translation industry Archives - The Department https://www.thedepartment.ro/tag/translation-industry/ Translation services for companies Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:40:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.thedepartment.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/d_logo_fav.png translation industry Archives - The Department https://www.thedepartment.ro/tag/translation-industry/ 32 32 Project Management Made Easy – Brief Handbook for Freelace Translators https://www.thedepartment.ro/project-management-made-easy-brief-handbook-for-freelace-translators/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:40:33 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=3779 We asked VTEX – global e-commerce platform supplier now NYSE-listed – to evaluate how we helped them with localization services in their rapid expansion, and the reality check was even greater than we could’ve expected.

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Efficient project management for your translation projects.

Before the pandemic started I had the amazing opportunity to share my thoughts about project management in the translation industry in front of an elite public, freelance translators interested in growing and expanding their horizon and professional network in the translation industry. The event was hosted in Cluj by TranslateCluj, and I had to speak in front of a large number of translators about this industry.

I initially felt as an impostor, as I am not a translator. I have no superior linguistic studies. However, here I was, standing in front of them, being passionate about this industry for 12 years back then and 15 years today. But I like to think that we do not sell translations, but project management services.

What started out as a side business introduced to me by my high school colleague soon became my baby. The Department was born out of my desire to do things my own way. With a great team on my side, the transition was smooth. We practically grew up together and continued our path guided by the same values, all respect-oriented. Even if it sounds cheesy, if you don’t value and respect yourself, no one else will. 

More simply said, it does not all revolve around earnings and checking a task off your list. It’s about the process and how you manage to handle everything. Our approach paid off during the past years: most of our clients have chosen us following a recommendation they received, and they choose us over and over again due to the good professional relationship that we have.  

During my experience as a people manager, project manager or business owner, I had the chance to experience first-hand what are the benefits of simply being respectful with the people you work with. 

It all goes beyond costs and deadlines. At the end of the day, it all comes down to being happy about how you managed to do your job, the relationships that you build and doing something meaningful. I always go by the saying: Treat others how you want to be treated. 

This is how my presentation on project management for translators looked like – not as pretty as the actual Power Point slides, but containing the same highlights:

Don’t forget to respect:
• yourselves
• your business
• the people your work with
• your clients

If you don’t value and respect yourself wholeheartedly, no one else will either.

Freelancing means…

  • being a translator
  • being a business owner
  • being an all-in-one employee: doing the books, handling your contracts, dealing with late payments, IT issues and all the rest.

Being a project manager, in fact.
Whether you realize it or not.

While drafting the slides for this presentation on project management in the translation industry, I took some time to talk to a few translators to have their input on what the ideal PM would look like. 

As you might notice, the wishes that the PM and the translator seem to have overlap quite a bit. I am curious how would you continue the list that I started earlier. Let’s see. We have the following so far: treat us as equals, be proactive, offer support and don’t be pushy. 

What boxes do you have to tick as a PM-Translator?

  • be competent, with technical expertise;
  • be organized;
  • be proactive and a multitasker;
  • be cool under pressure;
  • be flexible and creative;
  • be a great communicator;
  • meet the deadlines.

Aside from translating, remember that you:

  • drive sales;
  • manage contacts and contracts with clients;
  • draft quotes and follow-up with potential jobs;
  • prepare the projects for translation for end-clients;
  • keep your terminology resources up to date;
  • issue invoices and follow-up on payments.

Your time-management skills must be sky high in order to deal with everything in a professional manner.

Speaking of time management, take advantage of all the resources you can find, such as:

It might not seem such a difficult job writing an e-mail. But it is. And doing it just right, choosing the right tone, what to point out, what’s the perfect length it should have, if it serves its purpose. Or quite the opposite. 

It might seem basic, but some of our main challenges while training junior project managers were to make them see the big picture and properly addressing something. Be it an e-mail, a phone call, a request sent out to a fellow colleague or translator. 

Keep in mind these simple steps for an efficient management of your translation projects:

  1. reply to the requests in a timely and professional manner;
  2. perform a volume and time frame analysis before accepting a project;
  3. make sure you have a PO/payment/contract for the job;
  4. request clarifications or instructions;
  5. prepare the files for translation;
  6. translate and proofread;
  7. run a QA;
  8. perform the final touches on the layout and deliver on time;
  9. update the Translation Memory;
  10. make sure you issue the invoice and follow-up the payment;
  11. have a clear overview on your projects until they are closed (delivered and paid).

And remember: You already have a superpower. Babies can’t be delivered in one-month, whatever project managers will tell you.
Don’t be afraid to sometimes say NO.

••

We have a small collection of articles on our blog for your breaks from lists and work instruments. Two of these are on literary translations and creative writing – you can find them here.

