Translation

Translation is a hidden profession: it often goes unnoticed, but without it, good luck understanding your coffee machine manual or enjoying a foreign TV series. It's all around us, in apps, TV shows, booklets, menus... yet somehow, we forget it's even there.

Translating isn't just about juggling words: it's a skill, an art practised by unsung professionals — translators — who transform raw texts into clear, natural and perfectly adapted messages.

Behind the scenes of a successful translation

Before it even lands in your inbox, a translation goes through several stages:

• translation,
• terminological research (finding THE right word),
• post-editing,
• proofreading,
• revision,
• formatting,
• delivery.

Translators use CAT tools (Trados Studio, MemoQ, SmartCat...) that segment texts, store translation memories, and suggest terminology. While these tools are useful, nothing can substitute for a translator's trained eye.

A team effort

Contrary to the cliché, translators don't live alone in a cabin with a dictionary and a cat (well... not all of them anyway).

A quality translation often involves:

• a specialised translator,
• a proofreader who prevents misunderstandings and mistakes (hypoglycaemia ≠ hyperglycaemia, a very different diagnosis),
• a post-editor who corrects machine-translation errors (an idiomatic expression that has been translated literally, for example, leading to a nonsense translation),
• sometimes a graphic designer to put the text in the right format,
• and a project manager to coordinate the whole process.

Artificial intelligence: friend or foe?

AI can produce a draft quickly, but without a human eye the result may be clumsy, awkwardly phrased, or even incomprehensible. AI is a bit like a bright but clumsy intern: useful, but needs supervision.

Localisation: more than just translation

Localisation is about adapting a text for a specific culture. Talking to someone in the UK isn't quite the same as talking to someone in the US, even though they share a common language.

Example:
In the UK: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
In the US: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

The same logic applies to advertisements, slogans, or manuals: avoiding awkward phrasing or cultural faux pas is key.

It's all in good fun!

Localising a humorous text is one of the biggest challenges in translation. A joke that sends Londoners into fits of laughter might leave people in New York raising an eyebrow. Idiomatic expressions require creativity: take the British phrase "Bob's your uncle", for example. Most people in the UK will recognise this idiom, but many in the US have probably never even heard of it. So, spare a thought for translators tasked with localising cultural references!

When localisation saves the day

Sometimes, a literal translation can turn something perfectly normal into pure nonsense. That's where localisation comes in to save the day!

• Take signage, for example. A warning in China meant to say "Be careful of slipping and falling" ended up as "Slip and fall down carefully", leaving readers scratching their heads!
• Or consider cultural references: in English, cats are said to have nine lives, but in Spanish they have seven and in Arabic only six. Translators have to make sure these details are correct to prevent things getting lost in translation!

In summary

Professional translation is all about getting the message across without losing its meaning, while respecting tone, context, and culture.

It requires precision, flair, and creativity... as well as teamwork supported by technology but guided by human expertise. The next time you read a clear, natural text, remember the translators, proofreaders, terminologists, and project managers who pulled their hair out to make it all look effortless… and idiomatically correct.

There's a lot more to a translation project than the translator's expertise. The quality of the information you provide plays a crucial role. A clear and detailed translation brief saves time, prevents misunderstandings, and ensures a result that fits your needs perfectly. The clearer your brief, the easier it will be for the translator to deliver an accurate and effective translation that fits seamlessly into your communication strategy.

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Why a translation brief is essential

The brief is like a roadmap for your translator. It helps them understand your expectations, choose the right style, and use the appropriate terminology. Without a brief, the translator has to guess your intentions... which can lead to delays, repeated corrections, or a final product that fails to reflect your brand. A good brief ensures smoother collaboration and an optimal result. It's also a great way to save time and resources, as each step is planned ahead.

Define your objectives: what is the purpose of the text? 

Is your goal to inform, convince, sell, or educate your audience? The style and vocabulary will vary depending on what you want to achieve. A marketing brochure should be catchy and persuasive, while a technical manual should be clear, accurate, and neutral. By making your objectives clear from the outset, you'll spare the translator from guesswork, giving you a text that will match your vision.

Specify the source and target language

Simply stating the language is not enough. You also need to mention the required variant: British or American English, French from France or Canada... These details help avoid mix-ups and last-minute costly changes. Overlooking regional differences can make a translation less effective or even misleading. A clear brief allows the translator to adopt the right variant from the very beginning.

Provide context and describe the target audience

Who is the text intended for? Is it for specialists who understand your industry jargon, or for a wider audience that requires simpler language? The context is just as important: is it an internal document, a marketing campaign, or an official communication? Not only does this information affect the tone, but also how precise the wording needs to be. The more the translator knows about your audience, the more effectively they can tailor the message.

Format and technical constraints

Specify the expected format: Word, InDesign, Excel, HTML, etc. And if the translation needs to fit into a layout or adhere to a character limit (for example, on a website or application), make this clear. These technical constraints directly influence the translator's work, as they may need to reword or shorten parts of the text. Specifying these details upfront saves time and avoids costly fixes down the line.

