Technical is a very broad term. In this category the key requirement is to use the right terminology and technical information. That can be very important to ensure effective and safe operation, for example in the case of manuals, guides and instructions.

If possible, we also ask for the associated illustrations. With technical translations it’s sometimes crucially important that the translator fully understands the subject matter. That’s the only way to ensure a good and safe translation. The work will still involve a lot of research and many terms will need to have their meaning double-checked.

For example, one country may attribute a discovery or invention to a different person than another country. The Gutenberg/Coster debate has now been settled*, but diseases or symptoms, for example, are sometimes named after different people in French-speaking areas than in the rest of the world.

We also have experience of translating in the fields of gamification and e-learning, the methods used in change processes and to get to grips with machines or, for example, to detect money-laundering. With these kinds of methods participants cannot move to the next step if they don’t understand the previous one. That means the translator has to bring a UX attitude to his or her work.

* It was Bì Shēng