Technical Translation Services

Technical documents are incredibly important to business success. This means that if a technical document has to be translated, it is vital to have access to professional technical translation services.

The necessity of accurate translation in technical documents cannot be overstated, as even minor errors in sectors like medical, legal, or scientific fields can lead to significant, costly consequences.

This translation must be understood by your target audience including professionals, end-users, and consumers.

Get in touch if you need a translation of your technical documents. Understanding the importance of technical expertise Global LTS ensures that translations are not only accurate but also contextually appropriate and meeting the specific needs of your industry.

What are technical translation services and why they are important?

Technical translation services are an invaluable asset for any business, organization or individual dealing with technical documents.

Technical translation is a specialized field of translation which focuses on translating technical documents from one language to another. Technical documents can include instruction manuals, user manual, product specifications, medical reports and patent applications among many others.

These translations require an in-depth understanding of the source material as well as the target audience to ensure accuracy and consistency between the two languages.

Technical translators must be proficient in both the source and target languages so that they can accurately convey not only the words but also their meaning and intent.

This type of translation requires additional knowledge beyond simply being fluent in multiple languages, making it essential for businesses relying on accurate information to have access to professional technical translation services.

Only the most technical translators with expertise in the specific subject matter can provide accurate and reliable translations that capture the intended meaning of a document while also conveying its message in another language.

With our accurate technical translations, businesses can communicate technical information to customers and partners around the world without worrying about potential misunderstandings due to linguistic differences.

We will now explore why using professional technical translation services is beneficial, examples of successful projects, and challenges associated with these types of technical translations.

Advantages of using Global LTS for technical translation services

The benefits of using a professional technical translation service include accuracy, quality assurance, cost-effectiveness, faster turnaround times and language expertise.

Accuracy

Our professional translation service provides accurate technical translations that are tailored to the needs of the customer with thorough checking and review processes. In critical sectors such as medical, legal, and scientific, where errors can have significant consequences, the importance of accurate translation is paramount.

Utilising specialised technical translators who understand industry-specific terminology and regulations is crucial to ensure a reliable and precise translation of technical materials, thereby preventing any damaging outcomes that could arise from inaccuracies.

Technical translators – the main pillar of our translation services

Whether you require to translate detailed technical documents, various business documents or scientific data destined to be read by other professionals, or it may be to use it in consumer-facing marketing materials; we have the best-suited translators for the job.

Each translator is equipped with the technical expertise necessary to ensure accurate translation using the required terminology and abbreviations.

Our translators

Here at Global LTS, we have professional translators with qualifications and subject matter expertise in a variety of technical subjects.

We also have translators who are all-around technical experts, and they are happy to take on translations from across various sectors.

Our technical translation services can meet any requirements of our clients. Our translators are chosen based on their highly attuned linguistic talents, and their specific knowledge of an industry.

Subject matter experts

For each technical translations project, we assign a technical translator with the most relevant subject matter expertise to the project. They will have the required credentials, as well as be highly experienced in translating technical documentation.

Industry knowledge

Our technical translator working on your project will know the specific industry terms needed for your technical translation, and will also have access to a wide variety of sophisticated technical translation software.

This technical knowledge, combined with their real-world experience in the translation services industry, means that our technical translation service will be consistent and accurate across even the biggest and most complex of translation projects.

Translation services experience

The translators we use have to possess a minimum of five years of translation experience in their specialist area, but many have much more extensive track records. Professionals in the technical translation services sector are acutely aware of their need for accurate technical translations and consistency.

A Global LTS technical translator is a translator who has excellent knowledge and understanding of the specific subject and knows the technical and specific terms used in that field, in both the source language and the desired target market.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance underpins our translation services. Our translation process ensures every technical document is checked for accuracy and consistency so that no error or mistranslation goes unnoticed.

Our ISO-certified processes provide complete confidence that our technical translation services deliver accurate service in a timely manner.

Cost-effectiveness

Using Global LTS technical translation service can also be more cost-effective in the long run as it eliminates the risks associated with inaccurate translations.

In addition, we use MemoQ software which creates translation memories of the translated technical documents during the translation process. Every technical translation project will be added to our translation memories, so all your future projects will be accurately translated and the costs will be lower on your next translation request. This is because the previous translation will be re-used wherever possible.

Fast delivery

Our technical translation services also offer faster turnaround times while providing expertise in various languages which cannot be matched by automated tools or machine translation.

Overall, these benefits ensure our customers get accurate and high-quality translation services without having to compromise on their time or budget constraints.

Certified translation

We can certify our translation in accordance with the UK Government guidelines and provide a Certificate of Accuracy with all our projects.

Challenges that arise during technical translating

If you need translation services for your highly technical documents, containing, for example, a lot of specialised industry terminology or scientific data, you will need translators with appropriate knowledge and training along with the relevant language skills.

Translators need to be able to understand specialised technical documentation and industry jargon in both the source and the target language.

If you have a regular requirement for technical translation services, our team can help you build up a multilingual glossary of terms so that future projects can be translated more cost-effectively while ensuring consistent and accurate translations.

Concern with terminology

Jargon

The agency you choose for technical translation services should act as a language partner with your business—one who is concerned with getting the foreign-language equivalents of the specific terminology for your industry and company correct.

Glossaries

Your translation services partner should ask for the kinds of information (existing glossaries, style sheets, and reference materials) that you will have gathered in preparation for the project.