Provide references and examples

To ensure consistency, share your glossaries, previous translations, style guides, or even examples of content you like. These documents help the translator understand your brand tone and maintain consistency across all your materials. Providing these guidelines is a simple yet valuable step that limits the risk of inconsistencies or misunderstandings.

Set realistic deadlines and plan for checks and validations

A well-defined schedule prevents unpleasant surprises. Specify the final deadline, but also any intermediate stages if necessary (draft version, internal review, validation by a specific department). Taking the time to plan helps you handle any potential problems, make changes if needed, and avoid the stress of looming deadlines. A clear schedule benefits both you and the translator.

Identify the right contacts

The translator needs to know who to contact in case of doubt. Provide a main point of contact to streamline communications, ensuring efficiency and avoiding mixed messages. This facilitates smoother communication and helps resolve issues quickly, preventing any potential delays. A contact who's quick to respond and easy to reach makes following up much smoother and more professional.

Checklist: the 8 points of an effective brief

1. Clear and detailed objectives
2. The source and target languages (with regional variants)
3. Description of the target audience and context
4. Format and technical constraints
5. Glossaries and reference documents
6. A clear schedule that includes validation stages
7. Details of the main contacts
8. Any specific instructions related to the project

A translation brief saves time and ensures quality. At AbroadLink, we support you from the very beginning, helping you prepare your briefs to get the best out of your multilingual projects.

As one of the world's most spoken languages, and especially as the language of global trade and business, English has become a source of debate in many non-English-speaking countries over its impact on their own languages. Here's how France and Quebec each approach the issue of anglicisms in their culture, from safeguarding their culture to adopting a pragmatic stance. Analyses and examples.

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Quebec: active and institutional defence of French

In Quebec, safeguarding the French language is of paramount importance, and has even become institutionalised. A clear example is the Quebec Office of the French Language (OQLF, from its French initials), founded in 1961 to promote and safeguard the use of French in the province. This was further cemented with the adoption of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) in 1977, which declared French the official language of administration, education, and commerce.

But why is there such reluctance towards English?

English has been the dominant language in North America ever since the British Conquest of 1763. Quebec, a French-speaking minority in an English-dominated environment, therefore sees French as a crucial symbol of its identity.

To safeguard the language, Quebec enforces strict laws and adapts English words into French, in order to maintain a unique vocabulary. For example, English words frequently used in France such as email, spam, or sweatshirt are adapted to courriel, pourriel, and chandail. While some of these equivalents might seem amusing, they reflect a real issue: preserving the French language in a world dominated by English in technology, science, and international trade.

The Quebec approach stems from a unique historical and cultural context, in which using French words is seen as a way to maintain cultural identity. Across the Atlantic, however, things are quite different. In France, anglicisms are widely accepted in both professional and everyday contexts, often without objection.

But why does France accept these anglicisms?

Anglicisms can be found across nearly all sectors in France, especially in professional contexts. Terms such as start-up, afterwork, briefing, open space, and business plan are now widely used, even by defenders of the French language.

The French Academy and the official FranceTerme database regularly publish French equivalents: mot-dièse (hashtag), courriel (email), jeu vidéo de tir à la première personne (first-person shooter). However, these French equivalents rarely take hold, frequently perceived as less effective or less practical than the English originals.

In 2022, the Academy highlighted the proliferation of anglicisms in institutional and media communications, arguing that they can create a social divide between those who understand them and those who do not (The Guardian). Yet in practice, their use remains widespread, particularly in advertising, fashion, technology, and sports.

Recent examples illustrate this duality:

• The attempt to replace FPS with ‘jeu vidéo de tir à la première personne’ did not catch on with gamers.
• Despite official guidance, the term ‘streamer’, now widespread on platforms, is seldom substituted with ‘diffuseur en direct’.

Two approaches, one common goal

Quebec and France share a common goal: to preserve and promote the French language. But their strategies differ:

• Protecting the French language in Quebec is considered a cultural and political mission. The institutional framework, embodied by the OQLF, aims to systematically replace anglicisms and protect the province's unique vocabulary.
• France takes a more pragmatic stance. Anglicisms are part of everyday language, even though their use regularly sparks debates. Institutions such as the French Academy try to propose alternatives, but they are not consistently embraced.
• In Belgium, by contrast, anglicisms are not a contentious issue, as the country safeguards its official languages (French, Dutch, German) through linguistic freedom, allowing Belgians to use more than one language if they wish. This also provides linguistic flexibility for minorities in certain municipalities.
• Meanwhile, in Algeria there is a noticeable decline in the use of French, particularly in the national education system, to safguard local languages (Arabic and Tamazight), alongside the growing influence of English.

These examples highlight the varied approaches to anglicisms (or other languages), and more broadly, to the protection of language in the countries mentioned. Some try to safeguard their local languages like Quebec or Algeria, while others adopt a more pragmatic approach, such as France or Belgium, which tend to be more relaxed about language preservation, even allowing greater freedom in this regard.

