How should I work with a translator?

To work with a translator in obtaining translated written materials it is important to inform the translator who the target audience is. The source documents should be well written - with attention paid to grammar, punctuation and spelling - and should be proofread and/or spell-checked to eliminate typing errors. Avoid the use of puns or plays on words. Provide fuller definitions of titles, abbreviations and acronyms. If proper names are used it is important to provide translations of them, if available. If no documentation has been translated previously, it is beneficial to discuss methodology with the translator, otherwise copies of previous translations and the original source documents will assist the translator with names and terms already established. Discuss the project in advance with the translator and if you are going to be translating documents on an on-going basis, it is of inestimable advantage to build a relationship with the same translator/interpreter to ensure consistency.