Do-it-yourself localization usually means using "machine translation" to generate your material in a second language.
- Machine translation sacrifices the context and nuance of your carefully crafted message
- The native speaker who reads your word-for-word translation knows that you don't speak their language and may assume that your interest in them, their country or their culture is purely monetary
- At its worst, machine translation can be offensive to the native speaker, because there is no allowance for cultural differences in automatic translation
Global corporations often rely on native-language employees to perform translation.
- Native-language employees will eliminate the risk of cultural faux pas, but most aren't trained communicators
- Grammar and spelling will only be as good as the native-language employee chosen
- Translation requirements add an unnecessary burden to the workload of the employee, whose regular job suffers while the translation effort is underway
Regardless of the do-it-yourself method, the translated information still must be reinserted into the software, manual, website or other medium for which it was designed. This can add days of labor to the cost of localization, depending on the size of the project.
Working with a professional localization company provides economies of scale.
- TrueLanguage has the tools needed to perform translation without impacting the code, formatting or layout of the translated material.
- TrueLanguage employs professional project managers to oversee the localization efforts of multiple translators, reducing turnaround time and ensuring that deadlines are met.
- TrueLanguage uses native speakers who are trained communicators -- language, grammar, punctuation and context will be accurate.
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