Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News
Magazine
PMPN Article Index
Originally Published December 2000
LANGUAGE MATTERS
Is There a Translator in the House?
Finding a qualified translator for technical packaging presents numerous pitfalls. Here are some tips on avoiding them.
By Robert Sprung
"Can somebody get a translator to put this into Spanish?" This question can be heard in packaging departments from coast to coast as companies rush to meet international demand for their products. But how can you know if the person doing the actual translation is a qualified resource when you don't speak the language the person has been hired to supply?
Unfortunately, there is no simple test to administer or magic interview question to ask. Yet the implications of hiring an unqualified resource are profound, given that labeling errors--the clear domain of translators--are the single biggest source of product recalls.
What follows is an attempt to break through some common misconceptions and to provide some guidance through the labyrinth of evaluating resources.
Part of the problem is the mind-set that, to get something translated, you simply need to find a translator. In reality, most companies need a process.
The first step is to perform a cost-benefit analysis. This will help to determine whether the translation process should be taken inside or be outsourced. If you are producing a large volume of translation in Spanish, for example, but that large volume occurs in short bursts at unpredictable intervals, it is unlikely that you would want to hire two full-time Spanish linguists.
Next, hire a translation coordinator before hiring a translator. Many companies rush to hire a linguist when their real need is for a manager. That manager should be a documentation professional, ideally with significant foreign language experience. Groups such as the Society for Technical Communication (http://www.stc.org) have burgeoning international interest groups, and are excellent venues for recruiting.
Keep in mind that using a "translator" does not necessarily give you a "translation." The words that you will ultimately affix to a label are not the work of a single person, but rather that of a number of professionals. A typical translation process includes
1. Translation: Conversion of the source language into the target language by a native speaker.
2. Editing: Careful revision by a second native speaker of that language.
3. Mechanical Review: Verification of all names, numbers, and company-specific conventions.
4. Graphics and Layout: Selection of art and its placement.
5. Proofreading: Final validation by a linguist.
When you really do need a translator, hire a professional. Americans are simply not used to dealing multilingually as part of standard business practices. Thus, there are those U.S. managers who do not view translation as a real profession. And the problem is not merely one of perception: In the United States, where tens of thousands earn their livelihood from translating, only a handful of institutions offer advanced degrees in translation. In other words, most of the people doing translation in this country have not studied it formally, and they have only on-the-job training.
Use the following checklist to ensure that you are hiring a professional, one who can stand up to the scrutiny of your regulatory affairs department. Qualifications to look for are
- Specialized translation training, ideally at an accredited institution.
- Certification in translation from a nationally approved body or an organization like the American Translators Association (ATA).
- Membership in a professional organization (e.g., the ATA Chronicle is an excellent recruitment source; visit http://www.atanet.org).
- A proven track record in technical documentation.
- Work experience abroad that is recent and appropriate to your needs.
- Technical training in a related field.
Robert Sprung is the chairman of Harvard Translations (Cambridge, MA). His latest book, Translating Into Success, includes case studies in multilingual labeling and is available on amazon.com. To contact him, send e-mail to robert_sprung@ htrans.com or visit www.htrans.com.
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