making your message multicultural

Making Your Message Multicultural

How To Reach Foreign Language Markets, At Home and Abroad

Presented by Suzanne E. Deliscar, B.A., LL.B.Certified Linguist and Lawyer

Treasures Translationswww.treasurestranslations.ca

May 28, 2009

http://www.treasurestranslations.ca/


• “There are few efforts more conducive to humility than that of the translator trying to communicate an incommunicable beauty. Yet, unless we do try, something unique and never surpassed will cease to exist except in the libraries of a few inquisitive book lovers.” - Edith Hamilton (American Educator and Author. Known for popularizing classical Greek and Roman literature. 1867-1963)


• What is translation: the production of an equivalent message from one language into another in written form

*Cartoons used with the permission of the author, http://mox.ingenierotraductor.com.

http://mox.ingenierotraductor.com/

http://mox.ingenierotraductor.com/


• What does a translator do? A translator uses a high level of language and technical skills in order to communicate an equivalent message of a document in the source language into the target language


• What is interpretation: the production of an equivalent message from one language to another in spoken form (can be consecutive or simultaneous)


• What does an interpreter do? An interpreter uses a high level of language and communication skills in order to communicate an equivalent message of spoken words in the source language into the target language

• Consecutive interpretation: interpretation after the speaker completes a phrase or sentence and pauses

• Simultaneous interpretation: interpretation as the speaker is speaking without defined pauses

• See the movie “The Interpreter” for an excellent example of simultaneous interpretation in the United Nations


Translation and Interpretation Specialties:• Advertising• Aromatherapy• Automotive Industry• Baking• Cakes• Candy• Candles• Corruption• Christian Material


Translation and Interpretation Specialties:

• Human Rights• Business Correspondence• History - Chilean• Child Psychology• Computers• Contracts• Cosmetics• Decorations• Dolls


Translation and Interpretation Specialties:

• Education• Employment Sector• English Literature• Esthetics• Food• Environment• Flowers • French Literature• Financial Analysis• Gift Baskets

Making Your Message MulticulturalTranslation and Interpretation Specialties:• Greeting Cards• Jewelry• Literature• Poetry• Financial Analysis• Geography• History• Hair Styling• Internet, E-mail• Publishing• ISO Certification• Legal Documents• Legal Transcripts• Medical • Newsletters•


Translation and Interpretation Specialties• Oncology• Patents • Plumbing• Psychology (General)• Resumes• Safety Instructions• Software Instructions• Telecommunications• Video Transcripts• Water Supply• Websites


Tips for Working With Translators and Interpreters• At some point or another, organizations, businesses and

individuals may find it necessary to have documents translated from a foreign language into English, or vice versa, whether it is for an international business transaction, publication of a book in another country, or providing marketing materials to prospective clients from a foreign language group.


Tips for Working With Translators and Interpreters• Clients or colleagues who do not speak English well, or

at all, may also require the services of an interpreter in order to effectively communicate with others.

• In order to make the translation/interpretation process a pleasant and beneficial process to all involved, the following advice should be followed when working with a language professional:


Tips for Working With Translators and Interpreters

When Working with Translators• It is essential that exact documents/or

portions of documents to be translated are communicated to the translator. At times, there may be a significant amount of duplication within documents that do not need to be translated.


When Working with Translators• Ascertain whether the translation requires

certification, which is common for translated documents to be used for government (e.g. immigration) or court purposes, and communicate this to the translator.


When Working with Translators• A well-equipped translator will have access to

a variety of language tools in order to complete the translation work, as well as a breadth of education.


When Working with Translators• If there are particular glossaries of terms from

previous translation projects that should be used for the current translation in question, provide it from the outset to the translator.


When Working with Translators• Agree on a reasonable timeline, keeping in

mind that tight deadlines may make it difficult, or impossible to deliver a thorough and accurate translation.


When Working with Translators• Communicate to the translator the purpose of

the translation, i.e. who will be reading it, so that the translation can be completed accordingly. As a rule, translations follow the same format as the source document, but for informal internal purposes, for example, the translation buyer may only be concerned with the words, not with the format of the target document.


Tips for Working With Translators and Interpreters

When Working with Interpreters• Speak clearly and slowly. The interpreter

needs to be able to understand what you are saying, preferably the first time, in order to accurately communicate the statements to the other party.


When Working with Interpreters• Be prepared to clarify or restate words if

requested. This can only help the interpretation process.


When Working with Interpreters• When contracting an interpreter, indicate from the

outset whether a particular dialect of a language is required. In South America, for example, where Spanish is the predominant language, there are variants between both different countries and within each nation, which could affect the way in which the non-English speaker speaks with the interpreter selected.

• Furthermore, the Spanish spoken in Latin American is different from Spanish spoken in Spain.


Agencies vs. Freelance Translators and Interpreters

Benefits of Freelance Translators and Interpreters

Benefits of Translation and Interpretation Agencies


Factors to Consider When Purchasing Translation or Interpretation Services from Freelancers or Agencies:

• Pricing• Number of Languages Needed• Language Pairs Needed• Specialties/Expertise Required• Types of Software Required to Complete the

Translation/Interpretation


• Machine Translation vs. Human Translation – one, the other, or both?


Language Variations and Language Bloopers• By region: Case Study 1: India – Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India

Case Study 2: French – Canadian French, Swiss French, Parisian French, Haitian French

Case Study 3: Latin American Spanish v. Catalan in Spain• By ethnicity: Case Study: The “Stans” Dilemma• By culture: Case Study: German from Brazil and Mennonite Low German

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India


We are pleased to offer a free 300 word translation sample to prospective clients. French and Spanish

available at this time. Send your document to:Treasures Translations

Telephone: 519-215-1083Email: [email protected]

Website: www.treasurestranslations.ca

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.treasurestranslations.ca/