Korean Translation Services

In the past Korean Translation Services were more involved in Mandarin and European languages as South Korea’s exports to China and Europe were doing well. Now, with South Korea looking towards increasing exports to the United States, Korean Translation Services, into English, is set to rise again.

As in any translation not just Korean Translation Services, it’s worth our time to understand the culture as well as the language. It helps us to understand why the end result of Korean Translation Services sounds strange to the English reader even though it’s in English!

To begin with, the Korean communication style is defined by its cultural values. As the source documents for most Korean Translation Services are from Korean, the first draft of the translation tends to adopt the Korean communication style as well.

So, what is the usual Korean communication style that can affect the translation that is done by a Korean Translation Services provider. The Korean values that are instilled in its communication style is usually indirectness, honor, and respect.

So what is wrong with adopting the Korean communication style in the translation done by Korean Translation Services providers? There is nothing wrong in terms of accuracy of the translation that is done by such Korean Translation Services providers. However, a westerner such as an American would rather have clear, specific and straightforward Korean into English translations from the Korean Translation Services providers.

On the other hand, should a Westerner wishes to translate his correspondences to South Koreans, he or she would really have to apply the Korean communication style and values to connect smoothly to his Koreans network by choosing a native Korean Translation Services provider preferably. At this point, the Korean Translation Services provider may ask the client to provide details of the status of the mentioned persons in the source documents if it’s not obvious. The Korean Translation Services provider can then add his or her final touches of the Korean communication style to perfect the translation. 

Why do I need to provide the details of the status?  A perfect translation done in an English to Korean Translation Services would present the relationships of all mentioned parties in a manner so as not to cause them to “lose face”. Examples of other elements seen in a higher quality of English to Korean Translation Services provider is seen in the effort of converting harsh criticisms into the ‘Informing’ style so that it is implied and not overtly offensive in the eyes of the Korean reader.

It is quite clear that the quality of translation is dependent on the Korean Translation Services provider’s ability to apply the culture and communication style of the recipient reader. Therefore, it is important that the right Korean Translation Services provider is chosen.

Choosing a Korean Translation Services provider where the supply is short is rather difficult. However, we can always lean on a few rational criteria in selecting a Korean Translation Services provider.

In my opinion, established globally based Korean Translation Services providers would have more native and non-native Korean translators to provide better quality translations as they handle more Korean Translation Services. These established globally based Korean Translation Services providers would also have some form of checks and balances, such as Korean proofreaders and editors in various fields to ensure a higher quality of translations are delivered.

And that’s just my opinion, which I hope will be of some help to any reader who wishes to engage a Korean Translation Services provider.