No matter if you want to travel in China or do business in China, the language problem is always the troublesome one. You want a translator? Here are 5 tips for you to find a qualified translator.
1. Look for Native Speakers
Fluency might be sufficient for writing a new article or book in a foreign language, but not for translation. You'll need to look for native speakers of the language in which your mind is supposed to be translated in order to get the best results. My advice is to make this a requirement of any translator your hire, regardless of his or her credentials, and you might also want to make sure that your translator has been keeping up with his or her language.
2. Conduct a Test Translation
Even if your find a translator who is a native speaker of the language, this does not guarantee that he or she is a good writer. Translations are very rarely literal translations of the original text; some creative license is necessary to ensure that the manuscript is still entertaining and fun. Have several candidates translate a small representative sample of your work, and then have another native speaker read it to give you his or her feedback. If a native speaker is impressed, you've found yourself a qualified translator.
3. Ask About Pricing
Unlike other areas, the fees for translation don't waver very much. The typical price for translation into any of the spoken languages is about $0.12 per word, though it could be as little as $0.10 or as much as $0.15. You might also ask about discounts for large amounts of test, such as a novel or non-fiction book, as compared to the translation of an article.
4. Set a Deadline
You're going to be disappointed if you give your translator all the time in the world to complete the project. Before you choose a translator, ask each candidate how long it will take. Keep in mind that translation requires more thought than just replacing English words with those of another language, so it will take some time. An article might take as long as two weeks while a full-length book could be stuck in translation for several months.
5. Stay in Constant Communication
Your translator will likely have questions for you down the road, so make yourself available. Talk about your target audience, any references you make in the work, the meanings for slang words and how they can be translated to make sense. If your full-length book is being translated, your publishing house may have chosen the translator for you. If this is the case, request the contact information for that individual.
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