Manuals and Training Materials

The language used in manuals must be clear and simple in order to facilitate learning.

Manuals and training materials can be very technical in nature because they can contain a lot of industry-specific jargon and terminology. A good translator will do background and subject-related research to ensure existing terminology is used correctly and consequently throughout the manual.

While  professional translators are specialised language practitioners with some technical knowledge, they are generally not specialists in your  field of expertise. It is therefore good practice for the translator to consult with you, the client, with regard to terminology and the final product. Proofreading should generally be done by  a client-appointed expert, who can consult with the translator for the final edit of the document.

Technical Documentation

Technical documents are full of jargon and industry-specific terminology which are a challenge to translate, even for professional translators. Translators are language specialists, and some have exstensive experience with terminology related to your specific industry and a good understanding of what your industry is all about. However, technical translators spend a lot of time researching and understanding terminology which are in daily use by your experts.

Providing your translator with a contact person within your company who can answer technical questions and advise them on terminology issues is a good practice which will result in a better product. Proofreading of the final document by a client-appointed industry expert is an excellent way of ensuring the  final accuracy. Advising the translator of suggested changes allows him or her to continually improve the product. Make the translator part of your team!