Why we proofread translations

Sometimes RABI clients wonder why we recommend that translations be proofread before submitting them to our clients. After all, the client wrote the original content, and all we need to do is transfer it to a different language. So why the review?

You have put hours of hard work into getting every word right, creating just the right tone and choosing the most accurate words possible to relay your thoughts to the reader, and now you want it translated into a different language. Here’s what happens.

Our translator reads your text and then thinks about how to best convey the meaning of your text in the new language. He does not translate it word for word, but translates it as a whole so that the readers of the destination language receive the same complete information as the readers of the original language, and he also pays attention to the nuances of words. Think about all the words in the English language that mean more or less the same thing as the word ‘nice.’  Perhaps: good, pleasant, okay, kind, fair, or gentle. Each of these words has a slightly different meaning, depending on context. A good translator will take care to choose the word in the destination language that most accurately corresponds to the one used in the original language and likewise, choose whole phrases based on meaning. Because this process is somewhat subjective, it is imperative that the draft then be read by another translator who double checks that the true meaning of the original document comes through in the translation.

Additionally, our team makes sure we've carefully dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s, that the grammar is correct,  and that there are no typo’s.

So the next time you have a document translated, rather than hesitating at a round of proofreading, you should insist that it be proofread by a native speaker in the destination language to ensure that the high quality document that you produced is just as effective in the translated language. 

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