Archive for category: News

The public sector is responsible for some of the most important services we use every day. The NHS, local councils, and other public services are tasked with providing vital support to people across the country, but this can become difficult when trying to communicate with someone who isn’t fluent in English.

At TW Languages, we work with many local councils, child and adult social care organisations, and other public sector bodies to ensure everyone can access and understand public services. In this article, we look at some of the key benefits of how a professional translation services company can help the public sector and, ultimately, those in need of support from public sector services.

Medical Translation Services 

Professional translation companies can help social care organisations communicate with immigrants and asylum seekers. This is particularly important when it comes to medical services, as they may not be able to understand the information provided in English by their doctors, nurses and other staff members. This can also involve the translation of different correspondence documents and forms needed by the NHS for example. Communication can include phone calls, emails and letters. These are often important, include time sensitive documents and conversations that need to be conveyed across correctly, without fail. 

In addition, we could have some interesting initiatives being developed in the pipeline that will help us deliver our social responsibility towards the public sector, this includes, but not limited to:

• A free training and orientation on the language/translation industry that could be deployed immediately to immigrants who have recently arrived in Britain so they can use this as a programme to engage quickly and find access jobs in the industry we do serve. This programme is available on the our group learning academy website and we could arrange this for all interested parties.
• Internship programme for immigrants who are seeking jobs in the language and translation industry.

Citizenship, Housing and Accommodation Translation Services

Alongside medical support, a professional translation company such as TW languages, can also assist with translating documents for asylum seekers and refugees who are applying for citizenship or permanent residency status in the UK. The documentation involved is not only extensive but also critical to get right. Even the smallest piece of uncertainty needs to be ironed out to avoid any complications. With so much at stake, a qualified translator needs to be on hand to provide their expertise. 

The current housing situation in the UK is often difficult for UK citizens, so you can imagine the complex situation immigrants or asylum seekers can find themselves in. They often will require some guidance in this area as the UK housing economy is potentially very different to how things are handled in their native country. With that in mind, accurate translation becomes essential when someone wants to arrange accommodation using the government’s services. On the other hand, they could potentially have the same translation needs when speaking to estate agents, solicitors, conveyancers etc. 

General social, schooling, employment, child health and development services are of great importance to those entering the country. Getting everything right is critical, therefore, those organisations supporting these services will always benefit from professional translation services. 

For example, we recently provided some urgent support to a family who needed a large number of documents translated at short notice for a pending court case involving child protection. This was turned around very quickly to ensure documentation was ready to meet a court date, and all parties had a full understanding of the proceedings. 

Work and Employment Translation Services 

Now that the person has somewhere to call home, the next step for them may be to begin working, if possible. Learning English will be vital to their work aspirations, as even the basics go a long way. Beginning to work in a foreign country is usually a firm indicator of someone becoming embedded within their new community. A big step in their life that kick starts a new chapter, requires a personal touch from a translator who cares. Getting the right help will go a long way into ensuring a smooth launch of their career. 

Employment firms, recruiters and government agencies can provide the support needed in finding employment for someone. However, that becomes difficult if language is a barrier. That’s where a company like TW Languages steps in, ensuring that both parties reach the desired outcome.

Conclusion

An organisation in the public sector has the responsibility of providing specific services to the community. This can become difficult when there is a language barrier, especially if the people requiring these services are refugees. When providing these crucial services, companies in this industry can benefit from working in true partnership with a company such as TW Languages. 

When those basic needs are looked after, if the person involved is able to work, they will no doubt want to begin earning a living. Providing translation services throughout someone’s journey into beginning life in the UK is a challenging but rewarding task. Until they feel confident, companies in these sectors need to ensure they are helping wherever possible. 

We currently provide translation services in over 50 languages specifically for the public sector, with another 200+ language pairs available, and can help with a number of projects with varied timescales. If your organisation provides any of the above mentioned services to refugees, asylum seekers or immigrants, let us help you, help them. To get in touch simply:

EMAIL: info@twlanguages.com

TELEPHONE: +44 (0)161 826 8777

Or click here to get in touch.

