When Things Go Wrong in Translation

Translators are humans, just like the next person and this should not be surprising. Every client wants perfection, all the time. And that is fair enough, because after all, that is what they pay you for.

However, it's not just a saying : No one is perfect. Mistakes do and will happen and over the years I have learnt how to deal with the situation when things go wrong. Here are my top tips :

1. Be kind

I know this may sound odd but it's the way forward. Your client may be agitated by finding this mistake in the translation. They may even be angry. They may even shout at you. Do not go to that level, because it helps no one. Be kind. Offer to have a look, work on a solution.

2. Don't get defensive

Someone tells you are wrong and your first reaction is to defend yourself. I tell you don't. There is nothing worse than trying to solve a problem with someone who goes immediately into the defensive mode. Your client will not remember what you said, but how you made him/her feel. So make them feel like they can talk to you.

3. Ask to check the error

Mistakes happen, yet sometimes what the client sees as a mistake is actually correct. You are the expert, that's why they hired you. Check it, provide an explanation, be confident but not cocky.

4. Own up

Once you checked the translation and it was indeed your fault, own up and apologize. Rectify the mistake and thank them for helping you to become even better at the job. This has the most outstanding effect on the majority of people and in my case has been the start of some amazing working relationships.

5. You cannot argue on taste

If your client wants to change something that is right, because he prefers a different version better, then go for it - as long as it is correct. Point out that your version was also correct, but that there are many ways to say the same thing.

6. Don't put yourself down

Just because you made a mistake does not mean you are a bad translator. You are not. I don't know about you, but I have not read a book in recent history in which I did not spot at least a few spelling errors and erratic punctuation. Learn from it, get better and be proud of what you do.

Melanie Martin runs Tailor Made Translation, a UK based translation service provider. We work with small and medium-sized engineering and technology companies who either already export or want to export.

What separates our services from other translation agencies is that we are able to manage the client's entire workflow.