Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Below are a number of frequently asked questions about our translating services
General translation-related questions
- What languages do you cover?
- Why should I use a translation company and not a freelance translator?
- If I sign up with you, how do I know my details are secure?
- Do you offer discounts for large volume translation or ongoing work?
- What's the difference between interpreting and translating?
- Do you offer interpreting services?
Asian languages - cultural and artwork-related considerations
- I'd like to print your Japanese translation from my own PC, but I don't have Japanese fonts installed. How can I do it?
- Can you just give me the Japanese translation so I can do the layout myself?
- I want to have a brochure printed in Chinese. How should I supply it to the printer?
- What is 'Simplified' Chinese?
- Do I need separate versions of my document in both Mandarin and Cantonese?
- My agent in Malaysia objects to some of the words you have used in the Chinese translation you did for us. What is wrong?
- I have the English version of my brochure in Quark Xpress. If I give you a copy of this document, can you replace the English with Korean text and return it to me, retaining the same layout and all pictures in the same place?
- What should I bear in mind about the layout of the Arabic version of my brochure?
- What file formats can I use for Asian languages?
- What should I know about business cards in Japan?
General translation-related questions
Q. What languages do you cover?
We cover all major world languages and many others too. Our languages for translation page lists the most common ones. If you require translating services into a language not listed on the 'New Lingo Languages for Translation' page, do contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Q. Why should I use a translation company and not a freelance translator?
The main reason is quality assurance. Any individual translator working alone will make mistakes. Viewing translation as a collaborative process, we check everything in-house to ensure everything possible is done to ensure a high quality translation. Even the best freelance translators cannot match New Lingo for consistent quality in translation.
Q. If I sign up with you, how do I know my details are secure?
We will never keep your credit card details anywhere. Your contact details are securely stored on our database and no third party is ever given access to these. Please read our privacy statement here.
Q. Do you offer discounts for large volume translation or ongoing work?
We are always prepared to discuss special projects with clients to find a mutually beneficial solution - in a word, yes!
Q. What's the difference between interpreting and translating?
Translation deals with the written word, interpreting deals with the spoken.
Q. Do you offer interpreting services?
We do. New Lingo is a flexible company and we're happy to use our skills in a wide range of contexts.
Asian languages - cultural and artwork-related considerations
Q. I'd like to print your Japanese translation from my own PC, but I don't have Japanese fonts installed. How can I do it?
The simplest way to receive documents in Asian languages which you can print yourself is to ask for the translated document to be supplied in PDF format. PDF ('Portable Document Format') has been developed by Adobe, and files in this format can be read and printed from both Windows and Macintosh without the need for special Asian fonts. You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, an easy-to-use application which Adobe supplies free of charge at the Adobe website. When you receive your document in PDF format, you'll be able to display the document onscreen and print it out but will generally not be able to change the text or alter the layout.
Q. Can you just give me the Japanese translation so I can do the layout myself?
This is possible only if you have a Japanese operating system or Japanese fonts installed on your PC. Most clients outside Japan do not have the proper set-up on their PC to allow them to format Japanese text in such applications as Word, PageMaker, Illustrator, etc. You will also need to be able to read Japanese (or have someone who can to help you) to ensure that the layout is correct. For most clients, the safest way of preparing documents in Asian languages is to have New Lingo do all the formatting and layout.
Q. I want to have a brochure printed in Chinese. How should I supply it to the printer?
Generally speaking, there are two forms of written Chinese: 'Traditional Chinese' is the written form of Chinese used in almost all Chinese-speaking areas of the world outside the People's Republic of China. 'Simplified Chinese' is the written form of Chinese used in the PR China and Singapore. If you have documents which are to be used in both Taiwan and the PR China, you will normally require two separate versions. When in doubt, the safe option is to choose 'Traditional Chinese'. (See the next two Q.s for more details.)
Q. What is 'Simplified' Chinese?
Simplified Chinese is also known as Modern Chinese. It was developed from the traditional form in the People's Republic of China in the late 1950s with the aim of increasing the level of literacy. The use of the more complex traditional form was limiting, and it was understood and used by only half the population. Approximately 7000 Simplified characters replaced some 13,500 Traditional characters.
When the People's Republic of China was recognised by the United Nations in 1971, Simplified Chinese became the official written language used in China. In addition, Singapore adopted it as its own official written language. Elsewhere in the Chinese-speaking world, Traditional tends to be the norm.
Q. Do I need separate versions of my document in both Mandarin and Cantonese?
'Mandarin' and 'Cantonese' are the names of two different spoken dialects of Chinese. Written Chinese however, can generally be read by both Mandarin and Cantonese speakers. The more important question to ask is whether the document is destined for PR China (Simplified Chinese required) or outside the PR China (Traditional Chinese required).
Q. My agent in Malaysia objects to some of the words you have used in the Chinese translation you did for us. What is wrong?
If the same document is being used in Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, it is very difficult to get everyone to agree on the same usage. Just as 'pavement' is used in the U.K. becomes 'sidewalk' in the U.S.A., there are many regional differences in Chinese. Sometimes, it may be necessary to make minor modifications and prepare separate versions for different markets.
Q. I have the English version of my brochure in Quark Xpress. If I give you a copy of this document, can you replace the English with Korean text and return it to me, retaining the same layout and all pictures in the same place?
Yes. However, the new text will be in a graphics format (i.e. 'outlines' or EPS format), and you will not be able to modify the layout easily once you have received the finished file.
Q. What should I bear in mind about the layout of the Arabic version of my brochure?
Arabic reads from right-to-left, which results in a 'mirror image' dimension to the layout or typesetting. Publications of more than one page may require a re-ordering of the pages, which to Western eyes read backwards from the 'back' cover to the 'front'.
Q. What file formats can I use for Asian languages?
There are a number of file formats available for Asian languages:
- Microsoft Word: Chinese, Japanese and Korean are available in Word 97 or higher. However, you will need to install the language support for these languages from the Microsoft Office CD-ROM.
- EPS files: If you need to include Chinese, Japanese or Korean in page layout software such as Illustrator, Freehand or QuarkXpress, we can supply the text in EPS format with the text converted to outlines (paths).
- QuarkXpress or PageMaker: If you have an existing layout in English that needs to be replaced by an Asian language, send us the original file. We will prepare the new text as an EPS file and place it in the appropriate position in the original file.
- PDF format: This is the simplest method of receiving files in Asian languages. You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. These files can be read and printed on either the Windows or Macintosh platform.
- Text only: For clients who have their own Asian language fonts and software, we can supply 'text only' files which can be imported into the client's own word processing or page layout software.
Q. What should I know about business cards in Japan?
If you're serious about doing business with the Japanese, you'll have your name, title and company in Japanese on the reverse side of their business cards. The exchange of business cards (meishi) is far more formal in Japan than it is in the West. The meishi should be presented with the Japanese side of the card facing up so that the recipient can read it without having to turn the card around. After receiving a card from another person, it is customary to spend a few moments reading it. Casually putting it into one's pocket without paying attention to it would be considered impolite.
For the Japanese, a person's business card is a means of indicating status. The person's position and the company's status are vitally important indicators of how others should behave towards him or her. In English, a job title does not always clearly indicate the person's exact status within the company hierarchy. Therefore, the English title is rarely translated directly: instead, the closest equivalent in the Japanese system is used. It is common practice for our translators to check with clients to elicit from them their exact position within the company so that a suitable Japanese term with the same status can be chosen.