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Why Join a Professional Translation Association in 2023?

Feb 01, 2023

Professional associations exist in almost every industry in all corners of the world. And for good reason. So, let’s take a look at what key qualities define a professional association in the language industry, why joining a professional association is beneficial to veteran linguists and fledgling translators alike, the different types of associations, and a few noteworthy examples from around the world. What is a Professional...

The Power of Specializing as a Freelance Translator

Jan 06, 2023

Being a ‘specialist’ in the translation field is not clearly defined, but for freelance linguists, ‘specializing’ generally denotes a focus on one or more specific fields rather than trying to translate every document that comes your way. Sometimes less really is more and here’s why. The Benefits Specializing enables you to work more efficiently and earn more since the more you know, the quicker you can...

Who’s the Boss? Translating for Direct Clients vs. Translation Agencies

Dec 02, 2022

All freelance translators know their success depends on their ability to find, win over, and keep clients. But some translators target specific potential buyers, which can be broadly categorized as either direct clients or agencies. The difference can impact a translator’s day-to-day work, resume, or career progress. Job Stability With mass layoffs making headlines worldwide, it’s natural for translators to consider the...

3 Key Factors to Consider When Setting Your Translation Rates

Nov 14, 2022

Knowing what to charge as a freelance translator is a very big challenge. How much you should charge is on a case-by-case basis and can be influenced by a number of factors. These factors include the domain you are working in, the deadlines that you are working to, and the language pair. Domain Domain expertise is one factor that affects the price. For example, a legal or technical document requires specialized knowledge and...

In Transcreating Medical Marketing Content, the Challenges of Regulatory Language

Sep 28, 2022

Medical writers have to adhere to numerous guidelines and regulations surrounding what can or cannot be said about a medical or a pharmaceutical product. Marketing language is even trickier, as copywriters have to transmit a message that captures the advantages of a product, at the same time staying within regulatory language constraints . By the time medical and pharmaceutical promotional materials reach the stage of transcreation , a...

Localization Pro As Cultural Broker: Are You Truly Fluent in Your Client’s Language?

Sep 21, 2022

A fair amount of cultural education takes place in the form of customer care when it comes to clients who may be completely new to language services — let alone other languages and cultures. Industry cultural skills are as important as global cultural knowledge for localization pros, and can have a direct impact on the provider's financials. Let's say you’re working for a language service provider ( LSP ), and your day...

Teamwork in the Translation Industry

Aug 11, 2022

Whether it’s an all-hands-on-deck emergency or a predictably recurring high-volume job, teamwork is not uncommon in the translation industry. Here’s a peek at some of the most common “team projects” you’ll encounter, and tips for excelling in each situation. You + Freelancers Both vendor managers and project managers interact with freelance translators daily — a relationship...

Referrals 101

Jul 28, 2022

Unless you’re currently at your first job ever, you’re probably familiar with the practice of providing references who can attest to the quality of your work. (For freelancers, these tend to be testimonials excerpted on a resume, profile, or website.) Referrals, on the other hand, are your chance to pay it forward by sharing the name of someone you think could be a good match for a job opening with your current employer (or...

A Guide To Video Translation Terminology

Jun 28, 2022

In a world where the video streaming market has skyrocketed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to an increase in video production and translation services, it’s important to know the relevant terminology so you can effectively communicate your needs when choosing to work with a Language Service Provider that specializes in video translation services. Subtitles Vs. Captioning Some people tend to refer to...

What’s a Translation Management System and How to Choose One

Jun 22, 2022

A translation management system or TMS is a type of software designed to simplify the management of translation and localization projects. It helps streamline the workflow of language teams, track progress, and reduce manual operations via automation. There are various specialized TMSs on the market. While each is best suited to a specific use case, they typically include three parts: workflow automation tools, project management and...

What is TEP and Why Is It So Important?

Jun 14, 2022

TEP is a popular acronym used in the translation industry which stands for Translation , Editing and Proofreading , a cornerstone of the workflow of many language service providers. These three steps are arguably the most important stages of any translation project which will ensure a high-quality outcome. While the process may vary between each project, the core stages are fixed. Each stage consists of different linguists who have had...

How to Create a Terminology Glossary and Why It’s Important

Jun 13, 2022

A terminology glossary is a list of defined key terms used by your company and clients with their approved translations in all target languages. Creating a glossary at the beginning of a translation project is an effective way to eliminate uncertainty during the translation process. It also decreases the time spent looking up definitions for complex terminology. What’s more, it can benefit future translations, allowing...

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