04/ 09/ 2002
by Linda Formichelli
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone in the universe conducts business in English. So if you're targeting customers outside the U.S., at some point you'll need to translate your materials into another language. Here, we give you the scoop on translation options for a small business.
Free Online Services
The price is right, but can you depend on free online translation services to handle your important business documents? "I wouldn't say it's appropriate for all documents," says Kristi Kaspar, senior PR manager for the AltaVista Company, which provides the free service BabelFish, at http://babelfish.altavista.com. "What we see small businesses using BabelFish for the most is translating customer e-mails."
If you do decide to use a free service to translate a lengthier document, it's a good idea to have the final product vetted by a native speaker--a lesson learned the hard way by Agnes Huff, president of Agnes Huff Communications Group in Los Angeles, who used a free online service to translate a document for a doctor named Rude. "The doctor's name was translated literally to the word 'rude'," recalls Huff.
Another free service is from Internet Language Co., at www.translation.net.
Business Translation Software
Business translation software can be as easy to use as a word processing program: Just select a text to translate, choose the source language and target language, and click the start button.
In addition to being quick and easy, business translation software can be inexpensive; Systran Translation Software, for example, costs $79. However, you may not find software for less common languages, such as Ukrainian or Thai, and, says Kaspar, "All machine translation is about 80 percent accurate." That means you should always have a native speaker examine the finished product.
To find business translation software, visit www.multilingualbooks.com.
Translators/Translation Agencies
Some businesses turn to ye olde human translators, who are better than machines at picking up nuances and idioms. What's more, you can always find translators who are proficient in uncommon dialects or languages.
The price for human translation varies depending on the material, the languages involved, the length, and other considerations. A page may run from $30 to $120, according to Gabe O'Meara, president of AAA Translators, Inc. in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.atanet.org to find a translator.
Some tips for hiring a translator or a translation agency:
- Get recommendations from other small businesses that have used translators.
- Be clear about what you want and what format (disk, hardcopy, etc.) you want it in.
- Rush jobs cost more, so try to allow plenty of time.
- Find a translator who is proficient in your subject matter.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2001 issue of MyBusiness Magazine, NFIB's member magazine.
