When Kentucky Fried Chicken translated their slogan “Finger lickin' good” into Chinese, it came out as “Eat your fingers off”! The right words, said the wrong way.
This amusing but potentially brand-disastrous example demonstrates how vital it is to translate the meaning, not merely the words. Today’s reality is that literal translation no longer meets the market when the use of colloquialisms and modern interpretation of language can create far better understanding and more positive response within the global marketplace.
Your chosen translation service provider should provide accurate, market-friendly print and voice-over translation services for every possible application – print media, multilingual websites, voice-over recording, simultaneous translation and interpretation for court cases, meetings and presentations. They should also have the capability to provide voice-over services in virtually every language, regardless of whether they do the initial translation. In every instance, they must make sure that clarity of communication and easy-understanding are the first checkpoints.
Working with foreign languages is an increasingly important aspect of New Zealand's drive in export growth and in our relationships abroad, and with our immigrant communities. Interfacing basic translation with today’s fast-evolving communication tools puts our clients that vital step ahead in highly-competitive global markets.
Understanding is knowledge. And the clearer the understanding, the better the knowledge. Every word must count, communicate and contribute to your success wherever your voice is heard in the world.
