What is survey translation and how much does it cost?

24th February 2020

Survey translation is a critical tool for businesses to gain valuable customer insights and helps make the right investment decisions. There are various types of surveys business can ask their clients to complete.

By accurately translating surveys into multiple languages, organisations can expand their reach and ensure inclusivity, ultimately leading to more meaningful insights. There are various types of surveys business can ask their clients to complete. These include, but are not limited to, customer satisfaction surveys, product feedback, consumer research and employee engagement.

The quality of any market survey translation will have a great impact on the response and completion rates as well as turnaround time.

In this article, we will explore the concept of survey translation, its importance and factors influencing its cost. Additionally, we will provide valuable tips for optimising the translation process, resulting in improved quality and cost-effectiveness.

What is survey translation and how much does it cost?

Understanding survey translation

Survey translation involves converting survey materials, such as questionnaires, instructions and response options, from one language to another. It requires not only linguistic skills but also cultural sensitivity to ensure the translated content maintains its intended meaning across different cultures and contexts.

Importance of accurate survey translation

  1. Increased data reliability: accurate survey translation ensures that respondents fully understand the questions, allowing for more reliable and unbiased data collection.
  2. Cultural relevance: translating surveys into the local language ensures cultural relevance, as respondents can provide answers that align with their cultural norms and values.
  3. Expanded reach: by offering surveys in multiple languages, organisations can engage with diverse communities, leading to broader participation and more representative data.

The main considerations when translating a survey include:

1. The tone and style of the question

Questions can be confusing, misleading and often one-sided. Your customers will get frustrated if they can’t answer the question the way they want to, so getting them right is vital. Since every language is different, so is the way of asking questions. Some are more direct than others and this has to be taken into consideration to ensure good engagement and high completion rates.

2. The speed of response

Surveys are often used in a new product development process, offering a new service, entering a new market or before making internal, companywide changes. Because this data is invaluable and required before making further business decisions, the need for speedy translation is in high demand. Here, at Foreign Tongues, we offer 24-hour turnarounds so you don’t have to wait around.

3. Cultural differences in survey responses

The bottom line is, there is no such thing as one survey fits all. Cross-cultural differences can lead to misinterpretation; what works for the UK audience, will not work in, say, China. Surveys can gather valuable data, but how you word the questions is what matters foremost. It’s also important to have a good command of the language, slang and terminology used to obtain the best possible results. Our translators are able to localise questions based on cultural traits and behaviours.

4. Supporting documents translation

If a market survey is conducted online, a translation company should also consider translating all supporting materials such as introduction email, instructions and website content.

Factors influencing the cost of survey translation

The translation cost is dependent on several factors including:

  1. Language combination: the cost of survey translation can vary depending on the language combination involved. Commonly spoken and geographically close languages generally have a larger pool of qualified translators, reducing costs.
  2. Word count: the length and complexity of the survey content affect the overall cost. More extensive surveys or those with specialised terminology may require additional time and resources for translation.
  3. Timeline: urgent translation requests often incur higher costs, as they may require translators to prioritise the project or work overtime to meet tight deadlines.
  4. Subject matter and its complexity: the subject matter of survey translation involves converting the content of the survey, including questions, response options, instructions and any accompanying materials, into the target language while preserving the original meaning and intent. This process requires professional linguistic and cultural expertise to ensure that the translated survey is not only grammatically correct but also culturally appropriate and relevant to the target audience. In addition to linguistic accuracy, translators must consider factors such as question length, response format and the overall flow of the survey to ensure that the translated version maintains the same structure and comprehensibility as the original
  5. Other factors include the format of the documents required and end-use.

Tips for optimising survey translation process

  1. Plan ahead: provide Foreign Tongues with documents including text that requires translation and sufficient time to complete the task. Rushed translations may compromise accuracy and quality.
  2. Maintain consistency: develop a glossary of key terms and style guidelines to ensure consistency across the survey and subsequent translations.
  3. Cultural adaptation: translators should possess cultural knowledge to adapt the survey content appropriately for different target audiences. By using Foreign Tongues, you can be sure cultural aspect is included in your end product.
  4. Quality assurance: implement a review process to ensure accuracy, clarity, and coherence in the translated survey. Proofreading by a second translator can help catch any errors or inconsistencies. This can be added as an addition to your translation quote.

Conclusion

Survey translation is a critical component of gathering accurate and inclusive data from diverse populations. By investing in professional survey translation services, organisations can enhance the reliability and relevance of their survey research.

While costs may vary depending on factors such as language combination, word count and timeline, optimizing the translation process can contribute to improved quality and cost-effectiveness. With careful planning, cultural sensitivity and a focus on accuracy, organisations can unlock the full potential of survey translation in obtaining meaningful insights.

Please contact us today for an accurate quote.

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