If you decide to hire a language translator in China directly, rather than using a translation agency, you have to know what to look for in your potential candidates.
If you decide to hire a language translator in China directly, rather than using a translation agency, you have to know what to look for in your potential candidates.
1. The language translator should always translate INTO his or her mother tongue
This ensures that the translation will not contain any awkward second-language sentences. Most translation service providers only translate into their first language. Failing that, the translation should be proofread by a native speaker of the target language. This is particularly important if you cannot provide your own native proofreaders.
2. The language translator should preferably live in the target country
People lose touch with their first language after a while. If your potential candidate lives in the source country, e.g. in China or the USA, he/she should have strong ties to his/her home country.
3. Experience for translating
Look for a language translator with at least several years of experience in translation, especially in the subject matter of your documents. If you decide to hand your job over to a good translation agency, the agency will take care of the selection process. Remember, they add a valuable service because they have extensive experience in picking quality providers. A good agency retains its top translators and uses proven candidates over and over again.
4. Education
The language translator should have some sort of education in translation and preferably also in the subject matter of your documents.