[FR]
You spent many hours in self-doubt while revising your text – this masterpiece – and it finally reached perfection.
However, before writing this work of art, you had to answer a few questions to make the best of your writing time. Although these answers are clear in your head, remember to share them with your translator:
1. Set a deadline.
This date is a guarantee that your translation will be done in a timely manner instead of finding a spot on the bottom of the pile. It also enables your translator to prioritize his workload.
2. Determine a clear objective for your communication piece and share it with your translator.
Aimless action does not contribute to meeting an objective. Make sure you know which way you are going and share it with your translator. Are you trying to advise your readers or share your passion with them? Are you trying to convince them that your product or service is exactly what they want? Perhaps are you trying to connect with them?Whatever it is, state it clearly. As you know, whatever is well conceived is clearly expressed. And, that is what you want.
3. Decide what type of document your text will become.
As exhaustive as it can be, an unformatted text on a plain page will not convey what type of document your text will become. For instance, this unformatted text could be the body of an e-mail or a business letter. The article you just sent to your translator might be published in an academic journal, a local newspaper or the Web. Such pieces of information have an impact on the product your translator will hand in to you. Even though the source text might give him clues to the type of document it is, it is always best that you confirm your intent.
4. Determine your target audience.
Knowing who your readership will enable your translator to “speak its language” and give you a more efficient product. As you might have guessed, a letter addressed to the Premier and a letter addressed to ordinary people will not be written the same way and will not convey the same tone. You will be able to read deference through the letter to the Premier while ordinary people do not get the same courtesy. Once again, such knowledge will enable your translator to choose the proper terms and standards and convey your message with efficiency.
5. Choose your dissemination mode.
Each type of media has its own standards and best practices; it is best to decide such details before writing. Your translator is in the same situation except that you are the one who chooses the dissemination mode. However, he is accountable for the standards and writing practices in his own language.
All in all, the more you convey information surrounding the piece of communication you want translated, the better equipped your translator will be to make the right choices. By sharing these five pieces of information of the communication context, you do your translator a favour and one to yourself by the same token.
Josée Couture 