Ultimately, these two approaches reflect different linguistic realities.

In Quebec, English is a dominant neighbour that must be contained; in France, it is an influence to be accommodated. In both cases, the issue of anglicisms reflects a common challenge: adapting the French language to meet modern needs while safeguarding its identity and richness. After all, every language in the world is shaped through contact with others: the history of French is just a chapter in the wider tale of linguistic exchange.

In a globalized world where multilingual communication is crucial, ChatGPT has emerged as a powerful tool for quick and cost-effective translations. While its capabilities are impressive, especially when using the latest models, out-of-the-box translations may not always meet professional standards, particularly when it comes to nuanced content, technical terms or maintaining consistency.

The good news? With just a few strategic adjustments, you can significantly enhance the quality and accuracy of translations produced by ChatGPT.

Here are three practical ways to get better results when using ChatGPT for translation tasks.

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1. Use the Latest Model (GPT-4o) for Best Results

Not all versions of ChatGPT are created equal. If your goal is translation accuracy, always opt for the GPT-4o model (available to ChatGPT Plus users). This latest version offers vastly improved handling of grammar, syntax, idiomatic expressions, and sentence flow across many languages compared to GPT-3.5 or earlier models.

GPT-4o also demonstrates better performance with context retention and consistency across long documents. It’s especially strong in widely spoken languages like UK or US English, European Spanish, Canadian French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian and Dutch.

However, caution is advised when working with languages that have fewer resources such as Hungarian, Finnish, Thai, Korean, or Arabic, where results may be less reliable without user intervention.

2. Provide Context and Add a Glossary

ChatGPT thrives on contextual information. Generic prompts like “Translate this into French” may work for simple sentences, but professional translation should aim for much more detailed input. Before asking for a translation, provide the following information:

• What the content is for (e.g., a medical brochure, a legal contract, a website)
• Who the target audience is (e.g., patients, engineers, end-users)
• Any style or tone preferences (e.g., formal, neutral, friendly)

In addition, supplying a company-specific glossary or a list of approved terms can dramatically improve terminological consistency. For regulated industries like healthcare, finance or legal services, this is particularly important.

Example:

“You are a professional translator. Translate the following marketing content into German for a general audience. Use a friendly tone. Please ensure the product names and key terms from the attached glossary are preserved.”

3. Review and Post-Edit with Human Oversight

Even with high-performing models and detailed prompts, translations provided by ChatGPT are not 100% error-proof. Spelling may be perfect, but semantic shifts, mistranslated idioms or style mismatches can slip through, especially in longer documents or highly specialised texts.

That’s why human post-editing remains essential for professional-quality results. Whether you're handling a press release, a regulatory document or a technical manual, have a native speaker or subject-matter expert review the output.

ChatGPT can even help with the review process by pointing out inconsistencies or offering alternative phrasings.

Conclusion

You don’t need to be a language expert to get good translations with ChatGPT. By including extra steps such as using the right GPT model, giving a bit of context and doing a quick review, you can go from ordinary results to high-quality translations that sound natural and professional.

Whether you're working on marketing materials, internal emails or product information, these simple tips will help you get the best out of ChatGPT both quickly and confidently.

At AbroadLink Translations, we go one step further. With our aiHubLink technology, we connect the power of OpenAI with professional translation workflows. This means your translations can benefit not only from the speed of artificial intelligence, but also from translation memory, terminological consistency and human quality control. If you're looking to combine the best of both worlds—AI and professional-grade accuracy—get in touch with us to learn how aiHubLink can streamline and enhance your multilingual communication.

Have you ever been surprised that translating the same text into different languages can result in very different prices? Why is a translation from English to Japanese more expensive than from English to Spanish?

While it may seem illogical at first glance, the answer lies in the underlying economics and structure of the translation industry. In this article, we’ll explore the key factors that drive pricing in professional translation services.

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1. Supply and Demand: The Core Pricing Factor

Translation pricing is primarily governed by market economics and thus the law of supply and demand plays a central role. Language pairs with a large number of available translators (like English-Spanish) tend to have lower rates due to greater competition. Less common language pairs (like Chinese-Spanish or Norwegian-Portuguese) tend to be more expensive because fewer qualified professionals are available.

This basic principle explains why prices vary even if the workload or text complexity remains the same.

2. Where Do Translators Live? The Cost of Living Factor

Another major influence on translation rates is the country of residence of the translators. Translators usually live in their native-language countries, where they offer translations into their mother tongue. A translator based in Norway, for instance, needs to earn more to sustain their standard of living than one based in Portugal, a fact that is reflected in their translation fees.

To illustrate this, in 2024, the average annual salary in Norway was around €64,800, compared to about €19,200 in Portugal.

Though there are exceptions, such as native translators living in countries with a lower cost of living (e.g., a British translator in Thailand), these cases are rare and don’t significantly affect market prices.

3. Native vs. Non-Native Translators: A Quality vs. Cost Trade-Off

Professional translation agencies typically adhere to a golden rule: Always translate into the translator’s native language.

