Accessing Translation Services

Translations take time to produce and this should be built into the production process and considered when carrying out consultations.

All Council publications need to carry a translation panel which says how customers can get a copy of the document in a community language or alternative format.

The starting point for any translation should be a plain English text of the document to be translated. It should be grammatically correct, clear and concise.

You should consider if the whole document needs to be translated or if a summary would be more appropriate.

You should also consider if a translation is the best option for the customer. Translations should always be seen as a supplement to, and not a replacement for, getting an interpreter. Similarly, you should consider if a written translation is the best way to meet your customer's needs. Would an audio tape be more appropriate?

There are a number of things that can challenge the skills and expertise of the translator. These include:

- ambiguities, abbreviations, jargon or colloquialism, puns, word play and sayings or proverbs where there is no direct equivalent of an English term in the target language, for example, there is no direct equivalent of "Council/Local Authority" in Urdu

- where questions about the translation will be followed up by someone who can't understand the target language.

Key questions to ask yourself when considering getting a document translated are:


1. Does it really need to be translated?
Rather than translate all documents in full, assess what information is actually needed. Translate only relevant sections of existing documents, or produce shorter documents in your own language and have these translated.

2. Can you use pictures?
Use of maps, pictograms and diagrams can be more effective than text. Only use text when you have to, or when it is the most effective means of getting your message across.

3. Are there too many cultural references?
For example references to national sport may not be understood, and references to the human body can be viewed differently by different cultures.

4. How important is style?
Many translators/translation companies often supply 'for information' translation as standard work, rather than a 'rewrite' or 'adaptation'. To avoid misunderstanding, clarify this up front. Get it in writing.