Many people frequently ask their bilingual employees or colleagues to translate documents, messages, and emails at work even though they know that they are not professional translators. Asking for translations from an employee who is not a professional translator is negligent and culturally risky, and it is also a bad business practice of not paying for extra work.
This can cause problems for the employee and their company, as translation requires expertise, experience, and cultural sensitivity. While an employee may have language skills, they may not be able to produce an accurate and effective translation. It takes time and dedication to learn a language enough to convey someone's ideas, and language and cultural jargon evolve, which is not always picked up by someone who only uses a language at home or has a background that is unrelated to translation.
Certain words hold different connotations among dialects and national backgrounds, and the translation must adapt the message to the target audience's cultural norms, values, and preferences while considering branding elements such as the brand voice and tone. Translation is a specialized profession that requires a significant investment of time, effort, and resources to produce high-quality translations.
Therefore, paying for translation work ensures that it is done by professionals who have the skills and experience to produce accurate and effective translations. It also helps to foster a culture of respect and recognition for the work of translators and the value of language skills in the marketplace.
People without experience in translation who are asked to do one are put in a lose-lose situation. It is important to remember that a bad translation can cause miscommunication and lead to serious problems for a brand or company.
If an employee is asked to do translation work outside the scope of their role, they should decline and offer a solution. It is perfectly fine to decline and suggest seeking the services of a professional translator or agency. By doing this, employees are still contributing to the company's success and helping ensure the quality of the final product. For companies, translators and translating agencies can often be much more cost-effective than one may think, and they can be hired by the hour or put on a retainer.
In summary, translation is a specialized profession that requires expertise, experience, and cultural sensitivity. Asking bilingual employees to translate documents, messages, and emails at work can cause problems for the employee and their company. It is important to pay for translation work to ensure that it is done by professionals who have the skills and experience to produce accurate and effective translations. If an employee is asked to do translation work outside the scope of their role, they should decline and suggest seeking the services of a professional translator or agency.