Working with Freelancers

Freelance translators can be very helpful and valuable when translation services are required. If you need the translation of a very technical or specialized subject matter, it makes sense to go to the expert. Chances are, there’s a great freelancer out there who can fit your language, culture, and industry needs, no matter how niche they are. 

Freelancers are known for putting in a lot of effort to keep their clients happy and don’t shy away from hard work. For example, if you need a certified translation of a legal document, when you work with a freelance translator who specializes in legal documents, they will work very closely with you to make sure the documents that require translation (birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic certificates, etc.) are not an obstacle towards getting a scholarship or your dream job abroad.

Despite the many benefits of working with a freelance translator, sometimes you might need more than they can provide. You may have a project on your hands that is on the more complex side and that requires many steps that would be better handled by a translation company. 

Here are some examples of when a workload may be too much for a single freelancer to handle. A brochure may require a DTP step at the end. Marketing campaign materials could require a back translation performed by a different linguist. If the materials are for publication, then you probably need a translation, editing, and proofreading workflow (aka the TEP process). It may also be the case that you need materials translated into several languages. 

These are examples of tasks that require the expertise of several different professionals. In other words, a project may require a dedicated team that can help you complete it from start to finish. The last thing you want to do is have to hire and manage multiple freelancers who will work separately from each other. A translation company will fill your project management needs and ensure the work is cohesive throughout the project. 

Working with Translation Companies

As previously noted, translation companies are experts at managing large translation projects. They can handle the whole project management process from start to finish. From the first scope analysis, to establishing the right workflow, to creating timelines, to selecting the right team of linguists, to making sure everything gets done in time.

Translation companies also employ in-house teams, ensuring staff availability even when there’s a high-volume project. These teams are dedicated to you and will be there for you long term. You won’t need to worry about inconsistency or new translators not knowing your projects’ specific needs or requirements.

Because of the organized processes translation companies have in place to ensure quality (such as ISO, which is a top industry standard) and the professionals they work with, they can achieve the highest quality for their customers.

Which is Right For You

We can’t make this call for you, your translation solution totally depends on your company’s needs and the specific requirements of the project. Choose carefully to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and that you’re happy with the end product!

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In-House Translators

Working as an in-house translator is probably a bit easier to picture for most as many have held full-time in-house positions before. 

Pros

• Fixed income. One of the main perks of working in-house is the income stability it provides. You know exactly how much money you’re going to earn each year and have consistent paychecks coming in. You’ll also qualify for unemployment in the event you do lose your job, which can be trickier for freelancers to obtain. 
• Benefits. In-house employees typically have access to benefits that freelancers don’t such as healthcare, retirement, paid vacation, and more. 
• Convenience. When you work in-house, there is no need to worry about the logistics of running a freelance business. There are other employees that will handle things like accounting, marketing, and looking for new clients.
• Teamwork. You can rely on a team of peers to help you complete big projects. There’s no need to wear all the hats, which freelancers often have to do. When you need to take time off, ideally there will be someone there to cover your workload. And if you need help with a tricky project, you should have teammates you can lean on. You can learn from each other and grow together. 
• Professional development. Typically in-house employees receive valuable training from those who are further along in their careers. Many companies invest in employee professional development on an ongoing basis. The company may offer to send you to conferences, to pay for educational resources, and to train you in new skillsets.

Cons

• Less flexibility. Some in-house employees may have to work in a specific office each day at an agreed upon schedule. Not to mention, there are dress codes and other office rules to worry about. That being said, while most in-house translators used to work in a company office, nowadays it’s very common for them to work from home.
• Cap on earnings. While working in-house provides stability, in many ways you have less control over your earnings. Freelancers have lows, but they can also have major highs. 
• Less autonomy. When in-house, you typically have to do as you’re told. You may have little control over what types of projects you work on and might have to follow company protocols.

Freelance Translators

If you haven’t worked as a freelancer before, it can be hard to picture what that career path looks like. There are some major benefits of freelancing worth considering, but there are also some downsides that not everyone is ready to handle. 

Pros

• Ultimate flexibility. Want to work by the seaside today and in a mountain cabin tomorrow? No problem. Are you a night owl who does your best work when everyone else is asleep? Good for you. Don’t like a client or aren’t interested in certain types of projects? Send them packing. As a freelancer you’ll be able to decide when and where you work, who you work with, and what your vacation schedule looks like. 
• You’re the boss. Freelancing is essentially running a very small business of one. You’re a business owner, even if it doesn’t look like it from the outside, which means you get to do things your way. 
• Earning potential. Freelancers get a bad rap as being “underemployed” at times, but many freelancers can tell you that when you’re retaining the whole profit from a project (and your company isn’t taking a cut) that your income can soar. You get to set your rates and can choose to only take on projects that work for your budget. 

