translation agency

Validation – high-quality translations are a joint effort

16.12.2024 by Jari Herrgård

Successful translations require teamwork. Although the key person in the translation process is the translator and their tools, they alone are not able to achieve ideal quality. In the translation process, the best possible result always requires input from the translation agency’s other employees as well as the customer. Validation is perhaps the most important tool for assessing the linguistic quality of translations.

If you are a customer, you may be asking why you should contribute to the process – it’s our job, after all. You are correct and, as a customer, your involvement is not obligatory. But if you want the best result, it is in your best interest to participate in the process – especially through feedback.

To some extent, language is a matter of opinion. We are all fluent in at least our own native tongue, and many of us also know several other languages. Therefore, we all have a lot of opinions about language. This is especially true in work contexts if language plays a central role in our work and we put a lot of thought into how a message should be conveyed. We know how we want to address the reader, and perhaps the organisation we work in has even defined common rules for what kinds of images we should evoke.

Even if these rules are self-explanatory within the organisation and come naturally to you, they may not be self-evident to the translator. The translator is always a bit of an outsider and depends on what they are told about your preferred language and its nuances. This is where teamwork comes into play: the ideal translation process involves cooperation to ensure that the translation matches the customer’s communication needs as closely as possible. By providing feedback on the translations, the customer can ensure that each translation is better than the one before and closer to the customer’s ideal.

Validation as a tool

One of the most important tools for the process described above is validation. This means a review by the customer after the translation has been completed. It may often be carried out by an expert whose main work tasks do not include translation. The expert is responsible for checking, in particular, the terminology and style, and assessing whether they are in line with the customer’s brand. Other review work can also be done at the same time.

Validation in itself is a simple step, and there is no doubt about its usefulness, but it is still often skipped altogether. Typically, validation is carried out by sending PDF or DOCX files to vendors or technical experts, for example. The expert will use the comment or track changes functions to add their own comments and corrections to the document. These will be included in the final version and imported into the translation memory by the translation agency. This process is quite laborious and may complicate version control, which are the main reasons why it is often skipped.

Validation with system support

At LanguageWire, workflow and translation work are based on a shared platform used by customers, translators and internal project managers. Using a single platform has many benefits, especially in terms of translation project communications and transparency.

The validation step also takes place entirely on this platform, which makes the process quick and efficient. Usually, the validation step is added as soon as the project is created.

Validation takes place after the translators have done their work. The experts assigned to the project will receive an automatic message from the system and, by clicking on the link, they will be forwarded to the right project. There is no need to search for the project or upload any files, and the expert can start working in their browser right away.

Validation is done in the same tool that the translators use, and the validator has access to all the same information. This means, for example, that they will automatically be able to view the correct terminology if there is a glossary attached. This helps to avoid situations where outdated or otherwise incorrect terminology is used in the text during the validation phase. The validator also has access to other tools, such as proofreading and translation tools. Our user-friendly interface ensures that you do not need to be a professional translator to benefit from the translation platform. Everything you need can be done with basic browser skills.

In addition to possible corrections, the validator can also communicate with the translator, which helps to quickly solve potential dilemmas. Since everyone works in the same digital environment, all corrections are also saved directly in the translation memory, and they do not need to be separately exported at the end of the project.

In order to ensure the best possible translation quality and that the translator and proofreader learn as much as possible, a language specialist will check the changes made by the validator at the end. This ensures that all changes follow the customer’s own standards and, of course, the general rules of the language.

Would you like to discuss your organisation’s language needs? Contact us via email at contact-fi@languagewire.com for further information!

LanguageWire Generate revolutionises content creation processes

27.11.2024 by Jari Herrgård

Have you tried using generative AI yet? Perhaps you have produced images or text with prompts? You have probably at least read about the possibilities offered by generative AI – if not, you must have been living on a desert island for the last couple of years!

AI tools have different user interfaces, some of which are ideal for small experiments and playing around. Some even provide a somewhat human user experience through dialogue. As if you were dealing with another person, not a machine!

However, it may be that the professional and truly efficient use of generative AI models are still in the planning stage for you. In text production, the results obtained with generative tools can seem slightly random, even if the text flows smoothly and provides a good starting point for further editing. Achieving a better output may require multiple prompting rounds and extensive manual post-editing.