Published on: 24.03.2023

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]]> CAT tools, termbases, glossaries, style guides: what are they and how do they help us. https://www.thedepartment.ro/cat-tools-termbases-glossaries-style-guides-translation-tools/ https://www.thedepartment.ro/cat-tools-termbases-glossaries-style-guides-translation-tools/#comments_reply Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:17:42 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=3649 About the added value technology brings  to your work in the translation industry and why you should consider using all the specific tools in your work.

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]]> About the added value they bring  to your work and why you should consider using them too.

CAT tools

What is a CAT tool or a computer-assisted translation tool? It is a software application which facilitates the work of translators around the world by automating certain processes during the translation project. But is a CAT tool enough to deliver impeccable translations? Of course not, but it could be. With a little help from the translator who contributes to improve the end result through linguistic rules and his own voice.

Since the beginning of the educational journey, we learned that a word may have several meanings, and it cannot be reduced to only one. And, of course, each meaning lends itself to a context. How can we use these meanings correctly? Well, with the help of glossaries, which underlie the terminological bases (termbases).

Glossaries

Glossaries represent a collection of terms, usually made up of two or even three columns: the source column, the target column and the column describing the meaning in a particular context or other comments that may be helpful. The last one is useful for the understanding and the right framing of a word within a text. With the help of glossaries, we can build termbases that can be used in CAT tools (computer-assisted translation software) to facilitate our work. Glory to technology!

Termbases

Termbases are basically glossaries created specifically to be used in a CAT tool. Among the best known CAT tools are Trados Studio, Smartcat, MemoQ, Phrase (previously known as Memsource), and Wordbee (integrated into a translation project management software). One of the most useful tools for creating a termbase is SDL MultiTerm, the resulting format being .sdltb. Other formats may be: .tbx, .xml, .csv etc. If the client sends from the beginning a file with the used terms, but it cannot be opened, you can use Glossary Converter, developed by SDL Studio, in order to convert it to a readable format. (e.g., Excel).

The creation and the use of a termbase assures the uniformity of terms in a translation, facilitating the translator’s research work, as the CAT tool automatically suggests the respective term. A well-done termbase from the beginning helps to prevent potential problems that may arise after the project has been delivered. The dialogue with the client and checking whether he has such a file or not are crucial steps in a translation process – this does not undermine the professionalism or the abilities of the translator, but on the contrary, underlines the capacity to understand the process of translation and the need for certain information given by the client. In case the client does not have a terminology base available, one can be created from scratch by selecting certain terms and entering their respective translations. It is sent to the client afterwards for validation. A lot of clients appreciate the increased care and effort for the quality of the delivered material, so do not be afraid to ask questions regarding the preferred terminology. It should be noted that termbases may be general, suitable for most projects or may be specific for a particular project or client.

Specific terminology bases (termbases) are designed and used just for certain projects, but this is an aspect that must be clarified before the translation process begins. For example, we can refer to a translation project that includes the content of an ecommerce website and a translation project of a platform interface. In the first case, the client prefers that the term “fulfilment” is used as such, while the second one requires to be translated as “completion” in the context of completing an order, head to tail. There is a difference here between the two termbases provided or built by us from scratch. Of course, we can create a single term file with more entries for the same term, but with a column describing the context of use of each variant: for the first one we will write “site content site”, and “platform interface” for the second one.

Style Guides

And because we’ve got the terminology right, we can raise the level of the text to make sure it presents the voice and the approach the client wants. Style guides represent the starting point when it comes to understanding, capturing and presenting the voice of a brand. Besides providing indications, a style guide contains certain language-specific rules: punctuation rules, such as using the right quotation marks in case of quotations or quotation within quotation, code writing, correct use of commas, writing of data, capitalization guidelines, writing certain words in a bold or slanted font (usually from a different source than the target language of the translation project), abbreviations of units of measurement, use of one term to the detriment of another, and many others.

So, in the majority of cases, the style guide is drawn up and provided by the client and represents a significant starting point to help us get familiar with the client’s preferred rules and writing style in order to match the target audience. On top of the style guide, the consultation of similar translation material to the respective project is recommended, materials provided by the client or available texts from his website, in order to get more and more familiar with the brand’s tone of voice.

The voice preferred by the client depends on the type of text, the text framing in a certain domain. For example, technical texts do not necessarily have a voice (e.g., user manuals),  but they have a heavy tone, and are formal – this cannot be otherwise, because they must  be clear, understandable, and on point, as they have to guide a user through a step-by-step process. On the other hand, the translation of marketing texts should have a resonant and catchy voice, because that is their goal: to get our attention. A marketing translation should sound natural and should be adapted to the market/audience, in such a  way that makes you think it has been initially written in that language. In this case, we use an informal approach (you and me – for English), which can be full of expressions, metaphors and word games, while keeping in mind the strict writing rules. The tone of voice of the source text will dictate the tone of voice of the translation as well, while taking into consideration local cultural aspects, stylistic guidelines or any orientations offered by the client.

For a CAT tool, the translation memories are just as important as the above, , but we will detail them in a future article.