Native translators ensure higher linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance and natural flow. However, to lower costs, some agencies or freelance translators break this rule. For example, hiring a Spanish translator with strong English skills who offers reverse translations (Spanish to English). Furthermore, in high-demand pairs such as Chinese to English, using non-native English translators is becoming more common, simply because there aren’t enough native professionals to meet demand.

While this can reduce costs, it often comes at the expense of quality, especially for marketing and culturally sensitive content.

4. The Translator Pool: Some Language Pairs Have More Talent

The number of available translators for each language pair also plays a big role in pricing. In the UK, for example, French, German and Spanish are the most commonly studied foreign languages in translation faculties, whereas Chinese, Russian or Arabic are usually secondary language options, meaning fewer trained professionals are available.

As a result, language combinations involving widely spoken or economically dominant languages (like English) tend to have a larger talent pool—and therefore lower prices—than niche or emerging language pairs.

5. The Freelancer-Driven Industry: Flexibility and Market Pressures

Most professional translations are done by freelance translators, not in-house staff. Even major translation companies rely heavily on a global network of independent professionals.

Because of this:

• Prices fluctuate based on the freelance market for each language pair.
• Agencies must adjust rates per project to reflect real-world translator availability and cost.

Agencies offering flat rates for all languages may achieve high profit margins on low-cost pairs but risk quality or availability issues in more expensive ones.

Final Thoughts: There Is Logic Behind Translation Pricing

While it might seem odd at first that translating into Norwegian can cost twice as much as translating into Portuguese, the reality of global translator distribution, market demand, and cost of living offers a clear explanation.

At AbroadLink Translations, we tailor our pricing to reflect these factors, ensuring a fair balance between cost-efficiency and quality, based on each specific language combination.

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Inclusive language not only respects diversity, it also shapes people's perception of the world. By avoiding stereotypes, it offers fairer and more respectful communication, which is essential in this era of multiculturalism and global marketing. The theory of linguistic relativity proposes that the language and words we use influence our behaviour and thoughts. For example, the third-person pronoun "they" can be used in a singular sense to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or non-binary. Similarly, the Swedish pronoun "hen" serves to refer to a person without mentioning their gender. Through language, these linguistic practices materialise the concept of gender identity, which might be difficult to conceptualise without the existence of associated words. Gender identity can remain an obscure subject for some because they do not feel concerned by this issue. However, words relating to this concept reinforce its significance and highlight this reality in the mind of society. Therefore, inclusive language plays a role not only in respecting diversity, but also in developing society's thinking and tolerance on subjects that have become essential.

The specific challenges of inclusive translation

Some languages, such as Finnish, do not have grammatical gender. This facilitates the use of inclusive language since there is no need to adapt words according to the gender of the person referred to. Conversely, other languages that use grammatical gender, such as French, require adaptations in order to respect inclusive writing.

Moreover, using machine translation platforms is not recommended for promoting inclusivity. Indeed, these are biased translation tools that often reproduce gender stereotypes. For example, when translating the word "nurse" into French, machine translators tend to use the feminine form "infirmière", even without context about the nurse's gender, simply because they perpetuate the stereotype that this profession is predominantly practised by women.

Finally, the lack of universal standards makes translating inclusive writing all the more challenging. Conventions vary greatly depending on countries and cultures. Thus, translating this type of text requires a deep knowledge of the culture and inclusive writing conventions in both the source and target languages.

Translating gender neutrality: a technical and ethical challenge

In a world where languages structure thought and shape social representations, translating gender neutrality is not just a simple linguistic exercise. It is both a technical challenge, as grammatical systems do not all have the same tools to express the neuter, and an ethical one, as it involves respecting identities while also preserving the transmission of the message. Faced with cultural resistance to change, the specific nuances of target languages and the need to preserve the original meaning and intention of the source text, the translator undertakes a sensitive task, which can be approached through different techniques:

• Transcreation: It involves adapting a message rather than translating it word for word, preserving its intention, tone and cultural dimension. To illustrate this process in the context of inclusive language, the word "student" can be translated into French as"élève", a gender-neutral term that includes both male and female students, rather than "étudiant" (masculine noun).
• Linguistic techniques: There are different techniques that allow for inclusive language. Among them, epicene pronouns are pronouns that do not mark grammatical gender. In 2019, the gender-neutral use of the pronoun "they" and the neologism "themself" were added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. For example, in the sentence "He wanted the dog for himself", the masculine pronouns "he" and "himself" can be replaced by "they" and "themself" respectively to remain neutral towards the person's gender. Although not yet been standardised, its widespread use reflects an evolution of progressive thinking and may eventually become institutionally accepted over time. To avoid specifying someone's gender, we can also use syntactic neutralisation, that is, substituting a gendered noun with a collective or abstract noun. For example, instead of "policeman" or "policewoman", we can use the term that does not express gender such as "police officer".
• Mixed solutions: This technique consists of choosing formulations that include all genders. As a result, we can avoid the generic use of the male pronoun by completely rephrasing the sentence. For example, instead of "the teacher shall mark his students' test", the plural form can be used ("teachers shall mark their students' test") or the passive ("the tests shall be marked by the teacher"). If the above strategies do not work, then the use of the duplicate form "he or she" is allowed as long as it is done sparingly and is not repeated within the same sentence.

