There's more to translation than words and phrases. It's the precise communication of ideas. From a single-word warning label to multi-media marketing tools, the message is shaped by culture, connotations and nuances in language and graphics.
At Techno-Graphics, we've developed a step-by-step process to ensure that your message is accurate and will be understood. Beyond simply translating, desktop publishing and printing, our service includes elements of total project management that result in a superior product:
- Pre-production consultation. Drawing on our experience, we work with the client to create or organize the language and structure of the original document. We work with our customers to ensure that their documents do not contain ambiguous instruction, confusing technical terms or word length that interferes with intended design.
- Team selection. Based on the client's industry, target audience and communication goals, we select and assign the project manager, who assembles an optimal production team of translators, editors, desktop publishing professionals and mechanical proofreaders.
- Translation memory and glossary building. During initial consultations, throughout the translation process and upon completion of the project, the terminology of the client's document is organized in a glossary and memory database . Translators draw on the efficiency of the Trados Translator's Workbench to develop a consistent and precise final product, while compiling a company-specific or document-related memory of common phrases or terminology. In addition to enhancing language consistency, these tools can also reduce the cost of repetitive translation efforts within a single project or be used cost-effectively for subsequent assignments.
- Linguistic review/editing. The project manager coordinates quality checkpoints throughout the process, drawing on alternate linguists to evaluate the primary translator's work for accuracy and cultural propriety.
- Graphic artwork production and desktop publishing analysis. Along with preparing the document for print, we consult with the client on design decisions to ensure consistency, aesthetic quality, cost effectiveness and cultural acceptance. We also work proactively with the client early in the project to minimize design problems resulting from language expansion. (See: Desktop Publishing Professionals)
- Mechanical proofreading and final review. The accuracy and effectiveness of document organization through desktop publishing is analyzed using our mechanical proofreading capabilities. Text elements in the document also undergo the linguistic review/editing process, once again, to ensure accuracy and consistency, including terminology use and measurement conversion.
- Encoding for efficient information management. Integrated with our use of Trados is our capability to encode or mark up the document, using SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language). SGML tags segments of the document according to information content (e.g., copyright information, product specifications), as well as by structure (section heading, paragraph). It enables the document to pass with ease through stages of translation and production among multiple platforms or programs (such as Interleaf, FrameMaker or PageMaker). And it serves as a database of portable information modules for the client's subsequent translation projects.