Cons

• Stability not guaranteed. Working as a freelancer provides a lot of excitement and the wins can feel really big since they’re all your own, but a stable income is not guaranteed. This can be challenging for people on a tight budget or who have a family to support. 
• No benefits. You’ll have to purchase your own benefits and accept that there is no such things as a paid vacation anymore. It’s important to remember to aim to make more than you would in-house in order to pay for benefits yourself. 
• Loneliness. Working as a freelancer can be lonely at times. If no one else in your household works from home or if you live alone, you may find you have a lot of solitude on your hands. The lack of teamwork can also feel very isolating. 
• Out of pocket expenses. Office supplies, computers, and professional development will all have to come out of your pocket which can sting a bit.

The Takeaway

There is no “better” option here. Both in-house and freelance translators have some major perks to look forward to. At Terra, we employ in-house linguists as well as collaborate with freelancers. So whatever your preferences are, we can work together. The key is to find which is the best fit for your goals, personality, and lifestyle!

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Keep reading to learn about the key differences between working with native translators and non-native translators. 

Writing Skills 

While reading the source copy, a native translator will be able to infer the meaning easily enough and will know when they need to do research to complete their understanding of the text. If you flip the table though and expect them to translate content from their native language to a secondary language, this is where they may fall behind a native translator of the target language. 

For example, if a German translator is translating a Russian text (their second language) into German (their first language), they can understand the text easily enough because of their extensive knowledge of the second language and can do more research as necessary. If, in turn, they needed to translate text from German to Russian, their job would become a lot more difficult. They could fall behind a translator who is Russian and a native translator of the target language.

A native translator will be less likely to make grammar mistakes or overly complicate their grammar use in their native language. Proper sentence flow comes so much more naturally in your native tongue, which is what you’ll want the reader to experience. In addition, native translators can create more complex written content and will have more opportunities to use the best possible word choices. It’s important to note that some non-native linguists have years of experience gained from living many years in another country using the second language and can have proficient use of the second language. 

Cultural Knowledge

Knowledge of culture plays an important role in both translation and transcreation. Especially when it comes to forms of content that rely heavily on cultural references, such as entertainment subtitles or marketing campaigns. When conveying or adapting cultural elements in translation, once again, native translators have an advantage as they can cater to the target audience with their organic knowledge. References relating to politics, movies, current events, and common jokes are all useful cultural aspects available to native speakers. This is especially true when it comes to dialect choices.

Because a language can have various dialects often associated with physical locations, a native translator will usually be aware of relevant dialect choices that a fluent, but non-native translator won’t be privy to. A simple example of how dialect can vary is seen in the United States, where the use of English is modified by region. For example, Midwestern residents refer to “soda” as “pop”, whereas someone on the West or East Coast would never call a soda pop. A literal translation while technically correct may not be as accurately expressive as a non-literal translation by someone with regional expertise.

Creative Potential

For both translation and transcreation, creativity is often necessary to do the job most effectively. A native translator can frequently assist with translating humor and cultural references that would fall flat if translated literally. Marketing materials are a prime example of where creativity can shine. When trying to sell a product to a new culture, a native translator will be more aware of what could potentially offend that culture, what they will find funny, or what they will relate to. Not to mention, language devices like rhyming, idioms, and alliteration will be much more attainable by a native translator, leaving the native translator with more creative opportunities. 
At Terra Translation, our translators are native speakers of the target language. We follow the standards, set by ISO 17100 in which we have certification. This standard, for translation services requirements, states that translation work should be completed by a professional translator translating source text into their native language.

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Choose the Right Native Speaker

What do we mean by choosing the right native speaker? Well, it’s important that the translator you work with is a native speaker specifically in the language you are translating into. As they have an organic understanding of the language they are translating for, their translations will sound more natural. It is possible for translators to achieve fluency in languages that aren’t their native tongue, but you’ll generally find that native speakers do the best work. 

It is worth nothing, though, that if the language you’re working in varies between countries (such as how Spanish in Mexico differs from Spanish spoken in other Latin American countries), you’ll want to not only use a native speaker, but a translator that has country specific expertise. 

Typically when you translate from non-native language to native language, you are more likely to have accurate text as it’s easier for translators to understand ideas that are written in a foreign language and in turn express that meaning in their native language.

Training and Experience is a Must

To start, your translator should have a translation degree or certification. Although there are plenty of translators without formal translation degrees who can do a good job, choosing to work with a professional who has formal training and job experience is your safest option. You can expect them to do a better job and have industry expertise that can help you avoid mistakes, such as knowing if your translation needs to be certified or not. 

Similar to how you want to work with a native speaker, you’ll want to work with a translator who specializes in your specific topic, such as medical translation or video game localization. Doing so will mean that the translator is aware of complex industry terms and knows the best way to tackle your project. 

Make Sure They Have a Large Tool Kit 

Translation software offers many benefits such as saving time and minimizing mistakes. Your translator should be familiar with using a variety of software localization or translation tools. While it would be ideal if they have experience with your tools of choice, it is not necessary if they already have a general familiarity with these types of tools and are willing to learn to use a new platform.

