How to commission a Welsh language translation & get best results

Need a Welsh language translation but don’t know where to begin? Read on & get clued up to commission with confidence.

Click on each section to read my helpful hints.

Plan in plenty of time

Don't let translation be an afterthought. Plan in plenty of time.

Most translators will bend over backwards to help you, but a good rule of thumb for less stress and best results is

1-2 business days for 2,000 words

Obviously this is really only a rough estimate - but it should ensure plenty of leeway.

HOWEVER, when you're planning bear in mind:

• the complexity of the text ... harder texts need more time. Think poetry. Or clever marketing campaigns. Or technical reports jam packed with specialist terminology.
  

• the translator's availability ... what other work have they got on the go? They might not be able to drop everything immediately when you need them.
  

• formatting needs ... how complex are they? Will your translator need to make sure all the text fits in all the text boxes? Can you only fit a certain number of characters on one page? If formatting looks complicated, ask your translator if that's part of the deal - and allow more time for it.

Plan ahead and talk to your translator early on. This will avoid a lot of stress later.

Commission a real live human

A rugby hooker was described in a Welsh-language tv programme listing as a prostitute...!

I’ve seen juveniles described as young people - not quite right when you’re talking about frogs...!

And crisp air translated into Welsh as having something to do with thinly sliced deep-fried potato snacks.

THESE ARE ALL AI TRANSLATION ERRORS.

Don’t let loose howlers like these! It’s unprofessional to just use AI to translate a text then assume all is well.

Your translator may use an AI tool as a starting point. But they thoroughly redraft and proofread to ensure the translation does justice to the original, serves you the client, and helps your audience.

A fluent speaker is not the same as a translator

You might think that just because someone speaks Welsh fluently, they’re qualified to translate your text.

Rookie error!

Translation is a professional skill which takes proper training and requires years of experience.

I’ve proofread translation work by a fluent Welsh speaker who was not properly qualified – it was obvious!

It was also clear they didn’t have support from their employer to do a proper job.

Asking someone who’s not a properly qualified or experienced translator isn’t fair on them or on your audience.

HIRE A TRANSLATOR!

Check out credentials

How do you know if someone is properly trained as a Welsh translator? And where do you find them?

There is only one professional association for Welsh translators:

Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru

They’ve got a directory of members. All their members have had to pass an exam to have their names listed.

HIRE A PRO!

For peace of mind, hire a Full Member of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru.

Full Members are qualified to be able to produce translations without supervision or having their work checked by other translators.

Full Members will offer you a fully professional service.

Find a link to the directory of members here.

Money, money, money

Most translators have a per-word rate.

A fee structure will likely look something like this:

• a standard rate for most work

• a flat fee for short jobs

• a higher rate for technical or literary texts

• a higher rate for urgent work

Some translators may offer a discount for charities or for longer jobs.

Do check about VAT.

And check for any other fees, such as for:

revisions

complex formatting

late payment

Translators may charge an hourly rate for other types of work, e.g. proofreading.

Quality assurance makes your text sparkle

Before hiring, ask any translator you’re talking to what their quality assurance process is.

A professional service should always include:

drafting (may be AI generated)

redrafting

proofreading

These three basic steps are the building blocks of the translation process.

During these three stages, your translator should always check that:

• they understand the text themselves

• the translation is readable and the sentences flow like an original piece

• the meaning has been translated accurately throughout

• they’ve kept the required voice and style

• any specified terminology has been used

• the terminology is consistent throughout the text

• the grammar and spelling are correct

• the formatting follows the original exactly

Send your FINAL copy

Translation usually happens near the end of the process – when your original text is ready to go.

This avoids revisions, which can be costly and create room for error.

So send your FINAL copy for translation.

DO NOT change your original text after this.

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Ok. Life happens.

If revisions really can’t be helped, make things as easy as possible on your translator:

• Be clear what and where they are.

• Use track changes.

• And be ready for an additional fee.

Think fonts

In fact, think fonts right at the start of your process ... before you’ve written your original text!

Welsh has certain special characters. Two of these may not be supported by your choice of fonts. These characters are:

ŵ and  ŷ

You’ll likely want consistent brand fonts through all your texts, in all languages.

So make sure from the get-go that your brand fonts support all Welsh characters.

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These characters not possible? Is your brand font from before Welsh was on the radar for your organisation? There are some workarounds. But they’re far from ideal.

Hire a top translator who will point out problems like these and work with you to find a fix.

More tips in my separate blog post on fonts here.

To proof or not to proof

Your translator will have proofread their work before delivery.

But consider a second proofreading...

• If you plan to typeset the translation after delivery - this presents room for error.

• Or perhaps it’s a text for printing - an information board, say, or a book.

• Or maybe it’s a higher stakes text - perhaps a contract or a letter to the First Minister.

It's really for you to decide.

Each case is different. It’s your call.

If you do opt for it, you can hire your original translator again, or opt for a second pair of eyes.

Again - your call.

Either way, it’s the same advice about credentials.

Use a qualified person for a professional service.

Otherwise it’s like asking the student to mark the teacher’s work.

Publish with confidence

If you’ve followed all the steps in my guide to commissioning a Welsh language translation

(and ideally you’ve commissioned me!!)

Congratulations!

You can now publish your text with confidence that you’ve a brilliant piece of communication that does justice to your audience and helps your readers.

Tell me what YOU think

Agree (or disagree?!) with any of these?

Let me know your experience, or something else you’d like to know, something you’re unsure of… anything!

Or perhaps you’re looking to hire a top Welsh translator?

Get in touch or send me an email directly to post@idiom.cymru

Diolch am ddarllen!

(thank you for reading)