Suppose you’ve never worked with a Language Services Provider (LSP) before, but you need to communicate in another language. If this is the case, you’re probably in one of two camps.
The first one is where you’re thinking, “Why hire an LSP? What can they actually do for my business? They just manage translators and interpreters; why wouldn’t I just reach out to these people myself?”
Or, you may be thinking, “I know I need the help of an LSP, but how does this partnership work? Can they do everything my business needs to help with our non-English communication?”
Two totally valid points of view that we see all the time at LinguaLinx. When we talk to prospective clients in each of these situations, we answer a lot of questions to put these clients at ease and help them feel in control of their procurement process.
What questions are we asked? In this article, we’ll look at ten common questions and what you should look for in a response from your prospective LSP.
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Working with an LSP
1. How does the Process of Working with You Begin?
Each client is different. The LSP will want to sit down with you, get an understanding of how they can help you, and then they should put a bespoke plan together for your business.
What is always the same is that you’ll have an account or project manager who will be your primary source of contact, your advocate within the LSP, and walk you through the whole process every step of the way.
A good LSP will want you to feel in control of your projects without you feeling as though you’re taking a degree in language services.
2. Is it Important You Have Experience in Our Industry?
Yes. Your LSP should put together a team of linguists who have experience in your industry.
Every industry has its own way of communicating with levels of formality, acronyms, slang, jargon and so on.
An accurate translation or interpretation takes all these factors into account.
3. What’s the Difference Between Translation and Localization?
Translation is taking content from one language and converting it into another.
Localization is translating content for a specific region, community or culture. It considers the nuances of the culture and makes sure content is specifically tailored to be authentic to those people.
Localized content feels like it hasn’t been translated but was originally created in that language.
4. Can You Handle Design Requirements too?
Translations often live within a digital or print environment, and your LSP should have designers and desktop publishing (DTP) capabilities so that they can translate your content into a finished version that replicates the original.
A website translated into German, for example, has text that is up to 35% longer than English, so the layout of the website will probably need amending to reflect this.
5. I Don’t Speak the Language, so How do I Know The Translations are Accurate?
Opt for an LSP that adheres to both ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 standards, as this compliance signifies adherence to rigorous processes for ensuring translation accuracy and quality.
These standards mean that the LSP undergoes regular independent audits conducted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO is recognized globally as the foremost authority on project standards, highlighting the LSP's commitment to excellence.
6. How Much Do Language Services Cost?
Several factors influence the cost of language services, including the rarity of the language, the urgency of the request, the volume and type of content (such as text, audio, video, images), and whether the interpretation needs are in-person or can be managed over the phone (OPI) or via video (VRI).
Each of these elements plays a crucial role in determining the final price. To ensure transparency, we provide all clients with a free quote upfront, allowing them to understand the costs before any project commences.
7. How Long Does the Process Take?
How long the process takes depends on what is needed (translation, interpretation, or localization), how rare the language is, how much content there is, the type of content, and what your budget is?
If timescales are short, then more linguistic resources can be used. If the content is sensitive or public-facing, then you’ll want to use less machine translation and give it more of a human touch.
All these considerations add time to the process. Your LSP should be able to ask you a series of questions to determine what the scope of the project is and provide, and accurate project timeline.
8. What Languages Do You Cover?
Partnering with an LSP isn’t something that you want to be repeatedly doing. You want to find the right partner who can understand your business and react to your future language requirements.
So, you need to know that they can operate in virtually any language, anywhere in the world. For instance, we have the ability to translate in a staggering 98% of the world's languages.
9. How do you Choose Your Translators and Interpreters?
Your LSP should have an onboarding process for having linguists on their approved roster.
This should involve proof of formal training, industry experience, and specific accreditation where necessary.
For example, sign language interpreters should be trained in the industry’s professional code of ethics.
10. How can You Help us Other than Just Translation and Interpretation?
We look forward to building a partnership with you.
Think of us as the linguistic arm of your business – there to address any immediate needs, but also looking ahead into the future to see where we can help save you money (by building translation glossaries) and protect your brand (by helping you localize properly and be accepted by new cultures).
Moving Forward
We hope this summary of our most frequently asked questions gives you a little bit of a better understanding about how to work with a LSP.
The best advice we have is to partner with an LSP you trust and get them to know as much about your business as possible so they can start to look ahead and help you, rather than just reacting to requests.
This approach will save you time, resource and money in the future.
Get A Quote for Your Language Needs
We trust this rundown of frequently asked questions has enhanced your understanding of engaging with a Language Services Provider.
Our best counsel is to forge a trusting relationship with an LSP that grasps your business's essence, enabling them to anticipate and cater to your future linguistic needs efficiently. This strategic partnership is designed to conserve your time, resources, and finances down the line.
Should you require assistance with any language service needs, we're eager to discuss how we can support you.
Offering free consultations without any commitment, we ensure your communication never falters in translation or interpretation.
With our adherence to ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 standards, over two decades of translation expertise, and a global reputation for reliability, your message is in safe hands.