So, these would be among the first elements that form the basis of a translation. Carefully picked and put together, these contribute to an impeccable text, no matter the field. Technology and communication bring us one step closer to earning the client’s trust.

 

We have a small collection of blog articles that you can find here.

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Published: 07.02.2023

 

 

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]]> https://www.thedepartment.ro/cat-tools-termbases-glossaries-style-guides-translation-tools/feed/ 0 Desktop Publishing (DTP) https://www.thedepartment.ro/desktop-publishing-dtp-processing-documents-for-cat-tools/ https://www.thedepartment.ro/desktop-publishing-dtp-processing-documents-for-cat-tools/#comments_reply Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:45:26 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=3537 Pre-processing and Post-processing Documents for CAT Tools  Nowadays, the processing of documents (DTP) for the translation phase is an essential step for the efficiency of the translation process as a whole, but also for the use of certain specialized programs…

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]]> Pre-processing and Post-processing Documents for CAT Tools 

Nowadays, the processing of documents (DTP) for the translation phase is an essential step for the efficiency of the translation process as a whole, but also for the use of certain specialized programs we currently have at our disposal in this field: computer-assisted translation software (CAT tools), translation memories, term bases and quality assurance programs (QA and QC). Without a properly formatted document, you might encounter situations in which you are not able to benefit from the above, as the text may be altered by numerous factors during the conversion process.  

 Furthermore, in the translation process, the involvement of a DTP specialist may be needed in the following two stages:  

  1. During the pre-processing stage of the source documents that need translation  
  2. During the post-processing stage of the resulted translation  

The pre-processing stage of the documents occurs when the source documents that need translation are not in an editable format (PDF, PNG, .dwg and other). Most clients put an emphasis on the final format of the translated documents so, in order to fulfill the clients’ needs, but also to be able to benefit from a series of specialized programs – which are significantly optimizing the work of a translator with the help of terminology resources and automated processes – throughout the translation phase, the documents must be first prepared for translation. 

 Pre-processing implies the following steps:   

  • analyzing the source document to identify the sections that need a detailed pre-processing and verification of certain aspects that may have an impact on the final translated document (double spaces, tabs, erroneous alignment, symbols, text converted into images and many more);  
  • converting the document into an editable format through specialized programs (for example, Abby FineReader, Smallpdf, Adobe, InDesign, CorelDRAW, among others);  
  • performing a proper “cleaning” of the document, respectively deleting symbols and characters that are not in accordance with the source text (which may arise during the conversion process), additional spaces that are not often visible, tags that may make the translation process more difficult (if using a CAT tool), which can be done with the help of a dedicated program (for example, TransTools);  
  • reformatting the document, which involves the verification of the document structure and the faithful reconstruction of the source formatting in the resulted document, by eliminating the possible issues that appeared following the conversion, including the transcription of text sections that may have not been processed and are still displayed in .png, .jpg or other image formats (this usually happens if the source document is a non-editable scanned document;  
  • ensuring that the source text is correct (including spelling, spaces, line breaks), using the various instruments that Microsoft Word offers;   
  • preparing the document for a CAT tool (if the case, using certain processing rules – like Regex – both for efficiency and for ensuring that the elements of the document have not changed);  
  • analyzing the document in the computer-assisted program (CAT tool) to ensure it has a correct segmentation and no further issues may arise in the process. This allows the use and leverage of all the entries of a translation memory (TM) and guarantees its optimal consolidation after the translation process.  

 Principal issues to consider during the verification phase:  

  • line breaks that result in an erroneous segmentation;  
  • spelling issues – ensuring that the source text is correct after the conversion;  
  • unnecessary section/page breaks;  
  • if certain fonts are unavailable for a specific language.  

 Without a proper processing of the layout of the document that is to be translated, a translator may encounter difficulties, both during the actual translation phase and when using or updating a translation memory:  

  • when analyzing a single document from a project (through comparison with the rest of the documents of the projects or with the help of translation memories and term bases), a faulty segmentation of its elements (phrases, short sentences, even words) will generate an incorrect analysis and, implicitly, will result in the inability of identifying them in the translation memories, being, thus, unusable;   
  • the existence of certain elements/characters resulted from the conversion of documents will be signaled through tags, which may harden the translation process and can, in certain situations, generate errors when importing and exporting documents in the CAT tool used for the translation.  

However, pay attention: not all tags are elements that must be erased from the content of the document – many of them represent important formatting placeholders (space breaks, strikethrough, bold, italic, punctuation marks and many more). These can be protected by implementing various Regex rules or by converting them into actual symbols and formats, actions that assist the translation process and avoid their accidental erasure.  

 In our translation projects, more often than not, we must outsource the pre-processing and post-processing stages to a DTP specialist, as the documents we receive for translation are usually in a PDF format, and the native files (INDD, IDML and other) are not available. Neither the PDF files nor other non-editable file formats are compatible with computer-assisted software (CAT tools), making the pre-processing stage a mandatory one, to harvest the benefits a CAT tool can offer.  

