Transhorsa Translation Co.,LTD.

,Shanghai
http://www.transhorsa.org Msn:transhorsa@yahoo.com.cn
Native Translation & Proofreading

On Standard of Professional Translation Service

Abstract: As the globalization deepens increasingly and the economy development

advances with high speed, communications in different fields throughout the world plays
a more and more important role. Translation, in the process of communication, is the
connection for those who do not understand each other or who cannot read in other
languages. Due to the demand on communication, translation companies spring up like
mushrooms, which provide various levels of translation service. Nevertheless, not every
company provides good service for the customers. Only the translation companies which
provide professional service can survive in the fierce competition.

This study will show the current situation of translation industry in China, which does
not run in a well-organized way. Therefore, the author will analyze the reasons and sort
out a standard of professional service guided by the some regulations. Then based on
the discussed standard of professional service, some suggestions will be given so as to
keep the industry in a good order, and to improve the translation quality in China.

The statistics shows that there were about 28,500 translation works published
throughout China, with an average of 2192 annually from 1978 to 1990. Then the data
from 1995 to 2003 is almost nine times of that from 1978 to 1990, which were 94400 and
10489 respectively. There is no doubt that China is a big translation country. However, it
cannot be considered as a powerful translation country due to the current situation.

Firstly, the total translation level is not as high as that in other countries. Many
translation companies emerge in powerful a large number and various levels of
translation services.

Secondly, both of the quantity and quality of translators are badly needed to
increase. In despite of that the number of professional translators has reached 60
thousand, there are about 500 thousand part-time translators in China, and the
translation quality is still in a low level.

Thirdly, there is no mature regulation to guide and manage the translation industry.

It is obvious that translation service needs to be improved in order to make China a

translation power. In fact competitive strength of a translation company depends on its

Addr:2601 Xietu Road, T1-16D Gateway Plaza, Shanghai 200030

TEL: +(86) 021 51691621 33197285 FAX: +(86) 021 33197183
Transhorsa Translation Co.,LTD.,Shanghai
http://www.transhorsa.org Msn:transhorsa@yahoo.com.cn
Native Translation & Proofreading

translation service. Translation service is a rewarding business behavior which offers

customers with transforming service of more than two languages. Because of the
irregularity in translation industry, competitions are becoming fierce increasingly. Only
professional translation service can make a company in an invincible position and
outstanding among so many competitors.

Above all, the core to achieve professional translation service lies in the standard.

To begin with, professional translation service requests the support of translation

management. In other words, it is not performed by an individual, but by an excellent
team, in which team members cooperate in a well-organized way. The team consists of
project manager, translators, quality assurance department (QA department), editor,
proofreader, linguistic expert and technical expert. The talent filtering is especially
important so that the involved persons are entitled to their work. Take Soven Trans for
example, the talent filtering process is rather tough. Only 3 out of 1000 persons would be
employed. Besides, cooperation and coordination among team members is a key to
obtain professional service. Every person should be responsible for his or her works.

Then a thorough and prompt communication with the clients makes the project in
good progress. It is easy to clearly figure out the translation content, quality, style,
purpose, composing requirement of target source, confidential term and so on at the
beginning of contact. When the translators encounter difficulties and pose questions, the
project manager should contact the clients to obtain the solutions as soon as possible.
Then project manager should tell all translators concerning with the difficulties and
solutions.

Finally, feedback collected from clients and quality tracing can expose the weakness
and help to improve service quality next time. The team will make rapid progress in
professional translation service continuously by discovering its weaknesses and
correcting them without delay.

Based on the standard of professional translation service, some suggestions are

given as follows:

1. QA department is strongly recommended to take advantage of translation

tools, such as Trados, which can monitor the activities of each translator.
Besides, resources can be shared through the tool so that the translators
tend to work efficiently. It is encouraged to create a system that is unique to
others.

2. Each client can assess the credit and service quality of a translation team.

Addr:2601 Xietu Road, T1-16D Gateway Plaza, Shanghai 200030

TEL: +(86) 021 51691621 33197285 FAX: +(86) 021 33197183
Transhorsa Translation Co.,LTD.,Shanghai
http://www.transhorsa.org Msn:transhorsa@yahoo.com.cn
Native Translation & Proofreading

After the team hands in the finished translation to the clients, the latter might
give the team an evaluation by rating on the website of the translation
company. Pressure puts forward quality.

The related institutions should put emphasis on the regulation of translation industry to
establish a healthy market.

There is a long way to keep the translation industry in order, but providing professional
translation service is an inevitable trend in the near future. It is time to specify
professional translation service right now.

Author Information:

Lucy Zhou
Project Manager of
Transhorsa Translation Co., LTD., Shanghai
http://www.transhorsa.org
Native translator & Proofreading

Addr:2601 Xietu Road, T1-16D Gateway Plaza, Shanghai 200030

TEL: +(86) 021 51691621 33197285 FAX: +(86) 021 33197183