Questions & Resources

Q & A

1. Should I choose Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese? Is there a difference?

Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese are two forms of written Chinese. Simplified characters are mostly used in Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia, while Traditional Chinese characters are more often used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas Chinese communities. Choosing between the two depends on your target audience.

2. How long does a translation normally take?

A professional translator’s normal translation speed is 500-700 words per hour depending on the difficulty of the document. After the document is done, the translator will leave it for several hours before proofreading. At this point, both original document and the translation will be read. On the next day, the translated document will be reviewed a final time to ensure accuracy and flow.

3. My document is confidential, what about security?

As a professional translator, the first lesson we learn is safety, security and confidentiality of any documents we translate. The translator will never share information with any undisclosed third party.  If necessary, a Non-Disclosure Agreement can be signed before the translation.

4.  Can’t just anyone from China translate?

A translator is more than someone who can speak two languages! Being perfectly fluent in Chinese and English is the most basic requirement for a translator. If you need someone to write marketing materials, will you find just anyone who can speak English? Or would you prefer someone with excellent writing skills? Good writing skills are another important factor for translation. Also, the translator needs to be familiar or have experience with the content to translate it more accurately.

5. What can I expect from a translator besides only translation?

A good translator is also a good cultural consultant. The cultural differences between America and China are significant. There are differences not only in the way people talk, but also where people focus their attention. American companies are normally not quite sure what information Chinese people want to get from their materials. This is why a translator is necessary. A good translator should not only translate the materials, but also provide suggestions about the content being translated.

6. I have employees who can speak Chinese, can’t I just ask them to do it?

Having employees do translation services has different costs. The employees also need time to do the translation and they won’t be able to perform their normal functions. A professional translator can translate much faster per day and can provide much higher quality work.

7. Can I hire an American who can speak Chinese to translate my documents into Chinese?

It is more ideal if the translator translates into their mother tongue. This ensures that the translation won’t have any awkward second-language sentences. If you want to hire an American who speaks Chinese, make sure that you will have native proofreaders. Also, it is preferred that the translator has lived in China so they can understand cultural nuances.

Please contact me for any further questions.

 

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