When are proofreading services necessary and why?
Why are there proofreading services too?
Let’s face it, not all translators are natives of the source or target language. Not all of them have the necessary qualifications or experience. Some of them may understand the source language very well, but have difficulty expressing the content into the target language. Or there are some things they aren’t sure of in the source language because of limited exposure, or they learned it only through books, or they have no access to information that can only be found if they lived in the source or target language country itself. That’s just fine. All of us have to start somewhere. All of us have been beginners before we became better. But, in order to check if the translation is correct, we need to use proofreading services.
If only true-blue experts or natives were allowed to translate then they may find themselves overburdened with work. Some of them may even be annoyed to waste their talents and time if the job was a very simple one. They might even ignore work that is too small. Let’s just leave them with the really difficult big translation jobs that’s perfect for their level.
It’s fine with the clients too. They have the option of getting cheaper translation rates from non-expert or non-native translators. And they don’t have to wait in line until a native expert becomes available. Sometimes they may know someone or someone in their staff can do a little translation for them. But what can be done about checking the translator’s mistakes, if any?
That’s when proofreading services become necessary. The client can get the expertise of the expert translators for a lesser rate. The non-native translator would have already done most of the tedious spadework. Then it is just up to the expert proofreader to cast their eye over it and look for mistakes. Sometimes even expert translators can make inadvertent mistakes or oversights, especially if the content is complicated or the volume is just overwhelming.
Proofreading services are put in place to make sure that the final product is perfect, that it is something that the client will be happy with and feel like they have not wasted their money and trust. The difference between a non-proofread translation and a proofread translation may mean the success or downfall of a client’s business. That is why Wapa Translations will always give your project to a native speaker of the source language, and that is why we use the proofreading services of a second native speaker, to make sure the clients gets accurate translations.