Professional Japanese Translation: How to Avoid Baking Failure into Projects

Take a moment to examine a real-life Japanese translation project advertised on a popular professional translation directory.

 

The project demands expertise in human resources, training manuals, organizational behavior, commerce & economics, and finance, totaling a massive 300,000 ~ 500,000 words. As if that's not challenging enough, the delivery due date is an absurdly tight 3 DAYS. 

Let's break down the factors that make this project a recipe for disaster.

Navigating the Expertise Maze - Do These Translators Really Exist?

The first hurdle in this project is finding professional translators with an extensive understanding of human resources, training manuals, organizational behavior, commerce & economics, and finance. Such a wide range of expertise is rare even in a translator's native language, let alone in a learnt language. 

The specific requirement of using SDLX Translation Suite further narrows the pool of qualified translators, making this project's success seem like a distant dream.

The Numbers Game & Overcoming Impractical Workloads

Translating 300,000 ~ 500,000 words in just 3 days with an eye to quality is tall order!

Even with a daily translation rate of 1,500 words for quality work, it would require a staggering 67-111 Japanese translators. Additionally, proof-checking activities demand 25% of the translation effort, leading to a need for an additional 17-28 proof-checkers. 

Then the sheer magnitude of this project setup time, including recruiting and evaluating translators, proof-checkers & editors, software setup, and administrative tasks, adds another layer of complexity.

The Power of Strategy: Avoiding Costly Translation Errors

Unfortunately, such rushed translation projects are not uncommon, and they often result in fatal translation errors. 

A well-regarded study found that a staggering: 

80% of global firms suffer from revenue loss due to translation errors. 

The root of the problem lies in the lack of a well-defined translation strategy. Merely needing a quick translation is not a strategy. A 

Comprehensive strategy that recognizes translation as a distinct and essential process is crucial to achieving high-quality results and avoiding costly mistakes.

 

A Translation Strategy is Professional Translation

Translation errors are avoidable - There's no reason to lose money on translation projects. 

Reach out to professional Japanese translators who understand the importance of a well-crafted translation strategy, especially for business document translation. 

Contact professional Japanese document translation services.