Communication with the final client is the foundation of a successful translation project; understanding the translation process and involving the client from the start is a crucial step for ensuring a seamless process. Moreover, clarifying certain aspects from the beginning (concerning format processing, preferred terminology, what should be left out from the translation) contributes to achieving extraordinary results.  

In an ideal scenario, the translation projects should include the following:  

  • a source file for each document, respectively the native file created in specialized programs, such as Adobe InDesign, CorelDraw, Visio, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office and others. In case the project contains a larger number of files, it is recommended to use an organized transfer method (along with a centralizing file containing all documents and their information, transfer via sharepoint/server and other);  
  • a file containing instructions and specifications on:  the target language, respectively specifications about the target audience and country in which the document will be used (for example, a translation into Spanish implies opting for adequate linguists and a quite different approach when it comes to translations that are used in Spain, Argentina, or Columbia); 
  • purpose of the translation: where will it be used, is it meant for internal use or does it have a specific scope, which is the desired result following its use (marketing, information or other)? The purpose of the translation helps in determining various aspects concerning the approach in the translation process: from the tone of voice (formal or informal) to the establishment of the stages (native revision, adaptation, localization) which the text will go through until the final version is reached;
  • if the case, highlighting certain specific aspects (to what extent is the adaptation necessary, do the images containing text need processing and translation, preferences regarding the tone of voice – should it be formal or informal, passive or active and other); 
  • a terminology glossary, a style guide, a term base, a translation memory, or reference materials for the content that needs translation; 
  • information on the desired deadline; 
  • information on the final format of the resulted translation, based on the requirements of the client (monolingual or bilingual, editable or non-editable, suitable for a CAT tool, in extract or in full and many more);
  • information of the internal revision process – if there is going to be a person within the company that will revise the translation or whom should be able to help in case of questions or needed clarifications;    

The post-processing stage of the resulted translation involves the verification of the target documents exported from a CAT tool. There are also the happy cases in which the documents sent to us for translation have already gone through a pre-processing stage, one performed by the client, or which, after our internal pre-processing, have resulted in no formatting errors (there could be slight differences because of the specifics of each language, but these do not require significant work) or these are native files.  

 This post-processing stage involves:  

  • including the external elements in the translated IDML file;  
  • ensuring the text is correctly displayed and that it is visible in the entire document; 
  • ensuring that all elements are correctly positioned and visible;  
  • ensuring that all links or other functional elements are working;  
  • ensuring both that the correct fonts were used and that these are used throughout the entire document to reflect the original document;  
  • ensuring that the formatting of the final translated document reflects the original document.  

Before finalizing the post-processing stage, a final verification of the translated file in an exported format (for example, PDF) is highly recommended. This way, the DTP specialist will be able to make the final amendments before saving the final package for the client.  

The following are the types of files processed by the DTP specialist: Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio), Adobe Creative Cloud (PDF, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign), CorelDRAW and many more.

In conclusion, technology has become a huge part of the translation process, and tools have become a must, the question no longer being whether to use them or not, but rather which best suits your needs. Currently, at least when we talk about specialized translations, a dictionary does no longer represents the only resource a translator needs to perform his work at the highest standards. In recent years, along with the advancements in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, we have seen an explosion of programs, tools and instruments that are able to aid (and make easier) a translator’s work – from software that converts documents to computer-assisted programs, which come bearing a great variety of incorporated functionalities for translation memories and term bases – translation technology puts the linguists in charge of the creative part of the process, while it takes care of the automated and repetitive tasks.

editare de documente, DTP

You can find a few more blogposts here – we seized the opportunity, and took a short break from the daily to-do lists and translations tools.
Date of publication: 10.01.2023

 

 

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]]> https://www.thedepartment.ro/desktop-publishing-dtp-processing-documents-for-cat-tools/feed/ 0 Partnership and customer care in the language industry https://www.thedepartment.ro/vtex-localization-partner-for-ecommerce-platform/ Thu, 12 Aug 2021 07:19:22 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=3313 We asked VTEX – global e-commerce platform supplier now NYSE-listed – to evaluate how we helped them with localization services in their rapid expansion, and the reality check was even greater than we could’ve expected.

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Why finding the right localization partner early on is vital to long-term success?

Providing services should come along with great customer care, and the language industry should be no exception, but an example of how communication should be at the very core of our training and business.

Relationship sells.

The best client is the one that you already have.

I am not much of a fan of sales trainings, but these two phrases stuck with me.

It’s not a coincidence that our motto is: “Not just a team of translators, but your translation department“. We built our business on this foundation, and it shows: 90% client retention and excellent relationships with all our clients.

