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Intellectual Property Translation

Accurate Intellectual Property Translation

If your company has intellectual property to be translated, including patents and copyright materials, you need more than the average translator. These types of translations require one of the right expertise to produce a quality and legally sound product. Your translation needs to be acceptable to the patent offices of both countries that your document is translated to and from. Most commonly, these include the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office, and the Japanese Patent Office.

Patent Translation

To obtain a proper translation, the translator chosen must be fluent in both languages, an expert in the field of the document, and also has an extensive background in patent translation. Translators with experience in patent translation are familiar with the correct formatting required by the offices involved and are also aware of the existing patent laws, aiding in assuring that your document passes through inspections flawlessly.

EPIC Translations has a vast database of translators and the ability to match your company with one who will fulfil all your intellectual property translation needs. We can assure that your translator will be well-versed in patent laws, as well as an expert in the field of your document. Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote. We guarantee you will be glad you made the call.

in Blog / Document translation

Medical Interpretation

Accurate Medical Interpretation

The medical interpretation field is currently quite small, but is growing rapidly, with interpreters in high demand.  While bilingual fluency is a necessity, it is not the only requirement for this field.  It is necessary for the interpreter to be able to communicate with ease between the doctor and patient, thus the fluency in both languages is absolutely required.

In addition, it is also necessary that the interpreter become nationally certified.  This can be accomplished by enrolling in a national certification program offered by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.

Through the certification process, the interpreters become proficient in medical terminology, creating a more professional and accurate interpretation for the patient.  The interpreter also learns the regulations surrounding accurate medical interpretation, the laws of the U.S. health care system, as well as becoming well-versed in the ethics of the field.  At the conclusion of the course, interpreters are tested through written and oral exams.

When interpreters come into a situation, they first meet with the doctor or health care professional to get a clear explanation of the patient’s circumstances and condition.  The interpreter also explains to the professional how to behave in the meeting with the patient.

Many healthcare professionals are not aware of the etiquette involved using an interpreter.  They will often speak solely to the interpreter, instead of speaking to the patient directly and allowing the interpreter to act as an afterthought.  Both the patient and the doctor should speak to each other as if the other spoke their native language and were the only person in the room.

In this ever-growing field, accurate medical interpreters are in high demand.  If this field interests you, you can find more information about becoming nationally certified at the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreter’s website.  Also contact us here at EPIC and we can work together in the future!

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Difference Between Translation & Localization

What is the Difference Between Translation & Localization

While localization and translation are two very different aspects of communicating between two languages, they ultimately serve the same purpose, to give the recipient of the translation the best understanding of what they are reading.

Translation

Translation is a written communication of a document, assuring that the meaning in both languages remains the same. This involves assuring that the correct translation is chosen, not to just convert the words over to another language, but to maintain the correct meanings of the words, as some languages can have a word with several meanings.

Localization

Localization is somewhat more complex than translation. Localization is necessary when a new product or company is introduced to another culture. A new target audience may have different expectations or a product and of advertising. When localizing your business to a foreign area, it is important to employ the use of a linguist to help you with the nuances of a new culture. A business needs to assure that their product remains useful in another area, and must also assure that their advertisements are appropriate. If localization is implemented properly, the consumer will not question where the product is from, because there will be no outside cultural marks marring the consumer’s perception.

The key to localization is to make the product comfortable for the consumer to use. This involves making sure its packing and directions are translated properly, making any minor adjustments to meet the unique needs of the new target market, and keeping in mind any cultural nuances when creating advertising. Especially in advertising, it is important to not offend any culture and knowing what is acceptable makes the localization process so much smoother.

For help localizing your product or company, get the help of a professional linguist, like one employed by EPIC Translations! Contact us today 1-877-EPIC-745!

in Blog / Document translation

Essential Translation Quality Controls

Importance Of Translation Quality Controls

In the translation business, putting out quality work is of the utmost importance, but it is not always easy to produce. There are a few different reasons for this, but most problems in translation work are results of two issues.

