Avoiding Mixed Messages

It may be easy to get a message across in your native tongue, but there are numerous hurdles and risks to overcome when you’re asked to deliver your message in another language.

Susana Baumann, director of LCSWorldwide Language and Cultural Services, shared her tips for successful translation projects with the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Baumann suggests the following steps when preparing a project—particularly marketing or branding materials— for translation:

Remove regional or common expressions from the text.

Review and finalize the text before sending it to a translator.

Prepare a glossary for a consistent translation.

For more tips on translation preparation and steps to follow when choosing a translation service provider, see Baumann’s article, “¿Habla Español? When New Business Depends on It,” at www.oscpa.com/includes/showwire.asp?i=564.

Source: OSCPA, www.oscpa.com.