Translation-related know-how, examples and latest news.

Some Japanese is so Special it just Doesn't Translate

October 26, 2015

 Japanese, Japanese tidbits

Have you ever wondered how to say "otsukaresama" to your non-Japanese colleagues in English? In addition to "otsukaresama", the Japanese language has a number of unique stock phrases that don't really have an exact translation. Force a translation on these obvious sounding greetings and the original nuance is lost. Let's look at some Japanese expressions that we bandy about in our daily lives without a second thought.

Hard-to-Translate Japanese No.1: "Yoroshiku onegai shimasu"

"Yoroshiku onegai shimasu" is a handy phrase used every day in a variety of situations such as a greeting at a new workplace. See if you can think of a way to say "yoroshiku onegai shimasu" in English. It implies that the speaker wishes to work hard with his/her new colleagues and is ready to be shown the ropes. We might translate this as "I'd appreciate your guidance." But there is no equivalent phrase an English speaker would use in the same situation, so the translation above still seems odd and clunky.


Translation Coordinator: The Key to Quality Control

October 19, 2015

Translation Coordinator

A translation coordinator is absolutely essential for any translation job. Sometimes known as "project manager," the coordinators manage each project from order to follow-up services after delivery. They are the bridge between translators and clients, and make full use of their knowledge and skills to maintain quality. Let's take a peek at their work.

Every Day is a Busy One for Translation Coordinators

As the process from translation order to delivery varies by project, translation coordinators must be ever flexible. Choosing a translator who meets the client's needs and delivers on time is just one of their important tasks. Sometimes they will exploit time zones to meet tight deadlines. Effective use of a global translator network can enable a last-minute evening order to be ready the next morning.


Three Key Points for Estimating Translation ROI

October 15, 2015

 Translation, ROI

Content marketing is experiencing rapid growth via a variety of media including mobiles, email and social networking services. Providing information to its customers enables a company to make overseas sales despite a lack of presence there. Translations of websites and other materials are essential to raise the profile of products and services overseas.

But it isn't easy to estimate the benefits of investing in translation. Will the investment result in the desired quality? How much will it ultimately boost profits? From these two perspectives, we explain three key criteria in gauging return on investment (ROI).

Tips for Estimating Investment Benefits: Set Benchmarks!

Translating content has many conceivable benefits: e.g., increased page views and queries, as well as leads, unit sales and revenue. Really, the list of potential benchmarks is endless. Decide on which one to look at, focusing on the most important.

October 2015

Japanese Translation Agency Arc Communications

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