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Even if you have a highly qualified and experienced language services provider (LSP), the quality of the final product is highly dependent upon how well the original text is written. Below are some suggestions for writers and developers to keep in mind when writing for a global audience to help avoid costly mistakes during translation, and to improve the quality of the final translation.
• Think Ahead: When creating educational content for your company, consider whether or not it may be used internationally at any point. If it will, be sure to consider how you write so that it is easier to translate down the road – be clear, concise and simple – and keep the other tips below in mind as you write. Remember, your text will serve as the base for content in other languages via translation.
• Create New Words: If you are planning to enter a new market, it may be necessary to coin new words if the target language does not have equivalent terms, or if the concept/item does not exist in the target country. Create a glossary of terms that you can update as needed.
• Consider Cultural Differences: Keep in mind that words and concepts that exist in one country may not exist in another, or may be very different. For example, governmental departments, educational levels in school, grading systems, political parties, units of measure, etc. vary between countries. In these instances, it is best to provide context as necessary, i.e. “middle school students (11 – 14 year olds)“. Since you can never anticipate all of the possible mismatches that could occur between the English vocabulary and other languages, a suggested approach is to build redundancy into your writing, to provide clearer context for the overall message.
• Avoid Colloquialisms: Colloquial words and phrases may not be relevant or applicable to the wider audience you are trying to reach. Informal words and phrases that we use in everyday conversations should be avoided. If you are in doubt about a certain word, refer to a dictionary. If the word is labeled “non-standard, informal, colloquial or slang,” it is best to avoid using it.
• Remain Neutral: Try to use neutral phrasing that does not indicate bias or opinion. While everyone has a point of view, that view is just one of the many possible viewpoints that could reasonably be held. It is important not to leave yourself open to misinterpretation or, worse, risk offending your audience.
• Look at the Big Picture: It is very easy to get caught up in content, but it is equally as important to consider how well your terminology, branding and corporate language will translate and be viewed by a new market. It is for this reason that in-country review, by a subject matter expert or an experienced translator who speaks the target language as a native and understands the culture of the target market, is always a best practice.
