A little research points to the possibility that many translation clients seeking professional services in African indigenous languages concentrate in the U.S, UK or South Africa and Kenya for almost all African languages and translation services.
This raises heads because why would a client requiring Amharic translation services (an indigenous languages to Ethiopia, a country in the East of Africa) have to outsource it all the way from the Western world or South Africa and not from Ethiopia itself.
Although South Africa should be given credit to have pioneered the translation ball in Africa, such services would be more efficient when handled by professionals from the very region or country the language in question comes from for purposes of utmost accuracy.
Yes, the world is a global village and therefore different people can get services required from almost anywhere especially with the technological advancements and thanks to the internet, as the services are always a click away. However, African Translation Services should be handled better, because they are more than 2000 of them out there. Each different from the other as part of the rich identity of the African continent.
Professionalism is key in such instances because languages are a communication tool and effective communication is essential for the world to run the way it should. This means that local Translation companies in Africa should outsource qualified translators, that is who have gone through qualified and qualitative training when it comes to the languages in question.
Speaking of languages, having native speakers for the African language/languages in question should be paramount for any Local Professional African Translations Company hoping to out compete on the global market. There is a plus that a native speaker adds to a translation project especially when they are conversant with the culture of the people or language where the language in question originates from.
To accompany the native argument, the translators hired by this African Translations Company have to at least specialize in a relevant field so to say. The field in question could be Medical, Academics, Clinical, Automotive, Finance just to give examples sine fields can be as many as there is aspects to life in general.
Experience is a word used too many times but this is because it is crucial because it is where new clients gather their confidence to trust a local Professional African Translations Company to handle their project. Perfectionism hasn’t been popular with Africa’s service providers in the past therefore, to have international clients and organizations trust one, there needs to be another client vetting for them. It is easier to go for services recommended by a credible source. Therefore, a Local Professional Translations Company should hunt for recognized institutions to offer them services for purposes of future recommendations and purposes.
In conclusion; it is time that Local Professional African translation Companies step up not only as a gaining venture, but also as a way of preserving their diverse languages and thus culture, for now and future generations to come. And what better way to have that done than by qualified and professional Africans living in those very regions where the languages in question are spoken?
By Angela Kyolaba
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