Businesses catering to customers worldwide rely heavily on accurate technical translations to communicate across languages, expand their reach and maintain consistency across international markets.
Whether you’re converting instruction manuals, user-startup guides, software documentation, research papers, or any other specific and intricate form of writing, relying on a simple automated translator will not be enough.
Professional technical translations require a solid understanding of the source and target languages, as well as the technical concepts being explained.
Ensuring that this type of technical content is translated with all the essential cultural and linguistic nuances of its target language(s) can make or break success in foreign markets.
According to aggregated data from Redokun, businesses that invest in translation are 1.5 times more likely to witness an increase in revenue.
This short guide will explore the practical strategies for achieving accurate technical content translations to maintain brand identity and cultural relevance.
Appreciate the Complexity of Technical Translation
Many people wrongly assume that technical translations involve simply converting words from one language to another.
The process is much more multifaceted and complex than that; it requires an understanding of cultural and linguistic factors in the source and target languages and ensuring that any technical content aligns accordingly.
Even minor linguistic or cultural inaccuracies can cause confusion and risk among your global audience.
Types of Technical Translations
These translations encompass a broad range of specialized content, requiring subject matter expertise in terminology and writing conventions in certain native languages.
- Installation and troubleshooting guides for software, hardware, and electronics
- Industrial equipment maintenance manuals
- E-learning courses and training programs
- Complex IT and cybersecurity service processes like vulnerability assessments, penetration testing exercises, and risk assessments
- Technical and structural drawings with intricate measurements
- API documentation and instructions
- Scientific or medical research papers
- Economic or financial forecasts and data
- Important business policy documents (like privacy policies and terms of business)
- Legal or regulatory documentation
Each technical field has its own set of industry-specific jargon and terminology that may not have a direct equivalent translation in another language.
Such technical concepts, instructions, and ideas may not be as easily understood differently across cultures and languages, meaning adaptations will need to account for this diversity.
Additionally, technical documents may include complex formatting that needs to be preserved in translation.
How to Ensure Technical Translation Accuracy
Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts
An effective way to ensure translation accuracy is to involve subject matter experts in the relevant technical field(s).
These experts possess a greater in-depth knowledge of the subject and can provide additional insights and context into specific industry terminology and concepts.
Consult with these experts early in the translation process to clarify any misconceptions and miscommunications that could make their way into new translations.
They may even have native speakers on hand who may be able to advise and proofread for technical accuracy and clarity.
Develop a Glossary
Build an expansive glossary of approved, valid technical terms to guarantee that your content stays consistent and relevant across all translated materials in various languages.
This resource, significantly improved by translation memory technology, can store previously translated text segments and terminology for future reuse in the same native language.
Collaborate with your technical team and any external subject experts to identify the most appropriate key terms and approved translations that would make the most sense to native speakers.
Update and maintain your glossary as industry regulations, best practices, and definitions evolve.
Establish a Solid Quality Assurance Process
Quality assurance is a vital step in securing technical translation accuracy.
This multistep approach helps you identify any errors and inconsistencies before that content reaches its intended audience.
Translation management systems (a product in a market worth $2 billion in 2023) can be leveraged, many of which have built-in QA processes to identify and flag potential errors, ensuring that the final piece can follow its linguistic conventions, meet any required national regulations and standards, and ultimately help the relevant user understand what they need to do.
Consider a process which resembles:
- An initial translation by a qualified technical translator
- A second review by another equivalent translator or editor
- A technical review by a subject-matter expert
- Further proofreading for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and more, pertinent to its native tongue
- A final review to confirm that all changes have been implemented correctly
In summary, it’s worth noting that the language services market worldwide was estimated at roughly $60.68 billion in 2022 and is growing on average at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.94%, putting it on track to reach a $96.21 billion valuation by 2032.
Therefore, there is clear value in leveraging translation services as cultural and linguistic barriers become increasingly bridged.
Partner With a Reputable Translation Agency
Achieving accurate and helpful technical translations involves a multi-pronged approach combining linguistic familiarity, technical understanding, and cultural knowledge.
Balancing all of these will maintain your brand’s reputation while effectively communicating complex and specific information to a broader range of global audiences, ultimately supporting your key business goals of expansion and entering new markets.
Investing in high-quality translations is not a cost; it’s a concerted effort to position your business for global success.
Selecting a professional translation agency with experience in technical content will undoubtedly make a difference in securing accuracy, quality, and resonance with your audience.
BeTranslated is a globally recognized translation agency that emphasizes quality and accuracy in all content, no matter how technical.
Leveraging cutting-edge technology and extensive technical expertise, our translators are uniquely equipped to support your globalization objectives and ensure your technical content resonates effectively with your audience.
Get in touch with us today for a free, no-obligation, quote and see how we can make a pivotal difference in your translations.