After working hard to develop your research and write your manuscript, the time has come to search for an academic language translator. Although you know the benefits of translating your work, taking this next step might feel daunting. After all, finding the right translation company to trust with your manuscript can be challenging.

To make your task easier below is a compilation of steps to follow as you search for the right academic translator for your project.

Read as Many Reviews as you can

First and foremost, make sure to read reviews about potential academic translators. This step is critical since you can learn quite a bit about a company from customer reviews. Take some time and find as many reviews as possible about potential translation companies, then try to gauge the level of satisfaction the customers had with their service.

In addition, a customer-centric academic translation company will conduct client surveys. It is a good sign if the company welcomes such customer feedback. If the agencies you are considering have that data available, ask them to read through the survey results.

After you have perused customer comments, inquire about any issues you are concerned about before you move forward with a potential agency.

Review the Agency’s Client List 

As you start to narrow down possibilities through reading customer feedback, the next step is to check into a company’s previous work with other academic authors. Their client list will be insightful and will yield important information, such as how many manuscripts they have translated and what types of academic areas they specialize in. In addition, looking through their portfolio will be helpful by showing the type and quality of work they have produced.

Seek Information About the Company’s Translators

Your partnership with a language services provider (LSP) should feel comfortable, which applies to all academic translators contributing to your project.

First, consider whether they are native speakers of your target languages. Translators who are native speakers can easily navigate any topic in their language. With academic translation, it is necessary to ensure that the translators are up to the task, especially considering that the accuracy of your translation relies on their abilities.

Next, consider their expertise in the subject matter. Academic writing is a highly specialized field that includes a complex combination of theories, hypotheses, and scientific research. As such, a translator who is a specialist in your area will be able to ensure that the intended meaning of your research is present in the translated language.

Along with confirming that you will work with a translator who is both a native speaker and an expert, other questions to ask are:

  • What are your translators’ levels of education?
  • What level of experience do the translators have in your specific area? For example, have they conducted their research in the field, and have they ever published papers about their research?
  • How do you evaluate and assess translators before you hire them to work with your company?
  • How do you ensure that your translators stay updated with the latest information? Are they required to take additional training?

Find out how the Agency Ensures Quality

When selecting your LSP, ask about their quality assurance process. For example, how will the final manuscript be checked if you want to translate your academic paper from Japanese to English? To ensure complete precision, the document must be thoroughly looked over by a person fluent in both languages.

This review is vital, as working with languages can involve complex issues. Afterward, English editing should take place, verifying that everything is grammatically correct. The edited manuscript should also be reviewed to make sure that you have met your requirements and that the final product is ready to be submitted to the publisher.

Ask About Customer Service

You should expect excellent customer service from when you contact the academic translation company to the end of the project. Find out if you will be assigned a project manager who will be the primary person you will work with throughout the translation process. In addition, inquire about their availability to answer questions and address issues and how quickly they will respond if you have a concern.

A good indicator of the level of service you can expect is whether the company is flexible enough to customize options to meet your requirements, including your budget and timeline. The agency should be able to devise a solution that works for you.

Furthermore, ask whether the LSP offers post-translation support to address any additional needs you have moving forward.

Find Out What Level of Data Security You Can Expect 

Your academic paper needs to be translated by an agency you can trust and rely on. Your research must remain completely confidential until you are ready to publish it in the target language.

As such, seek an academic translation company that is ISO 17100-certified, which ensures that the agency has a data security program in place. In addition, the LSP should offer non-disclosure agreements to guarantee that your manuscript will remain confidential.

When searching for an academic translator, you must not compromise on security; if you have any concerns, find another translation company to work on your manuscript.

Check how the Cost will be Determined

Of course, the cost is the primary consideration when making a final decision about an LSP. Discuss your requirements with the company; then, the agency should be able to give you a precise quote that outlines all costs. Some of the factors that will affect the cost include:

  • The language pairing: Language is extremely nuanced and complex, and some languages are more challenging to translate than others. As an example, a rare language pairing will be far more expensive than a common pairing, mainly because experienced translators in these languages are difficult to find. In addition to the pairing, the number of languages necessary will affect the price.
  • The target audience: If your manuscript is going to a more specialized audience, the work will be more intricate, which would end up increasing the price.
  • The project’s deadline: If you need your manuscript quickly translated, the project will cost more. When a translation project has a fast turnaround time, more people will need to be added to the team that is conducting the work.

Although finding the right academic translator services agency might take some time, it is worth it to do your research. Think of it this way: When you bring your manuscript to your new readers, you want to make a great first impression. Finding a top-notch translation partner will ensure that your translated manuscript is the best it can be for your new target market.

Summary

Translating your academic manuscript is an excellent way to share your work with countless new readers. Follow these steps to find the right literary translator for your project. By doing some research, you can find the translation company that is best suited to your needs.