Introducing LanguageWire Generate

At LanguageWire, we are experts in text processing and storage, and we want to offer our customers practical and easy solutions that make their text-related work as efficient as possible. With this in mind, we launched in October LanguageWire Generate, a monolingual text production tool. This platform solves the above-mentioned challenges, making the tool easy to use and ensuring the relevance of the output.

The basic concept of LanguageWire Generate is simple and powerful: with just a few straightforward choices, you can create new texts that are relevant to you and your organisation. Relevance is ensured by the RAG method and, most importantly, by your own language resources.

Leverage your company’s language resources

The key to using generative AI models is getting their output to best match the user’s expectations and the operating environment. Despite its many strengths, AI cannot read your mind (at least not yet), so it needs a little help. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) is one of the key techniques in this. In practice, this usually means that when you request something from a language model, you also give it information about the context or desired style, for example.

LanguageWire Generate yields the best results when at least 10,000 words of proven text materials are uploaded into it (Content Memory). These texts can be, for example, your organisation’s marketing materials or user guides. The most important thing is that you know that they are the kind of text that you would like to produce in the future, too.

You can improve the text quality not only with the above-mentioned text materials but also by uploading a glossary containing the terms you want to use. There are no strict format settings for the glossary: it can even be a very simple list of words.

The text materials and the glossary are used when LanguageWire Generate is requested to produce new texts. It finds suitable sections in earlier texts and word lists and uses them as models for new texts. These sources align new texts with your organisation’s style and ensure that your own terminology is used.

Specify text properties

Earlier content alone is not sufficient: the user must also describe what the new text is about and for what purpose it is needed. In LanguageWire Generate’s user interface, you can easily select the text format (e.g. Blog Post), tone of voice (Casual) and length (Medium). A few key settings are available for each item, but there is also the option of entering an attribute completely freely.

In addition to these, you need a content description, which you can write freely and in as much detail as you want. If you are just looking for inspiration, a short description will go a long way, but providing a more detailed definition is likely to give you a more ready-to-use text.

Another important feature is key terms: you can add as many of them as you need. Key terms are words that you want to appear specifically in this text but that do not need to end up in the termbase.

LanguageWire Generate supports efficient text production for a wide range of purposes. Would you like to try our solution and see how it meets your writing needs? Contact us and let us help you select the appropriate reference materials and create a glossary if necessary.

Financial period ends – how can we help you?

14.11.2024 by Delingua

For many companies, the financial period is a calendar year, which means that the financial period ends at the turn of the year. At the end of the financial period, companies must remember to provide their auditor with, for example, receipts, possible loans, investments or changes in the activities of the company as well as to carry out an inventory.

The new financial period also brings certain things to remember. At the beginning of the year, an annual report on the previous year will be drawn up and a meeting of the Board of Directors and an annual general meeting will be arranged. It is a good idea for companies operating internationally to prepare the annual report in all of the languages used in the company to allow owners and investors to get acquainted with the figures and events of the previous year. If the company has foreign owners, it would also be advisable to arrange annual general meetings in such a way that everyone attending them understands what is being said. In such cases, professional interpreting is justified.

We are happy to help when you need to have the annual report translated or interpreting arranged for the annual general meeting. From us, you can order a translation of your annual report and interpreting for the annual general meeting. We have compiled a few tips below to keep in mind when the annual report and the annual general meeting are topical.

Tips for having an annual report translated

When ordering a translation of the annual report, it is worthwhile to get in touch early enough. Annual report projects are ordered and scheduled well in advance, and professional translation agencies will be busy in the first months of a new year. Be sure to be on time, allocate enough time for the translation and involve the translation partner already in the planning phase of the annual report.

Reference material makes translation easier, and annual reports are no exception. You can provide your translation partner with previous annual reports or other material in the target language, for example. This gives the translator an indication of the company’s terms, specialised terminology and style of the translation.

Also, decide in advance on the file format of the annual report. If possible, translations should be made directly in the original file format. The translation partner should also be informed of any exceptions, for example regarding the figures.

The annual report is often a highly confidential file and should not necessarily be delivered for translation by email. The file can be delivered over a secure connection through the translation agency’s ordering portal, for example. If the company does not have a written agreement with the translation agency, it is advisable to sign a possible non-disclosure agreement well in advance of the start of the translation project.

You will find more practical tips in our annual report guide (in Finnish).

