Many companies rely on their own employees if something needs translating or an interpreter is required at short notice. It sounds practical, but it’s not always sensible 😉
Why not?
Lots of us speak two or more languages, which is impressive and valuable – however, it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with professional translating or interpreting. Whether the message is written or spoken, the experts must convey it fully in the target language, taking the audience into consideration. In addition to language skills, this requires a good understanding of the subject matter, knowledge of cultural nuances and the ability to pick up on subtle cues. And when interpreting, this all has to happen on the spot.
Interpreters and translators put in years of study, often completing a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree. They are true language professionals.
Of course, dual natives are well-versed in their own specialist subject; they know their way around the material and are familiar with all the jargon as well as typical corporate terminology – often in both languages. But is that enough? Or will their lack of linguistic training be noticeable in the end? To say nothing of the amount of time it will take!
How long will an employee need to produce a professional translation?
Will they be able to keep up with the speaker’s pace in an interpreting situation? What about the technology involved? We reported on the challenges associated with interpreting at the end of January.
That’s a lot of questions – and a lot to consider! If you want a professional result delivered in a reasonable timeframe, it’s best to leave the job to the experts. In the long run, it’s also more cost-effective.
We’re not talking about writing short emails or helping out with informal conversations – you should turn to the pros when you need specialist or marketing texts translated or require an interpreter for negotiations or meetings.
If an in-house employee takes on this role, valuable time is taken away from their core responsibilities. In a business context, this can lead to inaccurate results – and, ultimately, frustration within the team, which nobody wants…
To all the multilingual employees out there, you’re doing a great job; and to all the managers, think about your team and the workload distribution – we’re here for you 😊