The limitations and controversies around inclusive writing

Inclusive writing is not unanimously accepted and some express reservations about its use. Some critics of inclusive writing believe that it hinders communication. Adding particles and words to make a text inclusive sometimes lowers its readability, and the new associated typography requires extra effort to interpret its meaning. If inclusive language is poorly incorporated, it directly impacts the fluidity of the text.

Moreover, officially incorporating inclusivity in a language would require a fundamental restructuring of grammatical rules related to gender, agreement, syntax and typography. This would have a significant cultural and financial impact, as it entails guiding people who are accustomed to the language in its current state to transition to its new usage, as well as adapting the education of new generations. Indeed, it would require revising all manuals, resources and school curricula already in place. Therefore, this transition would require both a massive awareness campaign and a huge financial investment.

Some express reservations about its use, especially language regulators such as the Académie Française in the case of French. Unlike English, many other languages are governed by authoritative bodies that regulate linguistic standards and promote the correct use of language. Although popular usage has a significant impact on the evolution of a language, these linguistic institutions tend to be conservative and prioritise preserving the authentic form of the language. These language regulators act as references and not as judges of right and wrong; however, their decisions can impact popular opinion and the speed at which linguistic changes occur.

Finally, the adoption of inclusive language varies greatly depending on professional sectors, countries and even cultures. These divergences make it difficult to translate from one language to another when they do not share the same standards in terms of inclusive writing. As a result, translators must show great adaptability in order to respect the linguistic rules as well as the different cultures involved.

Why hire an agency specialising in inclusive communication?

Hiring an agency specialised in inclusive communication offers several major advantages. Firstly, it ensures linguistic and cultural compliance, avoiding awkward formulations or unintentionally discriminatory messages. The technical expertise of these agencies also guarantees the choice of linguistic strategies adapted to the target audiences, allowing for fairer and more representative communication.

Agencies specialised in inclusive writing go the extra mile by offering translations that follow principles of equality and promote visibility of identities. They implement specific tools and methods, such as preforming audits of existing texts, creating inclusive editorial guidelines, organizing dedicated training for editorial teams and using automatic converter technologies like Inclusi to adapt content according to different styles of inclusive writing (e.g. transcreation, rephrasing, use of epicene pronouns, etc.). The agency also supports its clients in drafting inclusive versions of official documents, marketing materials or web content, all while ensuring readability and accessibility.

Finally, on a strategic level, adopting an inclusive approach helps to strengthen brand image by conveying values of openness, respect and social commitment. This allows companies to position themselves as responsible stakeholders that are attentive to contemporary issues of diversity and inclusion.

Adapting inclusive language to each language is much more than a matter of wording: it is a strategic, ethical and technical commitment. By combining linguistic adaptation, cultural sensitivity and expertise, a specialised agency guarantees a clear, inclusive and impactful message. To learn more about our translation services and our translation agency, contact us today!

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With over 25 million speakers in Romania, Moldova and in the diaspora, Romanian has been one of the official languages of the European Union since 2007. For companies wishing to target the Romanian-speaking markets, translating into this language is not just a linguistic need, it is a strategic approach that improves credibility, demonstrates cultural proximity,and opens doors to potential clients and partners.

The linguistic peculiarities of Romanian: what you need to know

One of the specific qualities of Romanian that makes this language so unique is that it uses so-called postposed determiners. Unlike many other languages, Romanian does not place its determiners before the noun as is the case in English or Spanish, but adds a suffix after the noun. For example, băiat means ‘boy’. To translate ‘the boy’ into Romanian, the suffix ‘-ul’ is added to the noun to indicate the definite article. This gives us ‘băiatul’. Moreover, it is common to omit the determiner in Romanian, especially in spoken language. Context therefore plays a key role in understanding and accurately translating content into Romanian.

Over time, the Romanian lexicon has been greatly enriched over time through the borrowing of words from Slavic languages. Indeed, its proximity to its neighbours has led it to adopt certain terms from the Turkish, Hungarian and Greek languages. In the 19th century, the Romanian language was then ‘re-latinised’ by incorporating French words. The process was partly carried out naturally, but it was also a deliberate effort by the country to align itself with France, which was perceived as a model of progress and modernity at the time. These different influences enrich the language, but also represent a challenge when translating texts into Romanian.

Romanian is also marked by strong regional variations as well as a unified and standardised administrative usage. A good translation must take this variability into account to adapt the level of language, idiomatic expressions and cultural references. For example, a marketing campaign aimed at young people must adapt to the targeted regional variation, while an administrative document must adhere to standardised usage. Therefore, adapting the style is as important as lexical accuracy, particularly for marketing or institutional content.

Romanian translation: man vs. machine, who wins?