Be Realistic with Your Deadlines

If you want your translator to do the best job possible, don’t expect them to meet unrealistic deadlines. If you don’t give them ample time to research, review important references, or make room for questions to help bring clarity, then their work will suffer. If a translator offers an unreasonably quick turnaround, you may want to get a second opinion on how long the project should take. It is best to choose a translator who is honest about how much time your project will take to execute properly.

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CAT translates to “Computer Assisted Translation”. CAT is a broad term. It can be used to describe software translators use to improve their productivity. Many professional translators utilize CAT tools as it can help them increase productivity, catch mistakes, achieve consistency, and eliminate repetitive translations. CAT tools segment the text that requires translation and then present the segments in a way that is easier and faster to translate. 

There are many benefits to utilizing CAT tools for both clients and translators. CATs generally come with the following features that exemplify how useful these tools are.

Translation Memory

Essentially, CAT tools allow translators to save each translated sentence in a database called Translation Memory (TM). The CAT tool then uses this TM to analyze every sentence of text that needs translation and provide a match, if any. If there’s a 100% match, it will provide the exact translation previously stored. And if a sentence is slightly different, it will show the translation stored and point out what the differences are. Allowing these sentences to be translated faster and enabling the translator to use his time more efficiently. For larger projects, TM allows multiple people to work collaboratively.

The TM can save clients money, especially if they have recurring translation needs. For clients who have large and regular translation needs, the TM will become more valuable to them over time. As many words and phrases will be repeated and stored in the TM, the translator will be able to take advantage of this stored content for use on future projects. This value is especially helpful for clients with specialized vocabulary needs such as those found in the medical, engineering, or manufacturing industries. The TM can also help increase accuracy with less commonplace terminology. 

Termbase

Both translators and clients can create a terminology base where they add the translation for specific terms. This glossary is called the Termbase (TB). You can even include definitions or provide context in which to use each term. The Termbase is very useful for highly technical texts. Clients and translators can use the Termbase to ensure consistency in the use of terminology. This collaboration between the client and translator can also save valuable time and limit mistakes in translation. 

Desktop Publishing

CAT tools allow you to translate virtually any document format and export the final translation with little work on the design. This process works by extracting the text from the original file to work in the CAT tool interface. Once the translation is finished and exported, the final file will retain most of its original formatting. If adjustments are needed once exported, this is done in the original file format (Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

This feature is very useful in formats like Word, to assist with tables, font formats, WordArt, and other style elements. In more complex formats or layouts it’s frequently necessary to work with a (Desktop Publishing) DTP specialist. 

Machine Translation

Usually, the term “Computer Assisted Translation” makes people jump to the conclusion that machine translation is used. CAT tools are not synonymous with machine translation. Machine translation is an optional feature that can be used as a jumping-off point for translators, as it can speed up the process. Some translators may utilize machine translation to translate a text and then make edits after, ensuring the piece is still translated by a human. Other translators do not use the feature at all. 

What CAT Tools to Use

There are many different CAT tools, but memoQ, Trados, and Wordfast are some of the most widely used by both translators and companies. Each offers the same core features as previously outlined. It’s worth experimenting with different tools to see which you and your team personally prefer. The below survey, conducted by ProZ, highlights the usage rates of different CAT tools by translators. 

Source: ProZ.

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As one of the most respected and recognized credentials in our industry, the ATA Certification Program acknowledges translators who possess the skills to provide quality translations. The three-hour, open-book, proctored exam offers testers three passages of which two of these passages must be translated. Topics vary from finance to politics that include idioms, proper names, and sentence structure designed to be difficult to translate. The test taker must produce a translation that is not only accurate but sounds natural. Every error counts as at least one point and is weighed differently depending on the severity of the mistake. To pass, test takers cannot accumulate more than 17 points in errors.

There are various approaches test takers can take to prepare for the challenging exam. ATA practice tests are available that provide insight into the nature of the exam and an understanding of how errors are marked. These practice exams also allow testers to gauge how well they will perform on the exam as well as skill areas that need improvement. Enrolling into translating classes or attending exam workshops can further improve language proficiencies. Lastly, there are many blogs and resources available from those who’ve passed the test, offering their first-hand experience and applicable tips.

We’re proud to announce that Terra’s very own CEO, Marina Ilari, has obtained the coveted ATA Certification. With over a decade of professional translation experience, Ilari earned a degree in Literary Translation from the Universidad del Museo Social Argentino, and a Certificate of Proficiency in English from the University of Cambridge. She’s an active-certified member of the ATA, attending every conference hosted since 2013 as well as fulfilling her continuing education requirements.

“I’m honored to join the ranks of other ATA-Certified translators, a distinguished accomplishment we worked very hard to achieve,” explained Ilari. “I became a translator because of my love for language. This recognition is an extension of this dedication and commitment to my industry.”

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