In the past few weeks, we have seen some translations done by self-proclaimed qualified translators and agencies that were extremely bad. So, to get an idea whether a test translation will help us (and maybe you!) identify qualified translators, we came up with an idea.
From time to time we will post a short test translation on our blog. Everyone who believes that he/she can translate the text correctly is called upon to do so under a pseudonym in the comment field, the format does not matter. Feel free to explain why your translation is correct or why it is better than a previously entered translation.
The goal is not to exploit anyone. We have the correct translation. The aim of this action is to look which proposals are made and explain why a given translation is not quite correct. The other aim is to show that translation tests are often set up incorrectly and are difficult to interpret.
Whoever enters a correct German translation of the table below first / or produces the best translation at the end of the project (15th March 2012), receives EUR 50 as a reward.
At the end of the project we will explain why the winning translation was chosen.
The text is from a User’s Guide for a medical product to be marketed in Germany, and many will have seen this (or a similar text) already:
So… who can translate these few words into German? Surprise us!
Use the comment field to send your translation!
Achtung: Lesen Sie sowohl Warnungen als auch Vorsichtshinweise der Bedienungsanleitung.
Hersteller
Identifikationsnummer der Produktionseinheit
Verfallsdatum (Monat – Jahr)
Katalognummer
Empf. Aufbewahrungstemperatur
Nicht wiederverwendbar
Durch Strahlung sterilisiert
Empf. Lagerungsluftfeuchtigkeit
Von Magnetfeldern fernhalten
“Von Magnetfeldern fernhalten” gefällt mir – ich hab’ mich dumm und dämlich gesucht und nix Passendes gefunden…;o)
Symbol Beschreibung
Achtung: Lesen Sie alle Warnungen und Beschreibungen der Bedienungsanleitung.
Hersteller
Batchcode
Mindestens haltbar bis (Jahr-Monat)
Artikelnummer
Temperaturspanne für Aufbewahrung
Nicht wiederverwenden!
Durch Ausstrahlung sterilisiert
Luftfeuchtigkeitsspanne für Aufbewahrung
Nicht magnetresonanzresistent (MR-resistent)
Symbol Beschreibung
Achtung: Lesen Sie alle Warnhinweise und Vorsichtsmaßregeln in der Gebrauchsanweisung.
Hersteller
Chargencode
Verwenden vor (Jahr – Monat)
Katalognummer
Lagerungstemperaturbereich
Nicht zur Wiederverwendung
Sterilisation durch Bestrahlung
Befolgen Sie die Anweisungen für die Verwendung
Lagerfeuchtigkeitsbereich
MR unsafe
Pingback: Und der Gewinner ist… | The Stinging Nettle
Pingback: And the winner is…. | The Stinging Nettle
A very interesting point, I must admit. Unfortunately I don’t work in Deutsch-English language pair, but the glossary testing is very uncommon nowadays, you know ;)
What makes me wonder is how you test an agency–do you request a free short sample translation OR pay for it? A few times I did ask for a sample and got a relatively polite denial of the request unless I offered a letter of intent or signed a contract.
Therefore, what are your criteria or guidelines? Because in many cases Client requires not exact translation, but rather localization. For example, I used to work as a volunteer translator- interpreter for a local hospital and they used a ‘private’ existing formal terminology and asked me to follow it, let alone using brand names instead generic ones.
And how do you reject poor translators–write a cute thank-you letter with a remark as “You are as good as dead” or something along the lines?
Tschüß!