First Translation Issue

The first of these issues is that although most translators are fluent in the languages required of them and have a solid base of knowledge in a certain field, i.e. finance or pharmaceuticals, they are not always experts in the exact area that the document being translated is relating to.  Many documents are very complicated, which gives the translator difficulty in translating.  This is especially common in medical document translations.  It is highly unlikely that the translator has a specialized education in the specific medical condition of the document at hand.

Second Translation Issue

The second quality issue in translation stems from the fact that because the translation is both an art and a science, it is very subjective. Languages can have many different meanings for different phrases, and those phrases can sometimes be translated very differently.  This means that although the translation can make perfect sense to one, it may have lost the true meaning of the original document.

How to alleviate quality issues

The best way to alleviate quality issues in translation work is to subject the translated document to a reviewer.  This second look at the translation will catch most issues or errors that the first translator may have missed.  Sometimes even two reviewers are necessary.

Prevent any quality issues and contact EPIC Translations today.  We always get the job done well. Call 1-877-EPIC-745 for more information.

in Blog / Document translation

GE Global Innovation Barometer

GE Global Innovation Barometer Statistics

GE has released a first-ever report, surveying 1,000 business executives in 12 different countries, entitled the GE Global Innovation Barometer.  The purpose of this survey is to highlight the opportunities and roadblocks of working in a global economy and what businesses need to do to maintain success in these different economies.

The central principle behind the data gathered is that innovation will be key in this economy.  Never before have businesses needed to meet the needs of so many vastly different markets.  This is where localization is of the utmost importance.  The study shows that the new innovations have shifted from ones that simply make a profit, to those that enrich people’s lives.  77% of executives believe that the greatest innovations of the 21st century will be those dealing with human needs, such as healthcare, environmental quality, energy security and access to education.

Also to be noted, in the survey it was found that because of the new emphasis on innovation, many companies must restructure and redesign their business models, leaving a wide opening for small to mid-sized companies to come in and become major players.  Also, 86% of those surveyed say that this century is about partnerships between several entities, as opposed to single company successes.

Don’t let your firm be left behind in the innovation boom of the 21st century.  Access those global markets and connect with other businesses that you can connect with and can grow with you.  This is the perfect time to get involved with a translation service provider.  Epic Translations can provide you with all the translation services necessary to transition your company from national to international.  Let’s all grow together.  Give us a call today!

in Blog / Document translation

Lost In Translation

Lost In Translation Mistakes

Last week, as the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, had his only policy address during his four day trip to the United States, he was left with quite a surprise.  He was toasted by Coca-Cola Co.’s Chief Executive Officer, Muhtar Kent, in a very original way… in Japanese.

“In honor of this very historic moment, I would like to propose a toast to President Hu and also to his esteemed delegation — kanpai,” Kent said.

Laughter erupted from the crowd immediately.  See, Kent used the word “kanpai”, meaning cheers in the Japanese language.  Unfortunately for Kent, nobody told him that the Chinese and Japanese word for “Cheers!” both use the same Chinese characters, but pronounced differently in the two languages.  The word in Chinese is “ganbei.”  Fortunately, nobody took offense to this mix-up.

This was the second translation issue since Hu has been in the U.S.  (President’s Translation Mix-Up) Having a qualified and experienced linguist around would have easily prevented this mistake and saved Kent much embarrassment.  Next time they should call Epic Translations!

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Regional Dialects

A regional dialect is not a distinct language of its own, but a variety of language spoken by a certain region of a country.  Take into account that regional dialects are of utmost importance when translating a document, thus it is also necessary to express to your Translation Service Provider if you require a specific dialect to be used.  Depending on what language you are translating to or from, the regional dialect can have a vast impact on the meaning of the words in translation.  The recent Google Translate for Android App does not even recognize the different regional dialects when translating between Spanish and English.

