English
Italian translation: technical translation
An
introduction
Why
an engineer?
Translation
works done
A few suggestions
Dictionaries,
specialist tools
This
site in Italian:
Traduzioni
inglese italiano, traduzioni tecniche
U. Boccioni, Dynamism of a Cyclist, Milan, Mattioli Coll., detail
Send
the text
to get an exact quotation. The quotation
can be binding when the text is sent in an electronic form so that an
accurate automatic keystroke count can be done. When it is not possible
to get such an automatic count, the quotation will be approximate, and
the cost will be calculated on the final keystroke count of the translated
text.
Send
the text in an electronic format
It would considerably help
the translator, and guarantee the quality of the translation. The translator
works with a word processing tool (like Microsoft Word), not a
desktop publishing tool. All texts in .pdf format (Adobe PDF) will be
returned as .doc documents; Microsoft PowerPoint slide presentations
(.ppt format) and Microsoft Excel texts (.xls format) will be returned
in the same format in which they were sent. If your text is in a format
other than .doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls, .txt or .rtf, contact the translator
to check the feasibility of the work.
Give
the translator the time he needs
Translations
done in a hurry are never the best!
Remember:
your translator needs time not only to translate the pages of text that
you have sent, doing all the necessary research to do with the terminology
of the sector, but he also needs time to re-read the work he has done,
to get any revisions done by a specialist, to organise the terminology
for future use. Your translator does not just sell you a translation,
but renders a service, that includes:
» the
translation,
» a
second reading and correction of any errors,
» any
revision or advice from a specialist, where needed,
» page
layout, so that the translated text has the same look as the source
text,
» the
acquisition and memorisation of specific terminology so that successive
translations are consistent,
» the
integration of any reasonable amount of corrections you make to the
text during or after the translation within a reasonable time.
Supply
the translator with a context
so that he can better understand
what it is about, especially in the case of machinery or complex technical
devices (the whole page or the whole article, even if only a part needs
to be translated, other articles or text, photographs, drawings, even
if they do not contain text). If possible, supply other texts written
in the target language on the same topic, outdated versions of the document,
texts already translated into other languages. Help construct a dictionary
of terminology exactly for your sector and your company that reflects
your jargon and your abbreviations.
Avoid
supplying just lists of words
or short expressions pulled out
of context, because this can make translation impossible when ambiguities
in terminology cannot be solved. If possible leave drawings or photographs
in the document since they can be a big help and can be decisive in
resolving ambiguities in the text.
The
translator is the best reader of your texts
He has to read it from beginning to end
and resolve each ambiguity, he can find errors and inconsistencies and
bring them to your attention, and this is also part of the service he
offers.
And
finally, create a long-term relationship
and give some feedback on the work
he has done for you: in this way the results can constantly get better,
satisfying both you and the translator.