It may sometimes seem advantageous to choose a machine translation for documents, but it is not always (and rarely) the most suitable solution.
Machine translators are quick and affordable tools, they may be suitable for internal use or understanding the general idea of a text. However, they have many limitations: poor context management, misinterpretations, awkward syntax and lack of human revision. Using a machine translator thus very often produces incomprehensible, contradictory texts or with altered meaning.

On the other hand, human translation is essential when it comes to professional, legal, technical or commercial documents. Human translators know how to manage subtleties, harmonise tone, adapt the content to the target audience and respect industry terminology. Moreover, they can offer stylistic variations to optimise the impact of the message in an intercultural context.

In short, it is possible to translate some elements occasionally using a machine translator. However, if it is a professional document, it is advisable to use a human translator to ensure translation quality and correct understanding of the message, especially in a complex language such as Romanian.

Why use a specialised translation agency for translating into Romanian

Using a specialised translation agency offers several advantages.

Firstly, translation agencies can offer you professional native translators, selected according to their field of expertise (legal, medical, technical, marketing, etc.). These translators will thus understand all the cultural references to best adapt your document to the customs of the Romanian market. Their specialisation will allow them to produce an accurate and precise translation in terms of expressions and terminology in your chosen field.

Furthermore, translation agencies follow rigorous quality processes, guaranteeing a certain level of quality for the client. Documents undergo, among other things, proofreading, peer reviews, terminological verifications and methodological project management. All these steps significantly reduce the risk of error or inconsistency and make translation agencies trustworthy partners.

Regarding official documents, patents, contracts, or immigration documents, there is no other choice but to use a certified and sworn translator. Certified and sworn translations allows institutions to trust your documents and receive them legally. An machine translation will never provide you with this type of certification. You can find these services at translation companies for all your affairs involving the Romanian language.

Finally, translation companies must comply with standards, synonymous with quality guarantees for the client. Compliance with ISO standards, such as ISO 17100, signifies rigorous processes in project management of translation services and ensures that providers must possess the qualifications and linguistic skills required. On the other hand, data protection ensures that clients' confidential information is handled securely and in compliance with regulations (such as the GDPR). Meeting deadlines demonstrates the commitment to deliver translations on time without compromising quality.

Consult our translation services to learn more. You will benefit from personalised advice, tailored support and technological solutions (translation memory, glossaries, CMS integration) to enhance your multilingual strategy.

Bad translations don't only sound awkward, they can also damage your brand, confuse your customers and cost you real money. But here’s the good news: better results don’t always mean bigger budgets. Often, what companies need is a smarter approach to how they collaborate with translation providers.

Whether you’re working with a freelance translator, a translation agency, or even handling translations in-house, these five practical strategies can help elevate quality and efficiency across the board.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: “Isn’t translation dead because of AI?”

It’s true, machine translation has improved dramatically. Tools like DeepL, Google Translate, and yes, even ChatGPT can produce remarkably fluent results. For casual use, producing drafts, or getting the gist of something, they’re excellent.

However, they are not:

• A replacement for expert human judgment.
• A safeguard against legal, cultural, or technical errors.
• A reliable source for brand-sensitive or high-risk content.

Think of AI as a powerful starting point, not a finish line. In fact, many professionals now use machine translation with human post-editing to combine speed with quality. But if your content needs to be accurate—clear, consistent, legally sound, or persuasive—you still need humans in the loop.

The smartest businesses are learning how to integrate AI wisely, not rely on it blindly.

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1. Share What Matters Most: Market, Tone, and Audience

Who are you talking to? Where do they live? What matters to them?

Tone, formality and vocabulary shift depending on the region and demographic. For example, Spanish used in Colombia differs significantly from the one used in Argentina. German spoken by teenagers sounds nothing like German spoken by lawyers. If you're vague about your target audience, your translations may miss the mark entirely.

And while AI might “guess” at tone or intent, it doesn’t know your brand’s voice or audience unless you define it. Be specific about who you’re trying to reach, and your translators (human or AI-assisted) will make better decisions.

2. Professionals Only: Don’t Gamble on Language Skills Alone

A bilingual employee or a friend who studied abroad isn’t the same as a professional translator. Translation is an activity that requires domain knowledge, writing skill, cultural awareness and specialized tools.

Even AI needs qualified supervision. Just like you wouldn’t publish a legal contract generated by ChatGPT without a lawyer’s review, you shouldn’t publish AI-translated product copy or safety instructions without a translator’s input.

Want high-quality results? Work with trained professionals and if you’re using machine translation, pair it with post-editing carried out by an expert linguist.

3. Provide Editable and Accessible Source Files

Sending non-editable PDFs or screenshots is still one of the top productivity killers in translation workflows. Professional translators (and translation software) work best with structured, editable files, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, HTML, InDesign packages, etc.

Modern translation tools also track repetitions and build translation memories, smart databases that store previous translations to increase consistency and reduce costs over time.

