In the industrial and B2B sector, a professional technical translation does not consist in transposing a text from one language into another. User manuals, technical data sheets, product specifications, operational procedures, and catalogs require terminological accuracy, consistency, and deep knowledge of the sector.
While translating a technical document, a mistake can compromise the understanding of information, create ambiguities, and in the most serious cases even have harmful consequences on product safety and its compliance.
That’s why an accurate check is crucial before delivering a business technical translation. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid.
- Translating without knowing the industry
One of the main risks consists in entrusting a technical translation to a person having good language skills but not knowing the specific terminology of the sector.
Mechanics, electronics, automotive, pharmaceutical, energy, and IT sectors use different terminology, different conventions, and different abbreviations. A seemingly easy word may have very different meanings, depending on the context.
Therefore, it is important to check the following aspects before delivery:
- Correctness of specialized terminology;
- Meaning of abbreviations;
- Consistency with the existing business documents;
- Use of the correct units of measurement and of the correct technical conventions;
2. Using inconsistent terminology
In technical documentation, the same component or process should always be translated by using the same word except for specific needs.
Alternating synonyms to make the text sound more “natural” may be counterproductive. Using three different terms in a user manual to refer to the same part, for instance, may confuse users.
Creating and constantly checking a business technical glossary helps keep all the documentation consistent even when it is translated into more than one language.
3. Literal translation of the original text
An effective technical translation must be faithful to the meaning of the original, not necessarily to the syntactic structure of the original.
The so-called “calque” may generate grammatically correct sentences which do not sound natural, or in the worst-case scenario may even be ambiguous. This issue occurs especially in texts translated from English, where sentence structure, terminology, and style may considerably differ from Italian.
The aim is to obtain a technically accurate text sounding natural from a linguistic point of view which is immediately understood by the recipient.
4. Disregarding numbers, units of measurement, and symbols
Numbers, percentages, temperatures, tolerances, and units of measurement require a specific check.
A banal transcription mistake may modify technical information completely. Even symbols, decimals, thousands separators, and date formats can vary from country to country and from language to language.
Before delivery, it is therefore advisable to compare this data to the original document and to the standards required by the target market.
5. Not checking acronyms and abbreviations
Technical acronyms must not be translated automatically.
Some of them are preserved in the original language, some others have an equivalent in the target language. In other cases, it is necessary to explain the term at the first occurrence.
A specific check of the abbreviations reduces the risk of using terms which do not exist and of making the document difficult to understand for technicians and workers.
6. Ignoring layout and formatting
A translation can be impeccable from a linguistic point of view but not ready for publication.
In technical documents, it is also obligatory to verify the following aspects:
- Titles and numbering of chapters;
- Tables;
- Captions;
- Notes and warnings;
- Cross-references;
- Texts within pictures and schemes;
- Page interruptions;
- Page headers and footers;
Translation quality also includes the correct management of the final document.
7. Forgetting instructions and safety warnings
The instructions relating to safety, installation, maintenance, and product use require a highly rigorous check.
Warnings, danger notices, and operational instructions must be translated clearly and consistently without changing their meaning.
Moreover, when documents are translated for regulated markets, it is necessary to check if terminology and content are compatible with the applicable requisites.
8. Relying exclusively on a spelling checker
The automated spelling checker is useful, but it cannot replace a technical and linguistic review.
A text can be correct from an orthographic point of view; however, it can contain a terminological mistake, an ambiguous translation, or inaccurate data.
The final check should foresee at least a linguistic, terminological, and technical check, based on the complexity of the document.
9. Not checking the final formatted text
The reviewing stage should not terminate with a comparison between the source file and the translated one.
Once you have formatted the document, it is crucial to check the final result. In this stage, cut words, superimposed texts, modified tables, or erroneous references may come out.
The check of the final file is particularly important when the translation is used in the production, selling or assistance stage.
A checklist before delivery
Before approving a business technical translation, it is useful to check:
- The consistency of technical terminology;
- Respect of the business glossary provided;
- Numbers, dates, and units of measurement;
- Acronyms and abbreviations;
- Warnings and safety instructions;
- Tables, pictures, and cross-references;
- Formatting and layout;
- Spelling and grammar;
- Final document compared to the original;
- Final review and proofreading of the file to be delivered;
Conclusion
Not only must a technical translation for companies be linguistically correct, but it must also preserve accuracy, terminological consistency, clarity, and be user-friendly.
Investing in quality assessment before delivery allows reducing mistakes, subsequent reviews, and misunderstandings, while improving, in the meantime, the professionalism of business communication.
That’s why the ideal process does not terminate with the translating stage: Review/Proofreading, terminological check, and check of the final document are part of a quality service.