In the meantime, why not read more on how our translation services can help you.

Global distribution and product exports are becoming increasingly common, and one of the most rapidly increasing sectors is the chemical industry. Whether supplying chemicals for beauty brands in the cosmetic industry, providing chemicals for the food and beverage industry, or supporting the global vaccination program, the need for 100% accuracy and exceptional industry jargon within the chemical sector is imperative. Therefore, choosing a translation company with expertise in these areas and advanced knowledge of the laws and regulations in the countries you are trading with can be a daunting task.

We have laid out below the top four elements to consider when vetting a translation company for your chemical products.

Industry experts

1. Just because an organisation deals with professional services translations doesn’t necessarily mean they have chemical industry experience. This is important because special considerations need to be made when translating these types of documents. For example, you must ensure that the company understands the jargon and terminology used in the chemical industry. 

Reviews

2. If the translation company does have experience in the chemical industry, they should be able to point you in the direction of reviews from other chemical organisations. This will give you a better idea of the quality of their work and whether or not they are a good fit for your needs. 

Quotes

3. We suggest getting quotes from a couple of professional translation companies. Once you have a few different options, you can then compare prices and choose the company that offers the best value for your money. But remember, compromising on price could mean compromising on quality.

Accreditations

4. Checking the company’s credentials ensures the quality of their translations is regulated and monitored, as well as giving you peace of mind that they are a respectable employer. Accreditation from organisations like the Association of Translation Companies in the U.K or the ISO 17100 certification are two of the main criteria that you should consider when choosing your chemical translation partner

By following these tips, you can be sure that you are choosing the best possible translation company for your chemical documents, and by taking the time to do your research, you can be confident that you are making the best decision for your business.

TW Languages ticks the boxes above by providing clients with accredited chemical translations from experienced and qualified linguists. Our translations are provided with a quality service to match and go through a rigorous proofing process to ensure your translation is of the highest order. To discuss your chemical translation needs or place an order, speak to our friendly team on 0161 826 8777 or email us on chemicaltranslations@twlanguages.com!

The healthcare sector has expanded by an exponential rate over the last decade, with new treatments and drugs available that can cure a host of illnesses in modern day society. This development, although a leap forward in humanity’s existence, comes with an ever increasing list of risks and regulations that professionals in the healthcare industry must comply with.

The need for accurate language translation of healthcare and pharmaceutical documents, has therefore never been more essential. Below are 3 reasons why using an experienced healthcare translation company is essential:

Medical Jargon
The importance of correctly translating medical jargon cannot be overstated, particularly when it comes to translating medical records or documents for overseas professionals. Not only does every country have varying dialects that need to be taken into account by a native speaker that understands the overall language’s eccentricities, but it’s also essential that specific technical jargon is translated correctly so that medical professionals fully understand medical notes and actions to take.

Regulation Compliance
Similar to dialect differentiations, each country may have different regulations that businesses in the healthcare industry must comply with. The repercussions of getting this area of translation wrong can be very serious, with many regulations being legal requirements. This presents another reason why it is imperative to not only have a translator who is experienced in the healthcare industry, but is also a native speaker of the language to ensure they are up to date and fully understand the rules and regulations of that country. This ensures that you won’t encounter any possible legal implications as a result of your mis-translated documents.

Pharmaceutical Instructions
Medical drugs are bought and shipped globally to support the country’s healthcare system, and its citizens receive the medical treatment they need, and during Covid-19, this occurred on an unprecedented scale with the global vaccination programme when billions of medical ingredients were being bought and sold to create vaccinations. With this in mind, if your products are being sold to pharmaceutical or medical companies to be incorporated with other ingredients, it is vital that all important information is 100% accurate to avoid any concerns or miscommunication about the contents of the drug.

At TW Languages, we ensure all our healthcare translators are professionals in the industry, as well as native speakers of the language. Find out more about our high quality language solutions here; https://www.twlanguages.com/healthcare-translation-services/

Using a translation memory for life science texts ensures a high-quality translation, whilst saving time and money.

 

What is a Translation Memory?

