Every item includes a user guide, whether it’s a desktop computer, a convection oven, or an expensive piece of construction machinery. To maximize accessibility, these technical manuals require translation services to communicate effectively with customers in their native tongues. Now more than ever, technical translation services are essential, as products are distributed worldwide with their guides. Ensuring the precision and quality of these translated documents is crucial.
Why is Technical Translation Crucial?
Technical translations typically involve the conversion of documents and files that contain descriptive and instructional content. There are technical writers who specialize in crafting these documents, and similarly, there are professional technical translators who are well-trained and experienced in handling technical content, in addition to their linguistic abilities in the language pairs involved. These technical translation projects include critical instructions that must be consistently followed by customers or employees, regardless of their location or the language they speak.
The precision of the instructions and the correct use of terminology highlight why technical translation services are a vital and specialized field that continues to expand within the translation industry.
Technical translation services are indispensable across various sectors, enhancing the global usability of your instruction manuals and extending the reach of your products.
Products accompanied by technical documents may include:
- Household appliances
- Vehicles
- Tools
- Electronics and computers
- Medical devices
- Furniture
- Video games Software and Software as a Service (SaaS)
Beyond instruction manuals, other technical documents requiring translation include operational or process documents that utilize technical terminology.
Additional documents and files necessitating technical translation services:
- Supply chain processes
- Maintenance guidelines
- Video training materials
- Technical websites
- eLearning courses
8 Strategies for Effective Technical Content Translations
What are the key elements for achieving high-quality translations of complex technical documents? Here are essential tips for a successful technical translation project.
Engage Professional Translators with Expertise
Using a technical translation agency can streamline the process of translating technical documents. A translation company typically employs a team of technical translators who have both subject matter expertise and proficiency in specific language pairs.
Your technical translator should not only be a native speaker of the target language but also possess deep knowledge in your specific industry. This expertise distinguishes seasoned translators from those with less experience in technical translation.
It is insufficient for a translator to merely know the source and target languages; they must also grasp your business’s specific language and the intricacies of your content. Technical documents, such as manuals, often include industry-specific jargon that may be obscure to those outside your field. A technical translator needs to thoroughly understand each term to accurately translate it for the target audience.
Translators must also familiarize themselves with the technical documentation before initiating the translation project. This preparation allows them to pose pertinent questions and plan the translation execution effectively. Part of this planning may involve deciding whether to create a termbase for glossary development. Any reference materials your company uses, like style guides or previous document versions, should also be available to the translation team.
Inadequate technical translation services can lead to significant issues, such as incorrectly translated equipment manuals, which could potentially result in accidents or equipment misuse.
Develop a Comprehensive Glossary
Creating a glossary that includes any industry or company-specific terms and grammatical rules is crucial. Preparing this document in advance helps technical translators start on the right foot, leading to precise translations and a reduced editing period. This proactive step also accelerates the translation process.
Reviewing your existing manuals to identify industry-specific terms, acronyms, or unique linguistic features is advisable during glossary development. Determine the essential terms for the process and include them in your glossary, while identifying replaceable terms with more commonly understood alternatives.
Understand Your Audience
Consider how the translated document will be used, the expertise level of its users, and the specific locale or country where it will be utilized. Collecting this information helps the translation company outline the project’s framework effectively.
If the document is intended for novices or the general public, avoid complex jargon and ensure instructions are clear and straightforward to prevent user frustration and unnecessary customer service interactions. Conversely, if the audience comprises industry experts, the content should be appropriately detailed and professional.
Additionally, assess whether the audience’s skill level is uniform. For example, a manual for household appliance users might assume basic operational knowledge, whereas safety guidelines for construction equipment might target both experienced foremen and new employees.
Leverage Technology in the Translation Process
Choose a translation company that employs technology to enhance its workflows and processes. Technologies such as computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, project management software, term bases, and machine translation options can optimize your project outcomes. Working with a translation company that offers tailored solutions to fit your specific needs can be highly beneficial.
Using CAT tools can simplify the technical translation process, providing a unified platform for maintaining glossaries and facilitating communication between you and your technical translation agency. These tools aid translators in working more efficiently, ensuring consistency, and managing costs effectively.
Which Chinese script should be selected for the Chinese translation services on your website? Whether the translation of technical documents is targeted for Mainland China or Hong Kong determines the choice between Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, respectively.
Each client’s requirements are unique, and the most effective strategy for any translation project involves thorough understanding and proactive questioning without making assumptions. For instance, in a recent project I handled for the Canadian government’s website, when discussing language requirements for the French translation services, it turned out they needed French suited for African contexts, not Canadian French, as the content was intended for use in African embassies.
Optimizing Technical Manuals with Visual Content
Technical manuals are often dense with text and complex technical terms. Consider the last refrigerator manual you saw—likely a dense array of small text segmented into sections by language. It’s not uncommon for these manuals to be quickly skimmed or discarded altogether.
Integrating pictures, graphics, and video support can significantly enhance the understandability of technical translations. Instructional diagrams, step-by-step illustrations, and videos can help users quickly grasp necessary actions. However, incorporating these visual elements also introduces complexity to the translation process, as both videos and images require translation, adding additional steps to the project.
Visual aids are crucial not just for breaking up text and easing comprehension but also because they cater to diverse learning styles. While some may prefer reading, others benefit more from visual instruction. A proficient translation company recognizes these differences and adapits content accordingly.
Positioning these visuals correctly is crucial—they should not be intertwined with text. This separation avoids complications during translation due to text expansion, where text that fits well in English might not in languages like German or Finnish, potentially requiring significant redesigns for each version.
Our translation company is observing an increasing use of videos in technical translation projects to aid understanding. The translation of video scripts, including time-coding and voiceover recording, requires careful timing. Some processes can proceed concurrently, while others must follow sequentially. Therefore, it’s advisable to compile all your content and files and send them for translation as early as possible to streamline the process.
Managing Your Technical Translation Needs Effectively
With the backing of skilled technical translation services, navigating your company’s multilingual needs becomes simpler, whether you’re dealing with a large or small technical translation project. Choosing a seasoned translation company is key.
At Wordely, we boast extensive experience in coordinating various components necessary for efficient and successful technical manual translation projects. We handle everything from manuals to videos and websites, always ready to assist. We strive to surpass your expectations by offering top-notch technical translation services at competitive prices and reasonable turnaround times. For a quote on technical translation services, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today—we look forward to connecting with you.
