Translating your content into your target market’s primary language is essential to reaching a broader market effectively. In many cases, you may need to translate your content, from your website to your marketing materials, into multiple languages to ensure that you can reach a global audience. However, as you look for translators, you may discover more types of translation services than you initially anticipated. Translation can fall into several key categories. You need a translator with experience working in the right areas to ensure you can meet your business’s needs while speaking directly to your target market. 

Six different types of translation are:

1. Legal Translation

Legal translation services ensure that legal content fits the language and geographic area where content is needed. Often, laws vary between one region and the next. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure that the language is clear. Any misunderstandings could result in legal trouble for both the person providing advice and the person attempting to implement it. 

It is also helpful to consider local dialects and needs when dealing with legal translation. Working with an experienced legal translator can make handling critical legal transactions in diverse languages much easier. 

Legal documents may include things like:

• End-user license agreements
• Terms and conditions
• Contracts
• Non-disclosure agreements

Any time you have legal-specific materials requiring translation, you can expect legal translation services. 

2. Life Sciences Translation

Like legal content, life sciences content can be precise. Medical devices and technology are developing at an astonishing rate. Medical science continues to advance, providing treatment options that have never been available. However, to ensure those services are accessible to everyone who uses the target language, it is essential to provide particular translation services that ensure localized understanding. Life science translation needs to take local needs into account. 

Life sciences translation may include:

• Translations of patents and other vital documents
• Documents regarding patient treatment recommendations
• Marketing materials for specific devices or medications

Healthcare-specific materials, like legal materials, must be carefully designed to consider your target audience’s needs. 

3. Machine Translation

Machine translation services are used when you can automate translation services. However, this is yet to be at the level of what qualified translators and experts in their fields (including legal and life sciences fields) can offer. But it can provide basic types of translation with high accuracy. Machine translation is faster than relying on a human translator to take on the same task. While it may not be adequate for handling particular tasks, machine translation can take on a variety of documents that may not require that high level of accuracy. These documents include the following:

• Assembly instructions
• Technical manuals
• Internal documents
• Customer support materials for non-legal or medical documents
• Social media content
• Blog posts

Essential machine translation services can often be augmented and assisted by a human editor. These professionals can provide deeper insight into the localization of a specific area or offer higher accuracy in those services. During the post-editing process after machine translation, a human editor will look at what the AI has produced and help smooth out the content. 

In general, that editing can take one of two forms. 

1. A human editor can produce light editing services. They will review the translation and ensure that it has no obvious grammar mistakes. 
2. The human editor can assemble a comprehensive editing session on that content. This level of support can bring it up to the same level of quality you could expect from a native translator. 

4. Software Translation

Apps and software are the critical backbones of many businesses, allowing them to connect more effectively with their customers. However, for those apps to perform well, they must be presented in the language used by the customer. Initially, you should ensure that your software translation is highly accurate so your users can all use the software effectively.

Software translation services are essential for a multitude of areas. 

• Mobile apps
• Web applications
• Desktop software

If you want your users to have a good experience interacting with your app, using effective software translation services can make a big difference in their overall satisfaction. 

5. Technical Translation

It is vital to have a specialist who understands technical translation to look over your content. Mistranslations or misunderstandings can make it difficult for the end user to understand with highly technical documents. 

• FAQ sections
• Terminology management
• User guide localization
• Product catalogs
• Instruction documents
• Technical manuals

As a result, they may need help to engage with the content effectively. Also, many technical documents offer instructions for end users, meaning that poor translation services can make it difficult for the end user.

6. Website Translation and Localization

Your website is your digital storefront, allowing you to connect with new customers. It should be dynamic and ever-changing, and it should also grow alongside your business. 

When you make changes to your website, make sure you make it in every language required to reach your target customers. When your website fails to meet a global audience’s needs, you may need help to reach your diverse target audience. You want something beyond website translation that takes your website from its original language to the client’s target language. Instead, you want accurate website localization services. This will help ensure your website is accessible and appropriate for people from various cultures and backgrounds. Proper website localization includes:

• Translation into target languages
• Images that fit the needs of the target audience
• Color schemes that provide the target audience’s preferences
• Attention to all the details that make up your website

Localizing your website is critical to ensuring that you not only offer the products and services a global audience may need but also continue connecting with them on every level.

Get the Expert Translation Services You Need

When you connect with a large, diverse target market, you must ensure that your content is translated into the languages they use. We have experts in multiple types of translation and a variety of fields, including medical, legal, and technical translation, that can help ensure that you achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more about the types of translation and localization services we offer.