Technical Translations
Technical translations are essential for any company that specializes in manufacturing, distributing, or selling technological products. This may be a physical product or an intangible technological service. Goods of a technical nature will undoubtedly require user guides, tech manuals, and other kinds of handbooks. Operating heavy machinery or other devices will also need maintenance and repair instructions on top of operating directions. Because of the sensitive nature of these kinds of documents, the information presented here will need to be made available in both the language of the original material and in Arabic.
Written publications such as these need certified translations done by an accredited translation service as a matter of practicality. Afreno takes pride in the high quality work that it does in translations for all kinds of technical documents. This is to satisfy new Qatari regulations wherein all businesses are now required to use Arabic in technical publications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are technical translations important?
Technical translations are incredibly detailed and demanding due to the meticulous nature of specific schematics. Instructions must be made clearly and accurately to prevent any misuse of machinery and to avoid accidents in implementation.
What are the consequences of inaccurately translated technical documents?
Information that is lost in translation may lead to misuse of products, improperly implemented services, incorrect instructions in programming, and even fatal consequences. Providing 100% accurate technical data is of the utmost importance no matter what the technical application.
What other kinds of technical documents are there?
Apart from guides and instructions, technical translations also include memos, certificates, and even customer reviews.
Why can’t user guides just be translated by programs?
Though technical translation means to be direct, a computerized translation won’t do. For instance, software strings must be translated by an actual person who has the necessary know-how on handling strings interpreted by a program. Terminology can be complex, but the expression must be simple. The same is true for apps and e-learning programs as well.
Why should internal memos be translated as well?
Technical documents, even if used internally, are of the utmost importance in conducting businesses properly. Internal memos provide key communication points for all employees, which leads to better output without misunderstandings in a company’s daily operations.
Why do companies need technical translations?
Safety manuals and manufacturing codes are highly specialized and can include industry-specific language. In these cases, companies need accurate translations in order to interpret foreign documents correctly. Schematics and diagrams must be translated within context as well.
Why can’t I have a colleague translate for me as someone from the same industry?
Productions delays, health hazards, safety issues, and even serious court litigations can result in mistakenly translated documents. The industry knowledge is only one part of the translation process. He or she must also be well-versed in both languages, as well as have a solid relationship with the governing bodies that require the translated document.
How does culture play a role in technical translation?
Your translator must be well-versed in both source and target languages because some direct translations of words from one language may be insensitive to another.
Why should I trust Afreno to do my technical translations for me?
Afreno not only has specific expertise in industries, governing authorities, and languages, but we also strictly uphold international standards on quality and consumer satisfaction.
What about hiring a native speaker for my translations?
Because technical manuals must be accurate content-wise, the translation requires more than just know-how regarding the target language. A native speaker may spot a low-quality translation job though, and to save yourself from any embarrassing mishaps, hiring a professional who is both knowledgeable in the industry and the language is crucial.
01
Owner Translation
A crucial aspect of production and manufacturing is the technical translation of documents especially in an increasingly global business environment. Owner translations are important to convey the necessary information for all the parties involved, whether you are establishing a new business in Qatar or expanding your reach to more Arabic speaking countries. This type of translation work does not merely qualify any kind of translator for the job. A good linguist who is well-versed in both languages and has strong liaisons with the necessary government bodies and other business entities is needed to ensure that technical translations are done accurately, meaningfully, clearly, and meticulously.
An expert professional translator will not only painstakingly translate every word to convey the best meaning possible, but he or she will also ensure that you won’t encounter any technical troubles when the document is used for whatever reason. Afreno assures you of correct and prompt results every single time.
02
User Guides Translation
Absolute precision is a must when it comes to technical jargon. User guides, especially, offer instructions for its users, which means that everything has to be translated correctly to prevent the misuse of a product or a service. This category may also refer to online assistance, and the accurate translation of these guides needs a specialized knowledge of both the subject matter and the original and target language.
Moreover, technical translation of guides must contain a completely objective tone to assist the reader to perform a certain project as stated in the user guide. The manual must focus on the instructions and not on any subjectivity from the author or the translator. At the same time, user guides must be easy to understand and must not be filled to the brim with technical jargon that will complicate matters for any reader. Afreno knows the right balance between these polar opposites and can provide the best results in the least amount of time.
03
Programmer Guides Translation
Programmer guides span a wide range of topics, which includes usability engineering, information technology, technical communication, construction materials, machinery details, and so much more. The technical translator must not only have an in-depth knowledge on the content itself but must also have a precise mastery of target and source languages. The translator is expected to understand and convey the right message, and even as some technical terms have no direct translation from the source language to the target language. The translator must always keep the target audience in mind, and focus on complete comprehension.