If I were to make a list on what we have been doing for the past 13 years without having sales trainings or other sophisticated courses on business development, I would say these are some of our core beliefs:

  1. Place customers at the center of everything you do;
  2. Make customer services part of your brand’s DNA;
  3. Don’t overpromise. Be honest and keep your word;
  4. Be human. Avoid template-based communication;
  5. Help customers help themselves – it might look like you are losing business, but you gain trust and respect for your expertise;
  6. Be proactively helpful;
  7. Our client, our boss. Respect your client and make it about the partnership that you have;
  8. Maintain your focus throughout your entire collaboration, not just until you obtain the customer;
  9. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and treat them as you would like to be treated;
  10. Live their journey.

This is quite an introduction about how we managed to become a vital partner for the localization department of a global e-commerce platform supplier. What you need in a partner, and especially a localization partner, is for them to check as many boxes as they can from the above list, alongside with their expertise on translation and localization, of course.

We asked VTEX – global e-commerce platform supplier now NYSE-listed – to evaluate how we helped them in their rapid expansion, in our role of localization partner, and the reality check was even greater than we could’ve expected – it seems that our customer, when choosing the right partner, is also looking for the things we listed above.

VTEX’s global expansion: a localization perspective
Why finding the right partner early on is vital to long term success?

“VTEX, now a Brazilian unicorn NYSE-listed company and a leader in ecommerce solutions, started factoring in localization as it hit its first expansion roadblock in the US, where a native experience doesn’t entail a word-for-word translation of an interface, but rather comprises a comprehensive set of parameters that are unique to that regional target audience. Expanding into LATAM was one thing, this was a whole new ball game, and we needed to up the ante. At the same time, the first deals started coming in from Europe, with Romania, Italy, and Spain leading the way. An entirely new problem emerged for the first time, one that would increase in frequency as VTEX continuously expanded: none of the localization team members at that time (numbering a whopping 3 team members), spoke any Italian.

As Europe and the US became the new frontiers for the company, requests started flooding in, not just for localization into Spanish and English, but now also into Romanian and Italian. We urgently needed a partner, one that could work fast, with little notice, and understand what we needed even we weren’t so sure ourselves. After an exhaustive search which led nowhere, I was ready to give up on finding a global partner and instead try to work with smaller local ones where possible. During a weekly call with Cristi, then VTEX’s Romania country manager and now in charge of Eastern Europe, I expressed my frustration at not finding the partner I was looking for. His reaction was, “well, did you speak to Cristina from The Department?”. Which department is what crossed my mind, but then I understood. Cristina had worked with Cristi on a different project before, for another company, and as he put it, her company’s services were the best he’d seen.

Long story short, we partnered with them, and I’ve come to realize that it was one of those godsent moments that define a company’s long-term success. We’re a chaotic bunch, always racing against the incoming tide of an increasingly fast expansion, with localization being at the center of providing a native user experience, be it through a global setting or on a local user level. Our checkout module currently supports around 30 languages natively, and our admin is fully deployed in 7 languages; our blog posts and business case studies are published in 5-6 languages, and so on.

How can a team of 12 ever compete with the rest of the company, now at over 1300 strong? We can’t do it by ourselves, and here is where Cristina and her team come in. She is our localization project manager in all but her email address. She probably knows more about VTEX than most of our staff, and for a good reason, as she’s been personally managing and organizing all the requests that we cannot handle in-house.

Her team is dedicated, responds well to feedback, and most importantly, can deliver consistent quality in less than 24 hours. Together, we’ve launched Romanian and Japanese as full admin language options, have deployed our checkout front-end experience in more than 25 languages, and have overcome numerous challenges, from subtitling 50+ hours of training videos for LATAM partners to putting together a translation memory to training on the use of CAT tools. Finnish admin in a week? No problem. Arabic RTL layout expert? Sure. Korean UX changes for a native experience? All done.

Many of these things are not expected of a typical partner agency, but Cristina and her team have never let us down. We don’t consider them a partner; we consider them part of the team. If you’re looking for reliability and consistent quality at a moment’s notice, I would not recommend anyone else.”

Vladimir Montanu
Head of Localization at VTEX

••

We have a small collection of articles on our blog, for your breaks from lists and work instruments. Two of these are on literary translations and creative writing – you can find them here.

Published on: 12.08.2021

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]]> Thoughts and ideas on our current state of affairs https://www.thedepartment.ro/thoughts-and-ideas-translations-pandemic/ Sat, 11 Apr 2020 09:37:26 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=3004 Because our reality is more than just this virus. The reality is that we continue to exist, to work, to joke with our colleagues, to be closer than ever to the ones around us, in spite of the physical distance which separates us.

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TRANSLATIONS IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC

The silver lining or how to remain optimistic during the actual global circumstances. Here are some ideas on what to do.

First of all, we hope you are all well and in good health. Now, more than ever, we are thinking of the people around us, realizing the importance of standing by one another, whether we are thinking of our families, our colleagues, or our partners.

