Talk the talk

How can you ensure that the logo or strapline for your company and it’s products is translated correctly? You can't but we can. You go to the trouble of getting the perfect slogan for your company, spending time and money, finding and using the right marketing experts only to fall at the final hurdle by having this translated by an inexperienced, unprofessional translator.

Over the years, we have seen numerous mistakes in this field!

Here are some examples of the meaning being "lost in translation"

"Our wines leave you nothing to hope for".

This translation was on a label on a bottle of wine supplied by an Italian vineyard. Not quite the effect the wine producer had hoped for!

 

"A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers".

 

This translation was in an article in an East African newspaper. Dangerous consequences if they really did throw them in the pool!

How is this avoided?

Simple. We only use qualified in-country translators. They know the local market and its customs ensuring that your marketing material has the desired effect when translated and localised into your target language. A literal translation is not possible for this type of document. A different approach is required to that of a technical manual or pharmaceutical text, where the translator has to stay close to the original text. A flair is required in English for writing this type of copy. The same applies in a foreign language. Therefore, only translators who have a marketing background, are chosen to translate this type of text. We are happy to liaise with any distributors/agents you may have in the country in question, to find the best solution for your company so that your marketing material really does convey the image you want it to, for successful selling abroad.