- Remember to allow for translation in your schedule. If you need both language versions of a text for the same date, make sure you leave enough time for translation. Delivery times are normally 5 working days for texts of 2,000 word or less and 10 working days for 2,000-10,000 words. Also add a couple of working days for administration (preparing material, placing the order etc.).
- Avoid manual formatting. Always use a document template. Manual formatting, such as using tabs to create a table, will cause problems when the text is translated. A translated text is rarely the same length as the original - it can be longer or shorter. Important not least for printed matter.
- Use plain language. Adapt content and style to the target group, keep it short and simple. Use specialist terminology in a consistent manner. Avoid puns, metaphors and hard-to-translate cultural references.
- Separate text and graphics. Illustrations such as charts and tables are helpful, but avoid mixing graphics and text. It is better to use symbols and make a separate, editable legend.
- Be prepared to answer questions on the content. A translator is an expert in transmitting a message in a linguistically correct and idiomatic way. They are not subject-matter experts like yourself. If you have useful reference material, such as a text or a link to a good-quality website in the target language, you can enclose that as a reference.
Contact
Language coordinator: sprakkoordinator@slu.se, 018-67 12 31