A technical translation is a translation of documents or wording which requires scientific or technical knowledge.

There may be industry-specific, scientific terminology used, or it might be a technical field, which is worked in by highly trained people with advanced degrees.

This means that when undertaking a translation of a technical matter, a specialist technical translator will be required.

Types of Technical Documentation Requiring Technical Translation Services

Documents which require technical translations can vary greatly. They could be scientific, technical or engineering journal articles for example.

Technical journals usually need professionals with at least graduate training in that specific field to undertake the work, as well as having good translation skills and a thorough understanding of the original and target languages.

Other examples of technical translation include a Safety Data Sheet for the chemical industry or a product sheet for a computer. Neither of these might require a high-level knowledge of the science behind IT or chemicals, but a working knowledge of the terminology used in these industries is mandatory.

Here are a few examples of documents that require technical translation services specialists:

  • Instructions, Operating Manuals, User Manual, Technical Manuals
  • Engineering Specifications, Safety Data Sheets, Technical Specifications, Product specifications, and Product Sheets
  • Online Technical E-Learning Modules, Glossary of terms
  • Catalogues
  • Technical Proposals, Tender documentation
  • Scientific Papers, Scientific Reports, White Papers
  • Patents

As noted, there are several types of technical translations. We’ve summarised a few here which we work on, and have explained in more detail.

Patents

Patents are incredibly important and it is imperative that they are translated to specific requirements. As well as knowledge of the industry the patented product is in, writing patents is also its own art form, and patents must adhere to strict legal and practical requirements which may vary from country to country.

When drafting such a technical document as a patent, the wording is designed to cover an incredibly broad claim, which could involve future applications of a certain product, which include: technique, gadget, method and other applications. However, little information about the specific workings of a product must not be revealed, as this could limit the patent’s scope.

That is why our translators are well-trained in translating patents. For more information about this type of translation services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

User Manuals

User manuals are a very common type of technical document. Usually, these are produced by “technical writers”.

This is one of those types of technical documentation which do require specific knowledge, but technical manuals significantly differ from other types of technical translations.

Technical translations of manuals have to be completely objective, without any trace of an author’s point of view filtering through into the writing.

The instruction manual aims to inform the reader objectively, to help and inform them ahead of their performing of a task.

This type of technical translation requires the translation to be straightforward, simple, and aim to inform.

Technical translation: software strings

Up until now, we’ve been talking about highly technical translation services for documents. Another type of professional technical translation service is to do with software and localising software strings for the user interface.

The user interface may seem to be simple, with wording in layman’s terms.

However, the translator needs to also know technical terminology, and which expectations are needed by software strings in the translated language. For a translator to localise apps, software and more, this does require a certain knowledge of technical terms and experience with tech translation.

Industrial Equipment Translations

Industrial equipment has the potential to have many health and safety risks. Technical translations are therefore incredibly important, particularly as industrial equipment can be exported around the world, with requirements for different languages.

Whatever the native language of the end-user, they must have the ability to completely understand how to safely use a piece of equipment. We can provide translation services for many industrial equipment manuals, from safety procedures, installation guides, operating manuals and more. We have hundreds of technical translators who are experts in this field and have experience in translating a vast array of industrial equipment-related documents.

 

Conclusion

Technical translation services are important for companies that want to break into new markets. Global LTS offers many advantages over other translation services providers, including accuracy, native speakers, industry knowledge, quality assurance, cost-effectiveness and fast delivery.

If you’re looking for a high-quality technical translation service provider, look no further than Global LTS. Contact us today to get started on your next project.

Case studies for Technical Translation Services

Category: Technical Translation
Description: User Manual Translation
Client: Sinclair International

Size of project: Translation of 4 user manuals into Japanese, Serbian and Spanish

Sinclair International specialise in fruit labelling machines and solutions.

We’ve been working with Sinclair since 2013. On this occasion, we translated 4 documents covering how to use their equipment.

Sinclair Japanese

Sinclair - Serbian

Category: Technical Translation
Description: Technical Drawings Translation
Client: Airborne Systems

Size of project: 36 drawings

Airborne Systems specialise in the design and manufacturing of military parachutes. We’ve worked with them since 2010 and continue to provide specialist translation services for their technical documentation that is used in tender processes.

VIP Polymers logo

Category: Technical Translation
Description: Marketing Presentation and Datasheets
Client: VIP Polymers

Size of project: Full marketing presentation and associated datasheets 

We are VIP-Polymers, the World Class provider of Globally approved sealing gaskets established in 1923.

On this occasion, we translated their marketing presentation from English into Simplified Chinese. In addition, we have typeset their datasheets, so they were ready for publication.

Hughes

Category: Technical Translation
Description: Legal letters relating to the space industry
Client: Hughes Network Systems

Size of project: Ongoing translation 

Hughes Network Systems is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for homes and offices.

We help them with communication with their global partners and countries by providing legal translation services on the technical product.

FAQs

Technical translation is a specialized field that concentrates on converting documents such as instruction manuals, user guides, product specs, medical reports and patent applications from one language to another. It requires an in-depth understanding of the source material coupled with strong target language capabilities.

Documents requiring technical translation can have health and safety implications. Incorrectly translated user guides can lead to injury.

Yes, if you need translation of documents with industry-specific knowledge, you will need to use translators who have experience in that particular field and can handle technical texts.

We can handle any format you are working including AutoCAD, DWG and DXF, Creo or any other authoring software.

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