Standard Translation vs. Professional Translation: What’s the Difference?

Are you confused between standard translation and professional translation? This article will help you understand the difference between the two and provide a practical checklist to help you choose the right translation service.

In short, the difference between standard translation and professional translation can be distinguished from two key points:

1. Terminology

Professional translations usually involve industry-specific terms or jargon that may only be understood in a specific field. People without relevant background knowledge may not be able to accurately understand these terms, and may even misunderstand them. Standard translations, on the other hand, mainly deal with general language content, usually without complex industry terms, and are suitable for general understanding.

2. Cost

Since professional translation involves more industry knowledge and higher translation difficulty, its cost is usually higher than standard translation. Professional translation requires the translator to have knowledge and experience in a specific field to ensure accurate communication of information, while standard translation mainly deals with everyday language and is usually simpler.

Standard translation service

Standard translation is usually suitable for content that is intended for general consumers, such as operating manuals, user guides, safety instructions, etc. The language of these texts is relatively simple and clear, and the translator does not need to have a professional background to complete the translation.

For example, here is a description from a kitchen appliance owner's manual:

"When all moving parts have come to a complete stop, turn the small lever clockwise to lift the top cover. You can now remove the mixing bowl from the mixer plate and remove the ingredients inside."

This text is simple and clear, and users can easily understand it through the pictures and text, so standard translation is fully capable of doing the job.

Professional translation services

If your content is targeted at industry professionals or involves highly technical documents, professional translation is essential. The following is a passage from an engineering manual that contains multiple professional terms:

“To achieve high resolution, the position sensor is located to eliminate backlash effects in the gear train. The sensor is a 12-bit rotary magnetic encoder mounted in the output gear stage, eliminating any internal backlash effects that may be present in the drive train.”

Although these terms may have definitions in the dictionary, without experience in the relevant field, this text can easily be misunderstood or translated incorrectly. Incorrect translations can lead to serious consequences such as customer complaints, refunds, and even legal disputes.

Professional translation covers a variety of fields, including but not limited to engineering (such as electrical, chemical, mechanical, etc.), medicine, law, marketing, etc. Our translation team specializes in translation work in these fields. Our translators not only have professional training in related fields, but also have rich practical experience to ensure accurate and professional translation.

Do I need professional translation services?

If you are still unsure whether you need a standard or professional translation, the following checklist can help you decide. If your content meets any of the following criteria, then you most likely need professional translation services:

1. Does the content contain industry-specific jargon that would be difficult for a layperson to understand?
2. Does the content involve brand-specific terminology or a unique tone of voice?
3. Do you promote a product or service with a powerful sales message?
4. Does the content involve sensitive issues such as law and compliance?
5. Is the content complex, academic, and difficult to understand?

If you are still unsure of your needs, please feel free to send us a sample of your text and we will assist you based on your specific situation and recommend the most suitable translation service.

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