| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | What's the easiest way to find a translator for an uncommon language pair? Thread poster: Carl Robinson
|
|---|
What's the easiest way to find a translator for an uncommon language pair and with specific industry experience?
Hypothetical: I need a Japanese to Hungarian translator with industrial experience in nuclear reactor technology. I also need a Russian to Swahili translator to translate an advanced guide to plyometrics. How do I find a suitable company or individuals who can offer this service today?
| | | | Noura Tawil 
Syria
Local time: 11:21
Member (2013)
English to Arabic
| MariyaN (X)
United States
Japanese to Russian
+ ...
| Start with the language pair and see how big the pool of translators is | Apr 26, 2014 |
If you start with just the language pair, you will be able to see how far you can go in terms of your requirements regarding experience etc.
The problem with uncommon language pairs is that you can, perhaps, find a translator for any language pair, but you cannot afford being picky about their specialization and experience.
If you are looking for a "Japanese into Hungarian translator with industrial experience in nuclear reactor technology", you may not be able to find one un... See more If you start with just the language pair, you will be able to see how far you can go in terms of your requirements regarding experience etc.
The problem with uncommon language pairs is that you can, perhaps, find a translator for any language pair, but you cannot afford being picky about their specialization and experience.
If you are looking for a "Japanese into Hungarian translator with industrial experience in nuclear reactor technology", you may not be able to find one until you drop the "industiral experience in nucaler reactor technology" requirement. Or find the right Hungarian with the experience you need and teach him/her Japanese. Same is true for Russian into Swahili.
In many cases, translating into English instead of rare or not widely spoken language can be an option.
You should also keep in mind the total number of people who speak the language, then imagine what proportion of that number would be working as translators, with even smaller proportion of those translators working in the language pair you need. And then think how realistic the goal of finding a translator in this language pair is.
I remember seeing a job posting here on ProZ in which a client wanted a Latvian/English interpreter who, for some reason, was also required to be a native speaker of English. Number of quotes was 0. ▲ Collapse
| | | | nrichy (X)
France
Local time: 10:21
French to Dutch
+ ...
| English as the intermediary language | Apr 26, 2014 |
Information is first translated into English and then from English in the other language(s). This often happens even for common fields and rather common language pairs, and not only because of a lack of translators but also because of the cost aspect.
For instance for cosmetics: Japanese > English > all other languages.
Or for financial information: French > English > Dutch.
Besides that, translators in rare language pairs are often allround translators. The first proble... See more Information is first translated into English and then from English in the other language(s). This often happens even for common fields and rather common language pairs, and not only because of a lack of translators but also because of the cost aspect.
For instance for cosmetics: Japanese > English > all other languages.
Or for financial information: French > English > Dutch.
Besides that, translators in rare language pairs are often allround translators. The first problem is to find a good translator, and then to have him specialize in that special field. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| If you don't find him on Proz... | Apr 26, 2014 |
You can find what you are looking for by searching in the directory of the translator's association of the country involved...
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 04:21
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| For a rare language | Apr 27, 2014 |
Mohamed Mehenoun wrote:
You can find what you are looking for by searching in the directory of the translator's association of the country involved...
I doubt there is any translators association in the country involved. And even if there is one, there might not be a directory on its website.
[Edited at 2014-04-27 06:13 GMT]
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 16:21
Chinese to English
| Sometimes they just don't exist | Apr 27, 2014 |
You can usually find a translator for any pair, but throw in the specialisation requirement and you might be looking for something that isn't there. In which case you have to decide on the least-worst alternative: a non-specialist? Translation through a pivot? Using specialist proofreaders? On site translation or interpreting? It would depend on the specifics of the job.
| | | | | You cannot possibly entrust a nuclear energy translation to someone who does not specialize | Apr 27, 2014 |
in the field. It might really be wis to translate the text through English using nuclear energy engineers rather than give it to just any translator in the original pair. I think, however, that I saw a very qualified technical translator--Japanese to Hungarian here--on this site. Please look carefully, US based. Russian to Swahili--there might be some people like that who either moved to Russia or studied for a degree in Russia (most likely people from Africa-not Russia, although anything is pos... See more in the field. It might really be wis to translate the text through English using nuclear energy engineers rather than give it to just any translator in the original pair. I think, however, that I saw a very qualified technical translator--Japanese to Hungarian here--on this site. Please look carefully, US based. Russian to Swahili--there might be some people like that who either moved to Russia or studied for a degree in Russia (most likely people from Africa-not Russia, although anything is possible).
[Edited at 2014-04-27 08:54 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| Writing the dictionary as you go along | Apr 27, 2014 |
My husband was once involved in a technical translation from Danish to Latvian.
The professional translator was Latvian and specialised in English, but knew some Danish. The engineers with the subject knowledge were Danish and not language experts at all. My husband was actually the IT and finance manager, but knew the firm and its products and both Danish and English, but he ended up being an important part of the process. They simply held a lot of meetings to confer...
... See more My husband was once involved in a technical translation from Danish to Latvian.
The professional translator was Latvian and specialised in English, but knew some Danish. The engineers with the subject knowledge were Danish and not language experts at all. My husband was actually the IT and finance manager, but knew the firm and its products and both Danish and English, but he ended up being an important part of the process. They simply held a lot of meetings to confer...
It was far too technical for me to be involved, luckily!
[Edited at 2014-04-27 13:07 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
you are making it up...
| | | | Karahan Sisman
Türkiye
Local time: 11:21
Member (2010)
English to Turkish
| If you find that translator... | Apr 27, 2014 |
...get ready to pay at least 100 USD per word
| | | | Noura Tawil
Syria
Local time: 11:21
Member (2013)
English to Arabic
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: you are making it up...
Yeah, but the asker already said that it's "Hypothetical"
| | |
|
|
|
jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 04:21
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| So you were kidding when you told him to search the directory | Apr 27, 2014 |
Noura Tawil wrote: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: you are making it up... Yeah, but the asker already said that it's "Hypothetical"
Weren't you?
| | | | Noura Tawil
Syria
Local time: 11:21
Member (2013)
English to Arabic
jyuan_us wrote: Noura Tawil wrote: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: you are making it up... Yeah, but the asker already said that it's "Hypothetical" Weren't you?
Oh, no... That was a genuine advice, try it for yourself 
Have a smooth and productive week!
| | | |
I missed that bit... well, I was right, then...
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » What's the easiest way to find a translator for an uncommon language pair? | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