While AI tools can quickly process large word volumes, without structured input, they can miss the context or misinterpret layout-sensitive content. Help them (and your team) by providing accessible source files from the start.

4. Context Is Essential: Give Translators the Full Picture

Even the most advanced AI can’t guess the meaning of “Press here” if it doesn’t know what “here” is. Whether you’re using humans or machines, having context reduces the risk of making errors.

Here are some quick ways to help your translation provider to gain context:

• Share screenshots of UI elements.
• Explain the purpose of the document.
• Provide reference materials, brand guidelines, or prior translations.

Clear context empowers translators and improves machine translation outputs alike. Think of it like giving your GPS the right destination: it makes the whole journey smoother.

5. Leverage Internal Experts, But Keep It Balanced

Your sales team, distributors or international branches know your products and markets better than anyone. Their insights on terminology, tone and cultural preferences is invaluable, especially for adapting your content to the local market.

Involve them early in the process, but don’t overburden them. Establishing a streamlined feedback loop with clear and defined responsibilities ensures that their input enhances results without causing delays. You or your language service provider can even use structured review platforms or translation management systems to handle this efficiently.

The final takeaway: translation quality is a strategic advantage

If your content shapes how people see your brand (and it almost always does), then translation deserves more than a last-minute slot in your workflow. It should hold a priority step in your marketing strategy.

To this end, you should:

• Know your audience.
• Use professional linguists.
• Share context and assets.
• Embrace smart tech.
• Build feedback into your process.

Translation isn’t dying. It’s evolving. By working with a specialised translation agency, your company can communicate better, faster and more confidently in every language that matters.

The Czech Republic is much more than a tourist crossroads of Central Europe. The country has a dynamic market, driven by diverse sectors such as the automotive, information technology and pharmaceutical industries. However, to effectively address this market, it is not enough to translate your content word for word. Translating content into Czech, a rigorous and nuanced activity, is a strategic move for any company wishing to establish itself or expand its activities there.

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Specific Challenges of Czech Translation

Indeed, translating into Czech is not just a simple change of language. Czech is a Slavic language with complex and highly inflectional grammatical structures. For example, a noun can have up to seven grammatical cases, meaning that the change in declension directly affects how a message is interpreted. The length of words, syntax and forms of politeness (notably the use of informal/formal address) are all elements that require perfect mastery.

Another major challenge lies in using the correct terminology that is specific to each sector. Technical, medical, or legal fields require an in-depth knowledge of specific terms in Czech, which are often distinct from German, French, or English equivalents. Therefore, a non-specialised translator can misinterpret the real meaning behind the specialised terms, jeopardising the credibility of the communication.

Differences Between Translation and Localisation in Czech

There is an important difference between translation and localisation. While the former aims for linguistic fidelity, the latter adapts the content to the cultural, behavioural and commercial context of the target country. In Czech, this involves taking into account consumer habits, the tone used in marketing communication, or even the format of dates, currencies and units.

Take the example of an e-commerce site: translating it into Czech without adapting the customer journey (forms, payment methods, legal notices) to the target culture would be ineffective. Similarly, a humorous message or a pun can lose all impact if it is not recreated in a culturally appropriate version. This is the whole challenge of localisation: translating into Czech, of course, but also understanding and adapting to the expectations of the target audience.

Examples of Czech Translation Successes and Failures

Some international brands, such as IKEA, have brilliantly integrated Czech cultural codes, translating not only their content but also their values and tone, in order to better connect with the local consumer. Conversely, many tech companies have suffered from using machine or non-contextualised translation, resulting in instructions for use or manuals that are incomprehensible or even counterproductive.

A notable case involves a French B2B company that translated its industrial product sheets without verifying the terminology: the chosen terms reflected general consumer language, creating discomfort during negotiations with specialised Czech partners. This type of error, although avoidable, highlights the necessity of working with an experienced translation agency specialised in your field.

Moreover, a French online sales platform had the bad idea of translating its banners and newsletters into Czech with Google Translate. Some sentences made no sense or seemed culturally inappropriate. For example, the expression "It's a steal!" was translated literally, losing all idiomatic connotation as there is no equivalent in Czech. Clicks and conversions dropped by 70% due to this literal translation.

Criteria for Choosing the Right Professional Czech Translator

A good Czech translator is not defined solely by their linguistic mastery. Certain qualities are essential to ensure reliable and accurate translations. The translator must:

• be native or fully immersed in the current Czech culture,
• know the realities of the local market and have a professional specialisation (technical, medical, legal, etc.),
• work in coordination with proofreaders and terminologists, and
• use CAT tools to ensure consistency.

Working with a translation agency that offers Czech translation services focused on quality, intercultural understanding and sector expertise is a winning choice in the long term. It is not simply about transposing words from one language to another, but rather fully adapting the content to a demanding and culturally unique audience.

In the Czech Republic, words carry weight, but their context carries even more. Entrusting your communication to Czech translation specialists ensures a smooth, professional and impactful interaction. Are you considering entering the Czech market? Make language your ally, not your obstacle.