Tips for interpreting for the annual general meeting

If international participants are attending the annual general meeting, they should be provided with professional interpreting. Conference interpreting, which practically means simultaneous interpreting, is the most suitable method of interpreting for an annual general meeting. In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter interprets at the same time as the speaker speaks. The speech to be interpreted is transmitted to the interpreters’ headphones with the aid of interpreting equipment and interpreting is then transmitted by microphone to the listeners’ headphones. Interpreting can be arranged on site, as a hybrid model or entirely remotely. Interpreting can be arranged whether all of the participants or only some of them are physically present at the meeting or whether the meeting is held remotely.

When planning interpreting arrangements, the following factors, among others, must be taken into account: which languages the meeting will be interpreted into, what the main language of the meeting will be, and where and when the meeting will take place. It is also a good idea to provide the interpreters with advance material that will facilitate successful interpreting. Advance material may include the schedule as well as the documents and presentations of the meeting. Any other material in the target language also helps the interpreter to maintain terminological consistency.

Interpreting for foreign-language participants makes them feel that they have genuinely been taken into account in the arrangements of the meeting. We have prepared guides on interpreting for an event (in Finnish) and on remote interpreting. The guides will provide you with comprehensive information on what to take into account when arranging on-site and remote interpreting.

Delingua helps you at the end of the financial period

Now is a good time to order a translation of the annual report and arrange (remote) interpreting for the annual general meeting; we are happy to help. Contact us via email in matters concerning translation and interpreting; we promise to get back to you as soon as possible!

AI translation or machine translation: what’s the difference?

1.11.2024 by Delingua

While AI translation represents a significant leap forward in the field of machine translation, it shares common ground with its predecessors. At its core, both AI translation and traditional machine translation methods aim to facilitate cross-linguistic communication by automatically converting text from one language to another.

However, what distinguishes AI translation is its utilization of advanced neural networks and deep learning algorithms, enabling it to surpass the limitations of earlier approaches. This article explores the evolution of machine translation, highlighting how AI translation builds upon and enhances the foundations laid by its predecessors to redefine the way we break down language barriers in the modern world.

AI translation vs machine translation

AI translation and machine translation are terms that are often used interchangeably in discussions about automated language translation technologies. However, there are nuanced differences between the two, primarily in terms of the technology and methodologies they employ. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for appreciating the advancements in the field of language translation and the capabilities of current technologies.

Machine translation (MT)

Machine Translation refers to the use of software to translate text or speech from one language to another without human intervention. Historically, MT has evolved through several stages, each marked by different approaches and technologies:

Rule-based machine translation (RBMT)

This approach relies on a comprehensive set of linguistic rules and bilingual dictionaries. It translates by analysing the source text based on these rules and then applying the corresponding rules in the target language. While RBMT can be highly accurate for languages with a limited scope and well-defined rules, it struggles with the complexity and variability of natural language.

Statistical machine translation (SMT)

SMT models translations based on the analysis of large amounts of bilingual text data. It uses statistical methods to predict the likelihood of certain words or phrases being a correct translation. SMT marked a significant improvement over RBMT, offering more flexibility and better handling of languages with less rigid structure. However, it still faced challenges with context, idioms, and linguistic nuances.

AI translation

AI Translation is an advanced translation technology. It incorporates artificial intelligence, especially deep learning, and neural networks, to model the entire process of translation in a way that mimics human brain functions.

Here are the key features that distinguish AI translation:

Contextual understanding

Unlike its predecessors, AI translation can consider the entire context of a sentence or paragraph, rather than translating piece by piece. This holistic approach allows for more accurate and natural translations, especially in complex or ambiguous situations.

Continuous learning capabilities

AI systems are designed to learn and improve over time. By analysing vast datasets and learning from corrections, AI translation models continually refine their understanding of languages, idioms, and cultural nuances. This self-improvement aspect is a hallmark of AI technology.

Adaptability

AI translation models can be adapted and specialized for different domains (e.g., legal, medical, technical) much more effectively than traditional MT systems. They can learn the specific vocabulary and stylistic preferences of a field, leading to higher quality translations in specialized areas.

AI translation is machine translation evolved

While machine translation laid the groundwork for automated language translation, AI translation has significantly advanced the field. The key differences lie in AI translation’s ability to understand and translate text in context, learn from interactions, and improve over time. These capabilities make AI translation a more dynamic, accurate, and effective tool for overcoming language barriers, especially in professional and specialized setting.