Programmer guides are especially meticulous as programming languages are on a whole new level of skill set altogether. Afreno employs specialized experts to consult with, and we provide continuous training (basic, intermediate, and advanced principles, glossaries, technical dictionaries, encyclopaedias, etc.) for our translators to keep them updated on the ever-evolving languages and subject matters in technology.
04
Repair Manuals Translation
Repair manuals must be translated not only to reach a global audience but also to abide by safety protocols and best practices in any business. Just because a product might seem simple enough doesn’t mean that it’s exempted from repairs. You can’t simply do with an instruction booklet and hope for the best, no matter how complex or how simple certain goods may be.
Proper repair manual translation protects both the company and the consumer. Inaccurate manual translation opens up a world of dangers and safety hazards, as customers may end up hurting themselves with mistakenly used tools or damaging the product inadvertently. Nobody wants to deal with stressful lawsuits on both sides. To help keep all parties involved safe and satisfied, certified technical translations of repair manuals are a must. Hiring a trusted translation partner saves you from PR nightmares and unwanted delays that can cost both parties both financially and non-financially.
05
Reviews Translation
Reviews are important tools of any company in order to gauge the satisfaction of actual customers when it comes to products manufactured or services rendered. Customer reviews can help push a company to spot areas of improvement to further develop their product or service, and can also help any enterprise to study how the market reacts to their goods. In an increasingly global marketplace, having reviews translated accurately saves all parties involved from industrial accidents, equipment misuse, bad PR nightmares, offensive marketing materials that are culturally insensitive, ineffective branding techniques, misinterpretation of customer reactions and reviews, improper operation of goods and machinery, and stressful court cases.
Your trusted language service provider must be able to deal with translating extremely specific terminology, as well as culturally sensitive customer reviews. Afreno employs translation experts who are well-versed in a wide variety of fields to make sure that our team has the necessary industry background to translate technical jargon.
06
Schematics Translation
When it comes to schematics translation, details must be carefully laid out, and particularly precise. One wrong translation may lead to a great deal of danger for all parties involved. As schematics translation may involve heavy machinery or complicated technological equipment, it can be even more hazardous to hire someone who will haphazardly do the translation without being strictly dedicated to the task at hand.
The lack of solid experience is very evident in incomprehensible schematics from unprofessional translators. Technical translations have specific styles, particular terminology, and even complicated industry-specific acronyms that must be translated accurately from source to target. These include processes, engineering texts, technical data sheets, descriptions of procedures, machine tools manuals, norms, specs, patents, quotations, installation manuals, operator manuals, maintenance manuals, safety sheets, technical drawings, standard operating procedures, and so on. Accurate professional translations must be made straight to the point in a clear and precise manner.
07
Memos Translation
Memos may seem simple, but even these need strong language skills and a sound knowledge in content. Memos are used in almost any company, and technical fields such as the graphic software industry, industrial manufacturing, mechanical engineering, the oil industry, electronics, informatics, the automotive industry, renewable energies, the chemical industry, solar technologies, and even aeronautics are all included.
Both technical and linguistic expertise is required when making high-quality translations. Memos serve a twofold purpose: they help raise certain issues to parties involved, and they help in solving the issues themselves. As such, they can be about policy changes, action items, price increases, meeting announcements, or changes in production. These are crucial elements that, if taken incorrectly, may disrupt the day-to-day operations of a company and have further complications down the road. The audience of the memo is also an important factor to consider when making memos. Afreno can help communicate job objectives effectively with accurately translated memos both in and out of the office.
08
Technical Records Translation
Mastery of subject matters and an in-depth knowledge in relevant terminology must be unparalleled in a language service provider. Translation of technical records must be focused on the targeted audience, all while keeping the purpose of the document in mind. A good professional technical translator will be able to organize localizations quickly and effectively, taking into consideration client specs, turnaround time, and even file source formats. Having Afreno translate all of your technical records also means that you will have a one-stop-shop for certifications and translations, making your translated documents consistent across all formats regardless of purpose. For instance, if there is a particular type of terminology used in your industry, our team of experts can reference previously translated terms and use the same wordings to ensure consistency across the board. Moreover, Afreno is an accredited translator in the State of Qatar, providing you with facilitated processing of documents due to our reliable government liaisons over the years.
09
Technical Documents Translation
Translation of technical documents is very meticulous as even just a simple wording error may open up a can of worms. Aside from actual mistakes, ambiguity in terms and misinterpretation may result in messy legal and financial complications if left unchecked. The complexity here is not simply about replacing one word with another. Technical documents may also include branding and cultural repercussions, especially if languages have no direct translations word per word. For instance, patents are technical documents that not only need translations on the subject matter, but must also include legal and practical requirements from the local government.
With Afreno’s team of expert professionals, you can rest assured that all of your technical documents will be translated to the best of our ability. We will use our vast knowledge of industries and language nuances to help facilitate all of your translations as cost-effectively as we can to avoid any delays.