Why translation-oriented writing makes sense
Translation-oriented writing means taking a subsequent translation into account when creating a technical text. This avoids translation problems, reduces costs and increases comprehensibility. The following blog series looks at what is important when writing for translation. The first part deals with the reasons why you should write for translation. The second part is dedicated to the topics of terminology and controlled language. The third and final part focuses on formatting and style guides.
Advantages of translation-oriented writing
German companies are world champions in exporting machines, systems and products. According to the Lexicon of German World Market Leaders, there are almost 1,500 world market leaders in Germany, most of which are based in Baden-Württemberg. Translating technical documents such as operating instructions is therefore not just an optional extra, but an obligation for many companies that sell abroad. The EU Machinery Directive requires that operating instructions must always be available in the official language or languages of the country in which the machine/system is to be put into circulation or operation. This means that if a German company sells machines to Spain, France or Latvia, the technical instructions must be available in the relevant national languages. The Product Liability Act also stipulates that the instructions for use of a product must be easy to understand, clear and contain the necessary warnings. Legal disputes regarding liability no longer stand a chance if the translation is correct.
The comprehensibility of assembly or operating instructions is not only a regulatory requirement, it is also important that the information is available to the operators of these machines in their native language. This is the only way to ensure safe and precise use of the machine. The acceptance of a product also increases in marketing if it is understandable in the native language.
When texts are written without an international focus, this often means more work for native translators. Until the texts have been understood and correctly localized, the translation effort increases considerably in terms of time and money. If correction loops or even changes to the source text are added due to errors found, the costs increase and the deadline becomes ever tighter.
However, writing technical documents in a way that is suitable for translation not only has an impact on costs and time, but also significantly on the quality of the text. The use of translation memory systems and other computer-aided tools (e.g. terminology databases, more on this in the second part of this blog series) can reduce overall costs and shorten turnaround times, especially if you want to translate a source document into several languages in parallel.
Content errors, spelling mistakes, etc. not only make the translator’s work more difficult, they also cost time and money and have a negative impact on the quality of a document. With translation-appropriate writing, you can avoid these pitfalls and obtain high-quality translations.
Terminology: the basis for translation-ready writing
The use of consistent terminology is essential in order to write content-optimized source texts. In the second part of this blog series, we will shed light on exactly what this means.
In the third part, we look at formatting rules and the layout of a text and how to use them correctly when writing for translation.
Do you need more arguments to establish translation-friendly writing in your company? Feel free to contact us! The project managers at COMLOGOS will be happy to advise and support you at any time.