This article was originally published by LanguageWire Company (Verity Hartley).

New tasks for Delingua staff

22.10.2024 by Delingua

Engage your global audience with AI-powered subtitling solutions

21.10.2024 by Delingua

In today’s digital-first world, video content is a necessity. It’s one of the most powerful tools for businesses to stay competitive and connect with global audiences. But to truly maximise reach and engagement, it must be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

That’s where LanguageWire’s unique value proposition comes in: AI-powered, human-refined subtitling solutions that blend together the best of two worlds. They seamlessly localise video content across multiple languages and diverse audiences, whilst maintaining accuracy, quality and brand consistency.

Our Smart Editor offers an innovative approach to subtitling. It simplifies complex video localisation workflows for global enterprises and allows businesses to scale their content effortlessly across regions. We ensure that the video content reaches a broader audience and engages them meaningfully.

Here’s how our approach sets us apart — and how it can transform the way you think about video localisation.

Simplifying complex subtitling workflows

One of the biggest challenges for global enterprises is managing the complexity of localising video content for multiple markets. 

Between handling different languages, adhering to brand guidelines and business terminology, and ensuring consistency across regions, localisation can feel like a daunting task. That’s where our end-to-end subtitling solutions come in. 

We take a hands-on approach here. Customers can simply upload their videos to our platform, leaving the heavy lifting to us. From the moment a video is submitted, our process kicks into high gear, combining the best of AI and human expertise to generate high-quality, contextually accurate subtitles.

With Smart Editor in subtitling mode, we create captions ensuring cultural nuances, technical terminology and brand voice are respected. 

The best part? Our customers can stay hands-off for most of the process but are invited to collaborate when it matters most – during validation and styling.

A customer-first collaboration experience

What makes LanguageWire’s subtitling so special is its interactive validation and styling phase.

Once AI and human linguists create the captions, customers can review the subtitles in our Smart Editor for accuracy, consistency and brand alignment. This is a simple and powerful step. And it’s designed to keep your team in full control without the complexities of managing the full process.

The Smart Editor presents subtitles intuitively, allowing for quick edits such as adjusting text, merging or splitting segments or synchronising timestamps – all with just a few clicks. Segment-by-segment synchronisation ensures that reviewing each caption feels seamless and efficient.

Styling is another powerful feature that allows customers to customise subtitles effortlessly. They can adjust font size and type, background color, text alignment, and screen position, ensuring that subtitles look professional and align with their visual identity.

This level of customisation can be applied to individual segments or across the entire video, giving customers the flexibility to create tailored subtitles that meet their specific needs.

Consistent, on-brand messaging

We understand that localisation is not just about translation. It’s about capturing your brand voice in a way that resonates with audiences, no matter the language.

Our Smart Editor seamlessly integrates with your existing linguistic assets, like translation memories and termbases. This integration ensures that your subtitles use the correct terminology and tone throughout the video, providing a consistent experience for your global audience.

Whether you’re producing marketing videos, e-learning materials, technical content, or internal communications, your subtitles will align with your brand’s voice and technical specifications. 

The full end-to-end process

Our customers love that we handle the entire subtitling workflow, from initial submission to final burn-in of the subtitles. After reviewing and approving the final product, we then deliver the highest quality content.

We ensure a smooth subtitling process, whether our customers are working on one video or hundreds. This level of efficiency and accuracy helps global enterprises scale their content localisation with ease, saving time and money with better processes and minimal time investment from their internal team.

Increasing engagement with subtitles

Did you know 89% of people use subtitles or captioning when consuming media?

Subtitles are invaluable for making video content easier to follow, hear and understand. Adding localised subtitles goes beyond accessibility. It also drives deeper engagement. Studies reveal that videos with subtitles are not only watched for longer durations but are also more likely to be shared across platforms.

By making your videos accessible to non-native speakers, hearing-impaired viewers and those who prefer watching without sound, global enterprises are broadening their audience and increasing both reach and impact.

Discuss your next subtitling project with LanguageWire

Ready to simplify your video localisation process and reach global audiences with ease?

LanguageWire’s subtitling solutions are here to help. We combine next-generation technology with human expertise, ensuring your subtitles are tailored, accurate and impactful.

Interested in learning more? Request a personalised demo and take the first step toward optimising your video content for the global stage.

This article was originally published by LanguageWire (Verity Hartley).