A translation memory is a database of previously-translated segments of text. These segments could be sentences or paragraphs about a specific subject. Both the original text (the source text) and the translation (the target text) are kept on file.

When a new text needs to be translated, the computer reads the new source text. It then scans the database for matching or very similar segments from previous source texts. When these are found, the computer will automatically suggest the translation that was used previously.

A translator can accept, edit, or replace the suggested translation, based on their knowledge of the subject. Translation memories provide valuable assistance to translators who can combine translation and editing skills.

 

Translation Memories in Life Sciences

Translation memories should always play a significant role in life sciences translation services. Below, we have listed five ways life sciences can benefit from them:

1. Employing the Consistent Terminology

Life sciences domains are known for being both niche and technical. At first glance, this may seem like a reason not to use a translation memory; surely there will be fewer correct matches and more room for error? Surprisingly, this isn’t the case.

Documents that contain niche terminology are more frequently subject to thorough proofreading and editing. Therefore, when knowledgeable translators are used, their finished translations will be of the highest quality. The correct terminology that they have used for a life sciences document will then be categorised and stored in the translation memory database for the next translation. 

This creates consistent, accurate terminology both across one document and between documents.

 

2. Localising Documents

Localisation is the process of ensuring that content is culturally appropriate for the intended audience. Country-specific phrasing, local time and date formats, accepted units of measurement, and other such elements are key to making sure that a translation feels as though it comes directly from a local speaker.

By employing translation memories, culturally appropriate phrases are logged and suggested as needed, ensuring high-quality life sciences localisation.

 

3. Saving Time

When accurate translations are suggested, translators are able to save time, especially when dealing with documents that contain repetitive segments. With productivity increased, translations can then go to market faster.

 

4. Keeping Tone of Voice, Style, and Branding

Each organisation, company, or writer has their own unique style. For brands, this tone of voice is what creates a recognisable brand image. Style needs to be taken from the source text and replicated in the new language consistently, each time.

Translation memories allow translators to easily tune into the correct tone of voice for a specific organisation, as phrases and wording are kept on file.

 

5. Working with a Variety of Formats

Life sciences domains encompass a range of subjects. This means that content can include everything from user manuals and labels to research papers and legal documentation.

Translation memories work to ensure consistency across each type of content, as well as within the same document. The software used also removes distracting formatting, allowing the translator to concentrate efficiently on their work before the formatting is reintroduced.

 

6. Ensuring High-Quality Work

When human translators use computer software to aid them in their work, it is referred to as computer-assisted translation. In many ways, this captures the best of both worlds. 

The translation memory is able to instantly recall information from previous translations in great detail. The translator can then add a personal and human touch to the translation, double-checking suggestions which had already been checked before being saved in the translation memory originally.

 

Which Translation Company to Choose

It is important for people working in the life sciences domain to choose a translation company with relevant experience and certifications.

Life sciences translations require not only fluency in two languages, but also specialised knowledge of the subject matter at hand.

This is why, at TW Languages, our translators are experts in their fields. We are 17100 certified and specialise in life sciences translation and localisation services. Our linguists pride themselves on delivering high-quality, accurate work.

Having worked with over 200 companies in the field, we have translated approximately 40 million words. You can find out more about our life sciences services in our case study, which details an efficient agrochemical and chemical industry translation.

 

For your free translation and localisation quote, contact us now.

Translation errors happen, sometimes with trivial consequences, other times causing huge damage ─ possibly to the brand’s image, or, on a diplomatic level, they may fracture international relations. All in all, mistranslation is probably the only serious side effect in an industry that connects people, countries and cultures.

 

Irreparable Consequences of Medical Translation Errors

When it comes to medical translation services, partnering with a medical translation agency that makes translation errors is bound to end in tragedy! This is not an area where you can just say “Mistakes happen.” With people’s lives and well-being on the line, there should be zero tolerance for mistakes.

There have been many cases of non-professional translation vendors having committed grave errors resulting in loss of life. So, it is no exaggeration to say that choosing the wrong medical translation agency could increase the likelihood of further fatalities in the future. With this in mind, it is imperative that the highest quality of translation be attained in each and every sector of the healthcare and pharma industry.

