The Question Is: What makes a good Korean translator?

A top translator, besides being proficient in both Korean and English, must have a special talent for language, have special training in linguistics, and professional expertise in a given field in order to be well versed in the idioms of that particular subject matter. At LanguageTran we choose our Korean translators based on the following criteria:

1. If the translation is into Korean, they must be native speakers

To be able to produce a good translation the translator must certainly be a native speaker. The relationship between a speaker or writer and his or her subject and audience is crucial in Korean, and the grammar and writing style reflects this relationship. Korean uses a system of honorifics expressed in the choice of special nouns or verb endings to show the status of the speaker or writer in relation to the listener or reader. In general terms, a person holds a superior status if he or she is an older relative, a stranger of about the same or older age, or a teacher, an employer, a customer, and so on. In addition to using the correct honorific grammar, the writer must use the appropriate speech level in verb endings that indicates the level of formality of the text. Since there are seven levels of formality in Korean, each with its own unique set of verb endings, Korean translators must necessarily have the spontaneous response to his/her audience that can only be achieved by a native speaker.

2. Good writers, good linguists

Even for a native speaker, considerable aptitude for language plus a consistent background of Korean and English language training beyond high school are needed for a language professional to have complete mastery of both Korean and English. As a professional in translation, the expert must also have training in linguistics and formatting and demonstrate an artistry for capturing the entire meaning and tone of a given text.

3. Detail oriented

The professional Korean translators on our team at LanguageTran are dedicated to delivering quality Korean translation paying a great deal of attention to every detail of grammar, usage, diction, format and style. Consultation with several translators and editors is often necessary to insure the accuracy and correct tone of your translation into Korean.

4. Three years of training (minimum)

Professional Korean translators for specialized fields, such as engineering translations, legal translations, or medical translations, must have the appropriate professional background in order to deal with the technical vocabulary. Translations of material for marketing or the media also requires relevant experience to capture the appropriate idiomatic vocabulary and style for the target audience. Whatever the nature of your translation project, LanguageTran will draw upon a highly trained translator to meet your needs.

5. Relevant experience

Very often translation projects come under a very specialized field, for example: engineering documents, licensing contracts, safety manuals for the operation of a certain type of machinery. LanguageTran has the right team of professional Korean translators for any size project.

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LanguageTran is a translation company offering a wide variety of translation services, including legal translations, technical translations and certified translations. If you need onsite service or electronic service anywhere, call us toll free at 1-888-253-9580 and we will assist you. Our home office is located in Austin, Texas, with resources to serve companies throughout the United States and other countries, including New York, New York.; Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; San Antonio Texas; San Jose, California; Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana and Detroit, Michigan, among many others.