For those who have little to do with foreign languages, the search for suitable translation service providers can be frustrating. We are all familiar with assembly and operating instructions where translation errors can entertain one person and bring another to despair; if something much worse does not happen before that.

Why is it important to use translation c o m p a n i e s?

Up until not so long ago translations were only assigned and delivered in paper format by post or fax. Individual translators sat in private at a typewriter, and then at a PC. Or companies employed translators or translation departments. Whether the translation direction ran German-foreign language or foreign language-German, the person assigning the translation often did not care. It was widely thought that a translator could translate in any direction, and furthermore dominated every area of expertise. Finally, what were special dictionaries for? At that time it was not clear what work in accordance with the mother-tongue principle was.

Nowadays the creaton of a translation by a single translator is strongly developing into a translation industry. A quality high-value translation is now the result of the work of many specialists, and is essentially influenced by the degree of cooperation between those involved in the process chain development - technical documentation - translation - marketing. Above all, documentation and translation are constantly growing closer together.

Technical documentation is being more strongly integrated into the industrial production process, and the creation of manuals, operating and user manuals, information systems, catalogues etc. are automated gradually. Every new product development requires at least a partly up-to-date documentation. These documents must be translated into more and more languages at the same time. Therefore in many cases extensive multilingual document stores appear.

One implication of this is: maintaining versions and language variations becomes a problem that cannot be easily resolved due to lack of work time and material resources.

As an alternative, documentation management systems are implemented in the companies, and database-assisted terminology management software is being used more often in the translation firms to support the company.

The work is therefore only accomplished in cooperation between industrial and translation companies by using modern information technology.

This is determined by both sides, in that both constantly adjust themselves to the newest development in data handling and the telecommunication with one another, and always apply new tasks and competences in contact with technical tools.

The quality high-value translations themselves pass through several levels on their way to completion. The EN 15038, the European quality norm for translation service providers, includes the steps 'translation work', 'edit and revision' as well as 'review' for quality translations. In other words, this is a process of at least three stages. These extensive tasks can no longer be managed by a single translator, and not in cooperation with the contracting company. Thus only translation companies with comprehensive logistics are capable.

Therefore the modern translation company has to complete the following tasks:

• Constant observation of the market that has the relevant hardware and software for the service provider area

• Increased investment in PC-networking, regular buying of new technology and new programs

• Regular training of management and employees as well as enforcement of cohesive willingness for permanent further training - also through self-study

• Range of freelance employees not only with expert know-how, but also capable with technical equipment.

 All this is very demanding and not easy to carry out, and therefore has its price.

P.S. The 'dog with a bang' relates to a translation into German by an Italian native speaker. In a leaflet for an interesting holiday he wanted to point out the availability of trained hunting dogs to hunters.