 

Tough Regulations for Medical Translation Services

All the stakeholders involved in the medical, healthcare and pharma sectors know quite well that medical translation services are among the most highly regulated sectors of the entire language services industry. On the ground, local, regional and international regulations govern the materials that should be translated and how data is transferred and kept, in addition to regulating the translation process itself.

In most countries, healthcare service vendors are required to translate patient information sheets, marketing materials and forms for clinical trials into the local language of the target market, and, in some countries, into minority languages too.  

As for medical content that targeted at healthcare professionals, patent applications and applications for regulatory approval must be translated in almost all countries around the world.

Almost all regulatory agencies for medical devices across the globe have made it mandatory for manufacturers to translate marketing materials and instructions for medical professionals and patients, as well as user interfaces for device software and firmware.

Across the countries of the European Union, it’s mandatory to translate medical device marketing materials into all 24 official and working languages of the EU member states. In other non-European nations, the marketing materials must be translated into the official language of the target market, and sometimes into minority languages too.

As for pharma translation regulations, they are so stringent that some regulatory bodies may impose formatting requirements for translated documents, such as font size and colors!

 

Examples of Errors in Medical Translation Services

The medical translation services sector is a very serious business, and the accuracy of a translation in this field is both vital and critical.

Let’s take a look at one tragic example that demonstrates the significant role and responsibility of medical translation agencies – the story of Ramirez.

An 18-year-old young man, Ramirez, developed a headache all of a sudden while he was out with his friends and lost consciousness. At the hospital, his family told doctors that he was “intoxicado” which in Spanish can refer to any type of poisoning – in this case, the family suspected food poisoning. However, probably due to its similarity with the English word ‘intoxicated’, it was assumed that he was suffering from a drug overdose and he was treated accordingly. 

Had there been a Spanish translator present at the hospital, they would have given the correct translation to the doctors, who would have then administered the appropriate treatment.   

Instead: Ramirez woke up to find himself paralysed after a brain bleed left him quadriplegic for life. 71 million US dollars were paid out in compensation. The crushing fact, however, is that Ramirez’s condition was treatable, and this life-changing circumstance could have been avoided if it weren’t for this fundamental medical translation error. 

 

Is a Professional Medical Translation Agency the True Panacea?

So, how can healthcare, medical and pharma businesses avoid these pitfalls? The answer is straight and to the point: Just choose the right medical translation agency! Choose a translation partner who will convey the messages of your medical material to all users ─ patients and medical professionals alike ─ in each and every market across the globe? But how do you choose? What are the criteria to look for?

 

Why TW Languages?

At TW Languages, we guarantee an accurate medical translation service. We’re proud of our world-class team of translators, who are not just professional in-country translators, but also qualified and experienced in the medical translation field.

Our team prides themselves on their knowledge of the nuances of all target languages, ensuring that medical terms are accurately translated in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Moreover, TW Languages is an ISO 17100 certified, ATC (Association of Translation Companies) member, and follows the most rigorous quality process in the entire medical translation services industry, covering 250 languages.

 

Don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team today to discuss how we can meet your medical translation needs or to receive a free quote.

Whether you need technical translation services in the UK or elsewhere, high quality makes the difference between a professional translation and an improvised one. What’s more, accurate, first-rate technical translation services are becoming increasingly necessary at a time when a wide range of tech industries are rapidly growing, selling their products across the globe, and are thus in need of finding ways to communicate their message to various target audiences free from error or ambiguity. 

 

Should Technical Translation Services Be Accurate?

When it comes to translation of technical content, nothing should be left to chance, as this type of translation requires an understanding of specific technical terminology, along with extensive specialist knowledge of the products themselves. 