We were caught off guard in a situation without precedent in recent times. We found ourselves separated from our dear ones, from our fellow workers. Some of us have completely changed our way of working. While we are not ignoring the difficulties we are facing in this period, we have chosen to take stock of the good parts, as we experienced them at The Department, in the management of our translation projects, translations in the time of pandemic. Because our reality is more than just this virus. The reality is that we continue to exist, to work, to joke with our colleagues, to be closer than ever to the ones around us, in spite of the physical distance which separates us.

Take a look at some of the positive aspects we have experienced during this time:

  • Flexibility and streamlining of our way of working – in order to effectively manage working from home, especially when there are several members within the team, now is the time to introduce into the common procedure the instruments which can help you work more easily and more efficiently. Now, as well as in the future, whatever the future may look like;
  • Developing the ability to plan  a day, to plan your time – in order to have the discipline of carrying through your daily tasks, with the same concentration. And also the discipline of taking the much-needed breaks;
  • Diversifying, whether consciously or not, your people management techniques– so as to manage a remote team efficiently, as well as with empathy and support, against the current background;
  • Eliminating paperwork – since in Romania we still need papers and stamps for certain translations, this is a welcome break. For us and for the planet, as well. Our hopes are that we will then see a change, namely getting rid of certain useless procedures;
  • Spurring creativity – because we have to be creative and this seems to be an auspicious time. To keep our activities going, we have to come up with the most creative solutions. Or to make major changes in approaching the business. Now is the time to take stock of our priorities and skills and to reach major decisions, in order to strengthen what we have built so far. Needs change continually, and we have to keep up with them;
  • Empathy and strengthening our relations – because we noticed that absolutely all our interactions with our clients and our external co-workers have been incredible in this period. Absolutely everyone has been more understanding, more considerate to the others. This testifies to the fact that we have surrounded ourselves with valuable people and that we are truly partners, for better or for worse;
  • Specialization – because some of us may have the time to focus on improving our training, by taking classes which have always been on the to-do list and never became a priority;
  • Clarity – because now is the time to take a step back and clearly establish our priorities. Flight-or-fight mode. This assumes having an overview, which is so necessary for decision-making and for a coherent strategy, whether you are a freelancer or representing a business;

Considering the above, we wanted to share some ideas on how you can better manage this situation:

  1. Set up a clear budget. If your income has been affected, you should know what minimum average revenue you will be needing in the following months. Starting from there, make a list of all your expenses for this period. Check whether you can optimize some expenses.
    For instance: state aid that can be provided to you/negotiate a rent reduction. Ask for your accountant’s advice.
  2. Make a list of everything else you might need to manage your activity as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Check whether there are programs or other instruments which can help you and which you are not yet using:
    a. A cloud storage solution – One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc.;
    b. Task organization and management – Trello;
    c. Migration to an email client for more efficient organization of your mail – Outlook;
    d. Cloud-based CAT Tool – Wordfast Anywhere, Memoq Cloud, Wordbee etc.;
    e. Streamlining communication within the team – Slack (you can connect with Trello, LeaveBoard, and many other useful programs) + Zoom (or other video-conferencing platforms).
  3. Analyze your income statement and send out customized requests to the clients who have late payments, to make sure that they are supporting you in this period, confirming that they did not misplace the invoices and reminding them to pay the already-provided services.
  4. Communicate with your clients, so that they may know that you are operational and that you are there to support them. Communicate empathetically and in a supportive manner. Now more than ever.
  5. Conduct an analysis of your personal skills or of your team’s skills and set up a clear strategy applicable to this period. If your revenues have so far been based on conference interpreting or on interactions with the public, rethink the services you provide and make a change matching your strengths. Attend online classes, so that you may be prepared for the new approach.
  6. Remember your plan to have a website? Or a website in the foreign language you translate into? Now is the perfect time to carry this plan to completion.
  7. Invest time in having an overall view and a strategy. This is crucial.
  8. Don’t forget about emotional support. Be kind to yourselves and to your team.

Translations in the time of pandemic – we remain optimistic, by your side,
Cristina Tohănean and the team.

••

We have a small collection of articles on our blog, for your breaks from lists and work instruments. Two of these are on literary translations and creative writing – you can find them here.

Published on: 27.03.2020

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]]> About our customers – defining a good relationship (1/4) https://www.thedepartment.ro/customer-care-for-translation-clients/ Sun, 22 Mar 2020 13:12:31 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=2754 There is one thing we are sure of: we want to build a relationship with you, our customers. We want to stand by your side through your greatest challenges and to help you with the translations you need, whether they are written translations, conference interpreting or subtitles. So that you may feel like you have your own translation department, just one e-mail away.

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The key to a business based on respect

Building a partnership with our customers

There is one thing we are sure of: we want to build a relationship with you, our customers. We want to stand by your side through your greatest challenges and to help you with the translations you need, whether they are written translations, conference interpreting or subtitles. So that you may feel like you have your own translation department, just one e-mail away.

