Is it impossible to manage a multilingual project in 30 languages?

Managing a multilingual project always has its complexities, because even before the translation process can start the project manager has to ensure that several important aspects are taken into account. So, before starting any translation project, we have to ask ourselves the following questions:

FORMAT 

What kind of format are we dealing with? It is important to know what format the translators will be working with, and a computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool can be enormously useful during the file preparation process.

We may be dealing with a file format that includes all languages, like multilingual Excel files. In these cases, we can speed up the file preparation process by leveraging our CAT tool. Knowing what filters the tool offers is crucial when preparing a project, as it translates into huge savings of management time when it comes to the final delivery.

ANYTHING UNUSUAL?

Is there anything in the source text that needs to be treated with special attention? When managing a multilingual project it is always important to read the text before starting the translation process to make sure that there's nothing you need to clarify first with the client. There may also be certain terms or expressions in the source language that could create questions for the translators.

I remember a multilingual project in which the original text included the onomatopoeia “cri” as the sound a cricket makes. The sound created some uncertainty with our local translators, while it didn't mean anything in other languages and cultures. Cue the barrage of questions: What does "cri" mean? How do I translate "cri"? What does "cri" refer to? In these cases, it's best to explain the meaning of the expression to translators and ask them to adapt it as best as they can to their target languages.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GLOSSARY

Why is it important to create a glossary before sending the files to be translated? Glossaries always help, as they facilitate consistency, but when you're dealing with ongoing multilingual projects that require consistency over multiple translations, creating a glossary is essential.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that it is important to use the same translation team whenever possible for these types of projects. However, that might not always be possible. In these projects, glossaries play an even more essential role, so it is vital to send them to the entire team before starting the translation process.

WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM

Why is it important to share questions with the entire translation team? Project managers often receive questions from translators about the text they're translating. These questions might not be the same across all languages. However, keep in mind that it's important to share these questions with the entire team to ensure that every translator takes each question into consideration and confirms that their translation is correct. So tap into your generous side and remember: sharing is caring!

So, friends, these are the things that a project manager needs to bear in mind (or at least be aware of) before starting to manage a multilingual project. Once all these points are assessed, it's easier to lower the margin of error in a project like this...so don't put off until tomorrow what you can do on a project today!