The translation is an essential part of going global. Communicating with potential customers and clients in their native language has several benefits. It creates familiarity, which gives you an edge over your competitors. 

However, it is crucial that you get your translation done by professional translators and not rely on Machine translators as any mistake in the translation can cost you your reputation. 

Remember the KFC incident in China? Where their famous slogan ‘finger-licking good’ was translated to ‘you will bite your fingers off’ while it may sound funny from the audience’s perspective – but for a multi-million dollar company, it is an embarrassing mistake. 

There are also instances of tedious legal cases and cases of offending the natives if the translation is not down carefully. 

Especially languages like Korean that are so different from the English language – that you need to work with a highly skilled Korean translator to make sure your Korean translation is on point.

But how do you know if the Korean translator is a perfect match for your business? Keep reading to find out a list of questions to ask your translator before hiring them for your project. 

Six questions to ask your Korean translator prior to hiring them. 

1) Is he/she a native Korean speaker? Or do they have a professional degree?

Not every bilingual person can be a translator. Translation requires a profound and nuanced understanding of language and words. A translator’s job is not limited to giving the word for word translation of the text – they have to capture the essence of what the text is trying to communicate, what mood is the text trying to set, and translate the text with keeping the core meaning intact.

Make sure the translator you are planning to hire has a deep understanding of the language. Don’t just work with any random bilingual person who understands Korean. Ensure your translator is either a native Korean speaker or has a professional degree and speaks the native level Korean language.

2) Do they understand the culture of the place?

Now someone can understand the language and give you an exact translation for your text – but do they know the culture of the place and people you are trying to target?

Cultural differences in communication can get tricky. What might sound friendly and casual in one culture can turn into something offensive to the other – if we go for literal translation. Now not every multilingual person who understands language has an understanding of the cultural implications of certain words and phrases. 

So ensure that the Korean translator you are opting for knows the place’s culture and history. 

For example – Swastika is an extremely sacred symbol in certain Asian cultures; it is considered auspicious and holy – turn to the western world, and it takes an entirely different meaning. 

3) What are their commercials and turnaround time?

Other critical criteria while selecting a Korean translator is the budget consideration and their turnaround time. Do they have sufficient time to complete your project and follow your timeline? Are your budget and their commercials on the same page?  Make sure you discuss the timeline and the budget (which should also include the number of edits required) beforehand so that there is no confusion. 

4) Do they have subject matter expertise and technical knowledge?

Certain areas require more than just good language skills; they demand a thorough understanding of the field. Areas like medical, law, translating instructions, or safety manuals need the field related expertise. Any glitch or miscommunication in these fields can have severe repercussions. There has been an instance where a hospital was sued for 1000s of euros because of an error in translation that led to an unwanted surgery. Mistakes in translating safety or instruction manuals can often lead to life-threatening accidents.

So make sure if you are hiring someone for such fields, then make sure they have expertise in that particular field. 

5) How many years of professional experience do they have, and what kinds of clients have they worked with?

Experience makes a person better at their job; this statement holds in every field, and the translation job is no exception. If you are looking to hire someone for complicated projects, then ask them about their experience in the area. Understand if they have worked for your industry before. Opt for translators who have enough experience and have worked in your industry or related industry before. 

6) Are they aware of the Korean trends and slangs?

Communication and marketing in this digital age are all about catching on to trends and slangs and talking to your audience in a way they can find engaging. But what might be trending in one place might not be in the other. 

Other than that, slangs and catchphrases are also a part of the vocabulary, even though they might not be a part of the official language. 

You need someone who is on top of the current trends in that area and can translate your message in an engaging way but can keep the message and the meaning intact. 

Conclusion. 

Make sure you select the right Korean translator for your business. You can also opt for freelance or an independent translator if your budget is limited or the scope of the work doesn’t call for a full-time translator. Make sure to ask the above questions before you finalize the translator.