Translating a document into Portuguese may seem simple for anyone who speaks the language. However, linguistic variations, cultural nuances and grammatical pitfalls can lead to a poorly managed translation that can quickly damage your professional image. In this article, you will learn about the benefits of translating your company’s content into Portuguese. You will also discover the unique traits of this language and common translation mistakes to avoid.

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Why translating into Portuguese is strategic for businesses

Portuguese, the official language of nine countries including Brazil and Portugal, has approximately 260 million speakers across four continents, making it the sixth most spoken language in the world. Its influence extends well beyond these nations, with over 72 million native Portuguese speakers living abroad, notably in the United States, France, and Canada.

Therefore, translating into Portuguese is a strategic choice for businesses. It grants access to dynamic markets such as Latin America and Africa while also solidifying their presence in Europe. A good linguistic adaptation facilitates communication, strengthens the trust of target audiences and opens up new opportunities internationally.

The variants of Portuguese

Although the Brazilian and European variants of Portuguese are based on a common foundation, they have notable differences. For example, the Portuguese spoken in Portugal sounds more guttural, whereas it sounds more nasal and has a more musical intonation in Brazil.

Vocabulary also varies according to regions: the noun train is "comboio" in Portugal, but "trem" in Brazil. These distinctions are observed in many everyday words and can surprise those unfamiliar with the language.

Finally, there are also grammatical differences between the two variants, particularly in the use of personal pronouns. The Portuguese often use "tu" (you) for informal exchanges, while Brazilians prefer the formal "você", even in informal contexts. This nuance influences social interactions and verb conjugation.

Despite sharing a common language, Portuguese and Brazilians have developed distinct usage in vocabulary and grammar shaped by their respective histories and cultures. For effective communication, it is essential to choose the variant that is best suited to your target audience.

Key linguistic features of Portuguese to know

Portuguese is distinguished by its alphabet comprised of 23 letters, excluding K, W, and Y, which are reserved for foreign words. This aspect affects the way terms from other languages are transcribed and adapted.

Its pronunciation is marked by a great variety of vowels, where vowels change according to their position. Some consonants, such as r and s, can be doubled, altering their sound and giving a more pronounced tone.

Spelling has been harmonised by several reforms, but differences persist among the varieties spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries. These variations lead to distinct spelling choices depending on the region.

Finally, the richness of the Portuguese language stems from the many linguistic influences it has integrated over the centuries. Words of Arabic, French, or Greek origin enrich its vocabulary, reflecting the cultural evolution that has shaped the language.

In order to produce an accurate translation, it is essential to master these unique linguistic features while also taking into account the underlying cultural nuances.

Examples of common mistakes

Translating into Portuguese requires particular attention to subtle linguistic nuances. A common mistake concerns pronunciation: the differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese, particularly in nasal sounds and intonations, can lead to misunderstandings.

Another pitfall to avoid is related to the use of countable nouns, particularly with paired objects. For example, in Portuguese, one says "um par de óculos" (a pair of glasses) rather than a literal translation such as "meus óculos” (my glasses), which may sound strange to native speakers.

The subjunctive mood also poses a problem. For example, many beginners commit errors such as "quer que eu faço” when the correct form is "quer que eu faça". The correct use of the subjunctive ensures grammatical correctness and fluidity.

Moreover, grammatical agreements are essential: failing to agree nouns and adjectives can alter the meaning of a sentence. Similarly, word-for-word translation without considering the context can compromise the accuracy of the message. For example, the expression "to be down in the dumps" cannot be translated literally into Portuguese, as the correct equivalent would be "estar na fossa" or "estar deprimido".

To ensure a idiomatic and natural translation, it is best to work with professionals or check your work with native speakers. Language is constantly evolving, and a proper linguistic adaptation of your content is essential for effective communication.

What criteria to follow when choosing a reliable Portuguese translator?

To obtain a high-quality translation, the translator must meet several criteria. Firstly, the translator must be a native speaker of the chosen Portuguese variant (European or Brazilian) to ensure optimal fluency and authenticity.

Their area of specialisation is also crucial: each field (legal, technical, medical, marketing) has specific terminology that a specialist will know how to use accurately, thus avoiding any errors of meaning.

The translator's experience also ensures the quality of the translation. It is preferable to work with a professional with solid references and several years of experience, a guarantee of their ability to handle complex texts.

Revision is a key step in the process. A second review by another professional linguist allows for spotting and correcting any inconsistencies, stylistic errors or spelling mistakes, thus ensuring an impeccable translation.

Finally, meeting deadlines is crucial, especially for professional projects requiring quick turnaround. A reliable translator will know how to balance speed and quality.

Partnering with a specialised translation agency ensures professional services tailored to your needs.

In conclusion, translating into Portuguese is a strategic opportunity for companies wishing to establish themselves in international markets. However, the specific qualities of the language and cultural differences require special attention. By avoiding common mistakes and choosing competent professionals, you ensure the success of your translation projects.

For quality translation services, do not hesitate to contact us as we are experts in the field.