Moreover, your business cannot afford to compromise quality in this specific area. There are many reasons for this, which include but are not limited to the following:

• Let’s suppose that a single word, which appears continually throughout your document, is mistranslated – This would certainly wreak havoc, with people failing to understand the content frequently calling your business’ support line, thus increasing your company’s customer support costs, in addition to creating an army of highly dissatisfied clients!
• Working with poor translation agencies or carelessly depending on online translation tools will ultimately result in misleading safety instructions. Many products are currently offered with safety warnings about equipment operation. Should these instructions be translated incorrectly, people may get hurt, which could, in turn, have dire liability consequences. Beware of going to court!

 

Why Are Technical Translation Services More Expensive?

That said, chances are that your company will be paying a bit more for professional technical translation services. So, the question remains: why are technical translation services more expensive than the translation of other types of content? For now, suffice to say the high cost may be attributed to the following reasons:

1. Integrated Process: The technical translation services process comprises of a lot of elements in addition to just text translation – including steps such as glossary creation, editing & proofreading, quality checks, correction of any errors, review by an in-country expert, and, lastly, final review & delivery. It goes without saying that these consecutive steps will ensure the accuracy, professionalism and reliability of the final translated technical text despite the higher cost!
2. Expert Knowledge at a Cost! Needless to say, the translation and localisation of a wide range of technical company materials, from software to manufacturing gear to aircrafts, requires translators who have technical expertise and special, mostly industry-specific knowledge. Understandably, these native-speaking subject matter experts are highly paid in comparison to mediocre translators.
   
3. Desktop Publishing: Businesses usually submit their original pieces of content to translation vendors in the form of digitally designed manuals, which may contain a lot of visuals and graphs with embedded content. Once translated, the content may have to be formatted to resemble the original content design ─ a technique called Desktop Publishing (DTP), which also raises the cost of the translation project.

 

How to Cut the Cost of Technical Translation Services?

But don’t panic! There are still many ways that make it possible for your business to control the high cost of technical translation services ─ including the use of Translation Memory technology (TM). Its numerous tools can help reuse translations, which usually results in significantly cutting project costs. Moreover, if your technical translation project comprises of enormous quantities of technical material in an unstructured format, you can, in this case, move your content to a structured format. Structured authoring tools can considerably reduce the cost of desktop publishing tasks.

 

How to Choose the Best Technical Translation Services Provider?

When it comes to the important decision on which technical translation services company is the right fit for your company, you should avoid basing your choice solely on price or turnaround time.  Accordingly, what are the decisive factors for preferring one technical translation services partner to another one? In fact, there are many criteria, but, for now, let’s focus on the following:

1. Experience: The experience which the translation agency might have in technical translation matters a lot. Another important factor is the technical translation services provider’s advantage of hiring translators who are versed in the industry-specific specialism as well as holding high-level language qualifications.
2. History: Your business should look for clients who have previously dealt with the translation agency that you’ve chosen, with a view to identifying both its strengths and weaknesses. This is a crucial step before making your final decision.
3. Translation Memory: As it’s likely that your business will need to have similar content translated in the future, it’s imperative that you choose a technical translation services provider that has an excellent translation memory technology, which will help retain full consistency of all your translated content in addition to cutting the cost of your upcoming projects.

 

Why TW Languages?

If your translation project is in the technical domain, TW Languages will undoubtedly be your choice, because we pride ourselves on the following advantages, which are not shared by other translation companies:

•   TW Languages is an ISO 17100 certified and a member of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
•   We’ve provided our second-to-none technical translation services to more than 200 companies and translated about 40 million words in this field.
•   We’ve put in place a rigorous quality process, with a proven methodology, which has given highly satisfactory results to many clients.
•   Our team of technical translators comprises of highly experienced, professional, native translators who cover over 250 languages, and are passionate about delivering high-quality technical translation services to all our customers, whether large or small.
•   We place a high premium on reliability, confidentiality and timely delivery of the translated content.
•   We provide country-specific localisation services, which consider colours and iconography in addition to the written word, so that you can be confident that all documentation, labelling and packaging are culturally appropriate for each of your particular markets.

 

You can leave it to TW Languages’ expert teams to deliver your translated content with the highest quality and within the agreed time schedules. Contact us to provide the details of your requirements and we will be happy to handle them with the utmost professionalism.