| If a person or company wants a technical report | | | | Translation of literary works is also required and |
| of some 600 pages translated in two days for | | | | this can be one of most fulfilling tasks for a |
| use at an important international meeting, the | | | | translator – also one of the most difficult on |
| translator will have to discuss this problem with | | | | occasions. |
| the person concerned and offer suggestions on | | | | One of the ways in which an experienced |
| what is really required, since it probably will not be | | | | translator can produce a long translation in a short |
| possible to make a full translation within the short | | | | space of time is by dictating the translation into a |
| time available. The price for the translation might | | | | digital recorder and then emailing the translation to |
| also be discussed, since work at night or over the | | | | one or more typists who in turn type out the |
| weekend could also be necessary | | | | translation and send it back to the originating |
| If the translator cannot produce the best possible | | | | translator for correction before delivery to the |
| full translation within the time available, then an | | | | customer. Using this technique, a translator can |
| “optimal” solution should be agreed upon. | | | | produce upwards of 10,000 words per day. |
| Such translations could fall into one of the | | | | Almost everyone can speak faster than they can |
| following categories: | | | | type. |
| - “a translation that provides what is | | | | A similar technique uses one of the computer |
| necessary for the stated purpose” | | | | speech recognition programs, which have seen a |
| - “as good as possible in view of the | | | | great deal of improvement over the last few |
| customer’s requirements”. | | | | years. Using one of these systems, the translator |
| In the case of the 600 page technical report | | | | can dictate the translation into a small microphone |
| mentioned above, the “ideal” translation | | | | while at the same time his or her computer types |
| might consist of faithful adherence to the source | | | | the translation directly onto the computer screen. |
| text, which would involve full reproduction of the | | | | When completed, it can then be corrected, |
| detailed report. On the other hand, providing the | | | | proof-read and sent to the customer. |
| persons attending an international meeting with | | | | Of course a translation agency is always pleased |
| 600 pages of typescript is certainly not the best | | | | to accept a long translation (as long as the |
| way of communicating the contents of the report | | | | deadline for completing the translation leaves |
| to them. Due to the obvious time limitations, a | | | | enough time for the translation itself and |
| summary could be proposed as an alternative. | | | | proof-reading, etc.). If the original text is a |
| This could have the additional advantage in that | | | | technical document, translation memory systems |
| key bullet points raised for discussion in the | | | | can be used and this ensures that repeated |
| international meeting would be more easily | | | | expressions are translated automatically by the |
| accessible in a summary. | | | | memory system. The reader is then reassured |
| Of course, production of the summary would of | | | | by repetition of the same phrase for the same |
| itself involve the translator reading all 600 pages | | | | action and vocabulary is standardized by the |
| of the report and that alone would probably take | | | | system, avoiding any ambiguity to the reader. |
| more than the two days available. So from a | | | | The same word is always used for the same |
| practical point of view, it might be that the person | | | | thing. This can also result in lower costs, which can |
| who is asking for the translation could provide a | | | | be passed on to the customer of the translation |
| summary in his or her own language – after all | | | | agency. |
| that one person is most likely the only person | | | | Sometimes it is necessary to use several |
| who is fully aware of the salient points in the | | | | translators working on different parts of a long |
| report. The summary could then be translated | | | | text to meet a very short deadline. In this case, |
| into the language required for the international | | | | the translation memory system comes into its |
| meeting. | | | | own, since translation memories (TM’s in the |
| However, there are also many situations in | | | | language of the trade) can be sent to the various |
| international business when a full translation of a | | | | translators, to ensure that the vocabulary is |
| long original text is required for distribution to | | | | standardized. |
| persons or companies in other countries. This | | | | Modern systems used by translation agencies |
| occurs with tender documents, quotations, | | | | have made it easier to produce long translations in |
| technical documents, scientific documents, | | | | times that would have considered to be amazingly |
| operator’s manuals and repair manuals and | | | | short only a few years ago and doubtless we can |
| with many other documents of all types. | | | | expect more improvement in future. |