Mandarin translation - how to do it the right way

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Business Tips Learn From Mandarin Translation

As a Chinese English translator, I've witnessed some very common problems with Mandarin translation.

I’m sure these problems are not limited to this particular language pair, but I can discuss these from personal experience.

No matter what your language pairing, you’ll recognize some of these issues.

By discussing them, it will help you become more competitive in the market and therefore enhance your earning ability.

There are plenty of books out there detailing the art of translation, but let’s deal with it from a business perspective. The most common mistakes translators make can really be a drag on our earning power.

They are not only costly for businesses, but also cultivate a sense of low value in the eyes of clients.

If you have no clue how to add value to your service, then forget about charging a decent rate!

By learning from these mishaps, you’ll stand out from the crowd and prosper.

Mistake #1 -- Not knowing the purpose of a particular translation job

Why do you need to know the purpose of a particular job? Well, not that you can work less diligently, but rather it helps you to better cater to your client’s needs. If you treat translation jobs as one-size-fits-all, think again.

For example, when it comes to medical translation and /or legal translation, precision is your goal. But when you translate a political brochure or a website, you need to meld the message with a business sense.

Whether it’s creating an urgency in Mandarin translation or inspiring the most wanted response from the readers, it requires the translator to have a substantial knowledge in business and marketing in addition to the language translation skills.

Mistake #2- Focusing on the exact match of words instead of conveying a complete message

Many translators understand that the translation has to be faithful to the source content. But that doesn’t mean you have to focus on finding the exact match for each and every word. In business, it is often the message that counts.

I’ve seen awkward English Mandarin translation such as ‘Day Day up’ ( instead of ‘improve daily’) totally ignoring the different language habits.

Mistake #3- Not possessing excellent writing skills in your working languages

If you don’t write Mandarin well, you can’t do Mandarin translation well. And if you want to write well, you definitely have to read extensively.

It not only improves your speed with translation work, but also enhances the quality of your work. It would be next to impossible to get the most wanted response from your readers if you can’t convey your message in writing.

Mistake #4- Little or no communication with clients

If you want to succeed financially as a freelance translator, you’d better know what your clients want from you. Don’t guess -you have to ask. Whether it’s a particular term or any particular instruction from your clients, take it seriously and apply it whenever you can.

If their request and expectations are not reasonable, let them know why. Better yet, provide them with your professional advice – offering it at the appropriate moment and in a polite manner can demonstrate that you really have their best interest at heart.

Mistake #5- Not pointing out the mistakes or problems in the source language

If the original English content you are given is poorly worded, the resulting Mandarin translation that follows won’t be pretty either. Don’t be afraid to point it out to your clients, so you won’t be held reliable for the shoddy outcome.

If there’s any additional work involved, don’t be afraid to charge more.

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