Enough about us. Let’s talk about you.

What about you, Our customers? Or our future customers? What do you need?

We believe every partnership takes shape if we start from the customer’s needs. Our 10 years in the industry have taught us that the customer’s needs are never limited at reducing translation costs. Or at receiving high-quality translations. Since we ourselves are in the customer’s position when it comes to our translators from the extended team, we have listed below some of the criteria which our customers have taken into account upon choosing us. The list is always open for additions.

The standards you have grown accustomed to:

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]]> About our customers – defining a good relationship (4/4) https://www.thedepartment.ro/criteria-for-a-good-relationship-with-clients/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 11:10:04 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=2606 Sales and negotiation trainings are not at all wrong to stress the fact that the relationship makes the sale, not the price. A relationship built with care and based on mutual respect, appreciation and collaboration, is always a win-win situation.

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Attention to details, Communication and Relationship

Criteria for a good relationship with clients

ATTENTION TO DETAILS

Details are important in every stage of a project.

  • Understanding the client’s requirements is the foundation of a translation project.
  • Analysing the documents that need translation and submitting complete and correct information to the team of translators is very important for quality translations.
  • The revision and the proofreading imply a very high degree of attention to the details.
  • Finalizing the project, which involves the verification that it complies with all the initial requirements, is the last stage of the translation project management process.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is the foundation of any optimal and healthy relationship. It is easy for our clients to address us any inquiry, because they are aware that this does not need to be made in an official manner, as they can talk to us as they would with any other co-worker. Communication in a business relationship is no exception to this rule. We are, after all, the co-workers from the Translation Department. Their Translation Department.

RELATIONSHIP

The last but not the least criterion is the relationship. Sales and negotiation trainings are not at all wrong to stress the fact that the relationship makes the sale, not the price. A relationship built with care and based on mutual respect, appreciation and collaboration, is always a win-win situation.

See: The criteria for a good relationship with clients

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]]> About our customers – defining a good relationship (2/4) https://www.thedepartment.ro/translation-provider-promptness-and-cost-optimization/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 11:10:03 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=2615 Our speed of reaction to the client's needs concerning translation services is, we believe, one of our most valued qualities. Additionally, we are very often congratulated for this by our clients, they appreciate this aspect of our collaboration.

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MOST WANTED CRITERIA WHEN LOOKING FOR A TRANSLATION PROVIDER

PROMPTNESS AND COST OPTIMIZATION

PROMPTNESS

Our speed of reaction to the client’s needs concerning translation services is, we believe, one of our most valued qualities. Additionally, we are very often congratulated for this by our clients. They appreciate this aspect of our collaboration. It may sometimes be exaggerated, but our internal policy is based on the idea that every client will receive a reply in maximum 30 minutes from the receipt of their request.

Even if, sometimes, this reply does not contain the final financial quote, but the requirement of certain clarifications of the project. More precisely, an e-mail in which we request more details from the client, so as to find the best solution for his needs. We notify the client every time that we are in the process of assessing the documents or the submitted information. The final purpose is to tailor the best assessment of the project together with the best quotation as your translation provider.

COST OPTIMIZATION

Whether you are a business owner or work for a local or multinational company, the translation needs of the company you represent will always be analysed in light of the budget, as well. We all have objectives concerning the budget and we are aware of this. As a translation provider, it is important not to sacrifice the quality of the translation services while achieving these objectives.

See: The criteria of a good relationship with clients

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]]> About our customers – defining a good relationship (3/4) https://www.thedepartment.ro/quality-translation-services-on-time-delivery-translations/ Mon, 13 Jan 2020 10:55:18 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=2620 A translation of an impeccable quality may be useless when it is sent late. Quality, promptness and on time delivery. TThe last two are two different concepts. You may answer the client's request promptly and rapidly, but miss the deadline promised to the client.

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PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A TRANSLATION PROVIDER

QUALITY TRANSLATION SERVICES AND ON TIME DELIVERY

QUALITY

Whereas quality is not at the top of our list of criteria, this does not mean it is not important. On the contrary, it is fundamental when we talk about written translations, interpretation or any other services associated to the translation industry. We offer quality translation services. This list does not present the aspects that are important for the beneficiary of the translations in terms of their weight factor, but it sums up the criteria we believe to be important and which we think must be checked off of the list. A very simple example: A translation of an impeccable quality may be useless when it is sent late, as it may very well be that the term for submitting a file in which the translation is needed was missed.

ON TIME DELIVERY

Promptness and on time delivery. Two different concepts. You may answer the client’s request promptly and rapidly, but miss the deadline promised to the client. This way, the submitted translation, even if it is high-quality, even if the costs are optimized, cannot be used. Additionally, the late delivery of a translation may generate serious damages, which cannot be compensated by the smaller price paid or to be paid by the client for the requested service.

