written word (which is all of them!). Some institutions have their own in-house translators (such as governments), while some need translations only occasionally and so outsource the work to agencies or freelancers.

The Importance of Translation
There are thousands of spoken languages in the world, many of which have their own written form, featuring a multitude of different alphabets, structures and lettering. Without translators, it would be difficult for nations to convey information to each other.

A translator is not just anyone who can speak more than one language, as there is great skill involved in converting a document to another language, and professionals undergo rigorous training and education to reach the high standards required.

It's important for native speakers of the target language to have a good understanding of the source language, and vice versa. With just a basic understanding, it would be difficult to craft a flowing piece of writing designed to resonate with the reader of the target language – use of idioms and regional dialects can play an important role in creating an appropriate piece of writing.

Places That Need Translation Services
There are many types of document by many different entities all over the world, ranging from entire books to brief road signs, which need to cater to speakers of many different languages. Below are just a few examples, although almost every industry requires some level of translation work.

Anywhere that receives a lot of international visitors will require a great deal of translating, for things such as road and street signs, maps and leaflets for tourists, information centre literature, menus, user guide translations and a whole host of other documents.

Companies with international branches need to cater to their staff and customers in each individual location, while still maintaining a standard set of documentation. Rules, regulations, guides and informational pieces all need to convey the same meaning to ensure consistency in the work done at each branch.

Websites catering to multiple countries and nationalities need to ensure all their customers are able to find what they need and receive the same level of service, which means accurate page translations are needed across the board.

Expert Knowledge Within Specific Industries
It's usually not enough that a person be able to speak more than one language, or even be a trained translator. Many industries feature their own distinct terminology which, unless a professional in that particular industry, is difficult to understand. This can prove problematic for anyone attempting to translate a piece of this nature, as they may not know the correct usage of the word and will therefore not know the appropriate word in the target language.

For example, when translating a legal document, it's important to have the relevant expertise – perhaps relating to patents or deeds. In the financial realm, an understanding of depreciation and capital may be required, and in hundreds of other industries it is necessary to comprehend specific technical terms.

It's also important to consider whether a general understanding of an industry is enough, or whether a very specific sort of expertise is required, such as English legal procedures – if a certain legal document needed to be translated from French to English, it would be necessary to ensure the translator had a comprehensive understanding of the relevant laws.

Many translation agencies specialise in a specific industry and work only for businesses operating in their chosen area of expertise. Such agencies will hire only those who have chosen to specialise in their particular industry, and they will employ a group of these specialists that speak a variety of languages in order to cater to their clients' needs effectively.

Different Levels of Service
Another important aspect of document translation services is the different levels of services offered. There are a variety of services offered by most agencies, ranging from simple summaries of documents, to in-depth, cultural transformations of pieces of text to suit a different audience.

Not all documents need to be translated in their entirety. In many cases, it's enough to create a brief summary of a longer document, based on the main focus and key points. This will allow the reader of the translated document to gain an understanding of the main points of a piece – to "get the gist" – without having to pay for a more expensive, complete piece. This method can also be used to determine whether it's necessary to have a piece translated in full. These "gist" translations are not normally used for publication, and are instead use for in-house needs.

Complete or "classic" translations involve a document being transformed completely from the source language to the target language. Again, these are not always used for publication, but are for when a person needs to read a document in its entirety in order to understand it. Complete pieces which are not needed for publication are less costly to have produced, as the language used may be a more literal, direct translation, rather than a piece written with the intention of being read by a wider, public audience. TalkingHeads deal with "every language", said Laurianne Enos, when asked about how many different types of language services they provide so don't worry if you need a document translating from an obscure language!

TalkingHeads is a specialist instruction translation company which also offers interpreting services and translations for all different types of sectors.