Hire a local expert in-situ.
The difference between localisation and translation: Translation is about accuracy. Localisation is when a text is adapted to convey a meaning which resounds in the target culture/market.
Why In-Situ?
- Best market rates with no VAT added
- You choose the localiser based on us sending you several free sample translations of a text which you provide
- We work weekends and evenings as well as office hours to be able to submit most assignments ahead of the deadline
- Specialist localisers only
- We send drafts back and forth until our customers are satisfied.
For us, Bryony acts not only as a localiser for our recruitment website, but also plays a dual role in quality control, ensuring that the text is “beautified” to fit our target audience.
Nanke Kramer, Projob Recruitment, Amsterdam
The Process:
- You contact us with your requirements
- In-Situ will select between 2-6 of their most suitable localisers and provide you with test texts by each localiser using a sample provided by you (free of charge)
- You pick the localiser plus a back-up that you/your regional managers/clients deem most suitable
- We work overnight and weekends to get the texts to you before the deadline
- We create a glossary of terms for you
The three big questions regarding localisation:
- Why can’t any native speaker do proof reading? They speak the language!
- Why is localisation so “expensive”? Surely you can translate each word?
- What is wrong with using translation tools?
The answer to all three: There is nearly always more than one way to translate/transcribe a word. Some words do not exist in other languages and have to be described. Take English: English is the language with the largest vocabulary of all languages. English is known as an “inclusive” language because several words have been adopted from other languages and, in some cases, have taken on a different meaning. Not every native speaker is capable of ascertaining which word hits the right note for the context.
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All In-Situ localisers meet the following requirements:
- They hold a diploma in linguistics (and are not just native speakers)
- They ONLY work back into their mother tongue
- They have at least 2 years’ experience
- They have either been brought up bilingually or have lived in the second language country for a minimum of 3 years
- They are able to guarantee a turn-around time of 24 hours for documents less than 4 pages
- They are experts in the customer’s field