"We've relied on Boardman & Williams translation services since 2014, and have had them translate everything from technical training manuals to our monthly newsletter. The service has been accurate and punctual, but what I appreciate most is the open and personal communication. If they need additional information to get the translation right, they're not afraid to ask or comment."
- Michael Bahr, Marketing Manager, LENSER Filtration GmbH
In addition to translating for private individuals, our practical experience thus far has come from work in extruded plastics manufacturing, the health insurance industry, museums, and the public policy sector. Every new translation job requires research into that industry's specialized vocabulary, both in English and in German. Research and the efficient utilization of print and online resources are skills we have honed at the university and continue to rely heavily upon to this day.
Accurate and reliable translation is difficult for computers because language is a uniquely human endeavor. Language is messy and ambiguous and subtle and context-dependent; half science and half artistic enterprise. These same qualities also pose problems for human translators, however. Assumptions are made during the translation process. Meanings are approximated and guessed at. Without the original author by their side, some of these guesses that the translator makes will inevitably be wrong.
It's not without reason that works of literature such as the Bible, War and Peace, or beloved poems have not merely one English translation, but several, sometimes even hundreds. Professor Douglas Hofstadter has translated Clément Marot's short poem, Le ton beau de Marot, into more than 80 different versions. The task was made all the more challenging by the fact that Clément Marot has been dead for over 450 years.
The key to accurate translation is working as closely as possible with the original author. "Working closely" here means two things. Firstly, it means open communication with the author or someone who can speak on behalf of the author's intentions. Secondly, it means developing a long-term relationship between the translator and the company or individual having the translation done. We try to work as closely as possible with our clients when translating for them. For especially sensitive/critical translations, we even recommend doing the translation on location, working side-by-side with the author or someone who can represent the author's intent.
"Luke Boardman translated all of the texts for our exhibits and displays. This included descriptions of renowned works of art as well as cultural-historical context. In addition, he also translated all of the accompanying audio guides. We are very satisfied with the results. The cooperation was excellent and uncomplicated; Luke Boardman always responded quickly and reliably and he was able to deliver urgent translations promptly."
- Dr. Isabel Greschat, Director, Museum of Bread and Art