Regional dialects Importance

Regional dialects are quite important to many cultures, as it helps to keep their heritage current and thriving, so they cannot be ignored by sticking to official languages.  All attempts to standardize the English language had been resisted by the American citizens, with the continuing prevalence of slang, swearing and modified grammar through the different parts of the country.  Every country has its own varying forms of regional dialect.  Although in the U.S., the different regional dialects are understood by virtually anyone through the country, it is not as simple in other cultures.

In Spain, the regional dialects are so vast, they even have different language through different regions, to the point where an interpreter is required in the Senate.  Interpreters have been hired to translate into Castilian Spanish from the senators who speak Catalan, Galician, Valencian and Euskara.  Although it can be an inconvenience to have a translator for those who most likely can all speak Spanish, it allows the Senators to express themselves in their own regional dialect, which allows them to maintain their heritage when representing their region.

Here at Epic Translations, we have translators to fit your every translation need, for every regional dialect you may need.  Call today and see how we can fulfil your translation needs.

in Blog / Document translation

President’s Translation Mix-Up

President Translation Mix-Up : Between President Obama and Chinese

At a news conference this past Wednesday, between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, there were some translation mix-ups, causing great confusion between the two leaders. There was not simultaneous translation from English to Chinese for Hu Jintao, as thought by President Obama. When both leaders were asked a question, it was not immediately translated to Hu, leaving him unaware of the question, thus not responding. His lack of a response cause many to believe that he was avoiding the subject of human rights altogether, when in fact, he had just not been asked the question in his own language. Another mishap occurred when Obama answered a question with a quite lengthy response, but because there was not simultaneous translation occurring, the interpreter was made to translate the long response after Obama had finished, which increase the margin for error in the translation.

Later in the conference, a reporter jokingly asked for the translator “to interpret my two questions correctly and accurately.” Although it is not entirely clear what caused the confusion, it was stated by White House representatives that the Chinese had requested consecutive, not simultaneous translation, which apparently had not been expressed to Obama, or he would have responded in shorter, more broken up and easier to translate segments. There were also issues with the American live broadcast, sometimes having stretches of Mandarin that most Americans are unable to understand.

Clearly, this is an example of the necessity of clarity of what’s expected when working with professional translation services. Both parties need to make their expectations clear to the translator and to each other to get the job done well. Here at Epic Translations, we are always making sure that all bases are covered with our translation and interpretation work. Come give us a try and we’re sure to impress. Give us a call at 1-877-EPIC-745

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Pharmacy Translation Initiative

There’s a new initiative being pushed in New York to provide language assistance in all chain pharmacies to those residents who don’t speak English. Many citizens are not able to read or understand a pharmacist’s instructions of their medications. Nisha Agarwal, director of the Health Justice Program, reveals that 88% of pharmacists see patients with limited English proficiency daily, but only 39% of pharmacists translated labels daily. “The pharmacist couldn’t explain to them how to take their medicine in a language they would understand,” Agarwal said.

Pharmacy Translation Initiative Requires Translation Services

A bill has been passed already that requires pharmacies to print prescription labels in the 7 most common languages in the state. The new initiative would require translation services for every language, most likely through a phone service. It would also require pharmacies to post signs, making patients aware of their right to a translator.

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Google Translate for Android

On January 12, Google released a revised version of its Google Translate for Android Application. The service was already allowing translation via text for 53 different languages and translation from voice to text in 15 languages. The new revision allows two users in close proximity, speaking different languages, to converse back and forth entirely through voice. One user speaks into a microphone, and the application translates the speech and reads it out loud. The user being spoken to can then respond and the application translates their speech back to the original speaker’s language. As of right now, this technology is only available for translation between English and Spanish.

Unfortunately, this technology is not without its flaws. There are still issues regarding background noise, users who speak too quickly, and thick regional accents. And of course, we are all aware that machine translations are hardly close to perfect. If you’re seeking translation service on a professional level, it’s absolutely best to skip the difficulty and problematic nature of machine translations and hire professional translation services. Here at Epic Translations, we have a service to fit your every need. Click the Contact Epic tab at the top of the page to reach us and we’ll get back to you immediately.

in Blog / Document translation
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