One might assume that the primary area of collaboration between those two entities are internships – and this is in no way wrong! A major part of the mutual relationship concerns the contact with the careers office and the adepts of the profession. However, translation services for educational institutions and the R&D community are also an important part of this cooperation.
Scientific translation is a unique area at the intersection of outstanding linguistic skills and specialist knowlegde – that only a few experts in the field can boast. How to find the best business partner who will support us effectively for many years in translating articles or patent applications and providing interpretation during conferences? This is one of the things we will discuss in today’s article.
Precision, expert knowledge and insight: what do scientific translations require?
When it comes to scientific translations, the stakes are always high. We know that every word is precious when it comes to multi-thousand-pound grants, developing your research career further or gaining a prestigious position in the academia. That is why scientific papers are only entrusted to translators with additional specialist training or documented extensive experience of working with texts from the relevant field. This guarantees reliable translation of specialist terminology and the use of academic vocabulary.
But how do you guarantee stable, high quality of scientific translations throughout the years? When the first translations have been completed and we have received feedback from the client, we form a team to which subsequent orders on a specific topic are assigned. But we are also always open to dialogue, adjusting the text to the authors’ instructions and creating glossaries to ensure that scientific translations always include the preferred vocabulary.
Is it worth requesting the help of a native speaker?
Additional service we offer is proofreading by a native speaker of a given language. This applies to Polish and foreign languages: an extra pair of eyes means a greater chance to catch punctuation or syntax errors or to avoid unclear sentences that may not be understood by the target audience. Documents such as an abstract for a conference, a scientific project proposal or a summary of professional accomplishments are also our business card. Every linguistic mistake casts a shadow over reputation in the world of science. And, as we know, a reputation is hard to earn but easy to lose. It is worth to ensure thate texts support communication instead of impairing it!
Not only science; translations of humanistic texts
Scientific translation is often directly linked to scientific disciplines such as medicine, physics, mathematics or astronomy – but there is, after all, a whole (albeit very underestimeted!) area of humanities beyond them. Those fields evoke just as much enthusiasm. Our linguists translate articles, textbooks, monographs and materials that explore such disciplines as philology, pedagogy, cultural studies, the arts and theology.
Often treated unfairly, like the less serious sisters of the exact sciences, disciplines focusing on humanities help us find answers to various questions that’s been troubling the humanity for centuries. We are here to join scientists on this incredible journey and make new discoveries accessible to an even wider audience. A niche discipline, an unusual language? No worries – we are eager to take care of this task too.
Clear terms and conditions: a basis for successful cooperation
When it comes to a long-term professional relation between a university and a translation agency, it’s key to ensure satisfaction not only with the results of linguists’ work, but also with the agreed terms of cooperation. Delivering multiple projects over a longer period of time opens up more room for discussion about finances or lead times.
Scientific texts that push the boundaries of our knowledge of a given phenomena and allow us to better understand the world around us are an essential part of everyday tasks at Alingua. The experience gained over the years of working on scientific documentation enables us to produce precise and accurate scientific translations that comply with the guidelines of the international academic and R&D community. We are also committed to transparent communication, so before making any decision, our clients receive a quotation that includes the proposed translation options covering a diverse range of services – so that all expectations are met.