See: The criteria of a good relationship with clients

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]]> Mircea Pricăjan •• Author and translator https://www.thedepartment.ro/literary-translation-creative-writing/ Mon, 13 May 2019 05:48:19 +0000 https://www.thedepartment.ro/?p=2485 You learn the craft of writing through exercise. You imitate at first, then you start coming closer to your own true self. Step by little step at a time. You do it through reading, certainly. There is no way around that. But sometimes some lucky ones get a chance to translate literature.

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Literary Translation as a Workshop for Creative Writing

This is a very vast topic. All I can do is scratch at its surface and use my personal experience as a short introduction of sorts.

The other day I searched the Internet for this exact phrase: ‘literary translation workshop for creative writing’. I got back more than 1 million search results. All the major Western universities, English-speaking Western universities seem to have some form of this topic in their curricula. Which is kind of weird. Because why would someone coming from a dominant culture think of linking creative writing (an honest subject matter, by comparison) to translation? Such an exotic concept!

But indeed there’s no better way—not that I know of—of learning the ‘secrets of the craft’. Because, let’s face it, every translator wishes deep down inside his or her own heart to be one day the name on the cover, and not the one hidden somewhere inside the book. Almost like a character. I know that I did that! I nurtured that desire with every new book I translated, and most of the time that kept the writer in me satisfied.
If nothing

If nothing else, I was a writer by proxy.

And from quite early on I started to use all the authors I translated to study their craft. In other words, I started seeing translation as creative rewriting.
There was a clear cut moment for that… epiphany. A tipping point. Up until then I had worked relentlessly and almost mindlessly to churn away book after book, most of them by the grand master of the macabre, none other than Stephen King. And funny enough it was also one of his books that rewired my thinking. It was a book about writing. Eleven years to the day that was. In 2007, four years after I had started making a living by translating literature, I received a message from one of the publishing houses I was working with. They wanted me to start translating On Writing.
Well, I have to say this book did it for me. It ended my long-lasting love affair with the author, and it gave me a push to start seeing things in a different light.

Don’t get me wrong. On Writing is a terrific book. In fact, you most certainly would find it in almost all those Western university’s course bibliographies. It teaches you all you need to know about plot, character, dialogue, back-story, about the dreadful trap of the adverbs, while also stating a few things about the right mindset of a natural-born writer. All good precious things, all true, and delivered in the author’s most honest voice. But, you see, they were all at the same time things that I had seen at work before in Stephen King’s books. I, his translator, maybe his most attentive reader, kind of knew his tricks before he decided to lay them down in front of everybody, in On Writing. And by doing that he really spoiled it for me. On Writing taught me to question every turn of phrase.

After that, only after that I started growing as a translator. And that is because the writer in me needed more. He needed to see for himself that … ‘there are other worlds than these’, to quote from The Dark Tower.

And, like the gunslinger’s world, I moved on. I moved to Ballard, I moved to Palahniuk, I moved to Joyce Carol Oates, I moved to H. P. Lovecraft, I moved to Raymond Chandler, I moved to Denis Johnson … I experimented with their prose, I was eager to learn—and not merely to … earn. I knew that I had access to the best creative writing course in the world. I struggled with Palahniuk’s syncopated prose because I wanted to understand its workings—and I finally did it, otherwise one can never translated truthfully a book. I plowed through Ballard’s hypnotic prose searching for its beat, hearing it closer and closer, until I managed to dance to its techno-trance-like rhythm. I then walked the meandering paths that Joyce Carol Oates uses to guide us through time and space by way of a sometimes very prolix narrative. I followed detective Marlowe, so witty and gay, always having a sharp answer to give. After that I was for almost a year that despicable unreliable narrator Willkie Collins, in Dan Simmons’ Drood. The list could go on and on and on …

You learn the craft of writing through exercise. You imitate at first, then you start coming closer to your own true self. Step by little step at a time. You do it through reading, certainly. There is no way around that. But sometimes some lucky ones get a chance to translate literature. They are handed literally with a permit to imitate. You do it unconsciously for a while, but sooner or later you start seeing patterns, you digest them and make them into reflexes, they become a part of you. A writer who also translates is not only the sum of the books he or she has read, but also the sum of the authors he or she has sung playback after.

This is a very vast topic. And the beauty of it, I think, is that no matter how hard you try, you can always only scratch at its surface. What happens in the deep blue stays in the deep blue. Untranslated ananand untranslatableand untranslatable by conventional means.
and untranslatable by conventional means.

••

[ Mircea Pricăjan is an author and literature translator from English into Romanian. His most recent published book is Pumn de fier. He has been translating over 60 volumes from English into Romanian.]

You can find other literary translation articles here.

This article is from „Confluențe – Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula Limbi și literaturi moderne Oradea, 2018” and has been published with the author’s approval.

Publishing date: 13.05.2019

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