The translations industry

Soon after Maltese was accepted as an official EU language, Fenlex Corporate Services started to investigate the possibility of entering the world of translation. It soon became evident through initial research that without the appropriate know-how it would not be possible to offer the EU the quality of service it expects.

We therefore went to the market to seek partners, as we normally do when lacking the internal resources to manage a project. However, we could not find a firm in Malta with the requisite knowledge and direct experience working with EU institutions.

Fortunately, we were introduced to a London-based firm that had the profile we were looking for. Inter-Com Translations work in 100 languages, manage over 2,500 freelance translators and have an impressive international client base. More importantly, they have almost 10 years' experience as a supplier of translations to EU institutions and know the procedures and processes to be followed. Even better, there is a Maltese connection as one of their partners, Patrick Beacom, has Maltese parentage.

It did not take us very long to realise there was an opportunity here to be taken.

Early in 2003, an EU delegation visited Malta to announce several calls for tenders for the provision of Maltese translations to the European Commission, the European Parliament and other EU institutions. This was the cue for us, together with our partner, to incorporate a company: Lexicom Translation Services Limited.

From the outset, Lexicom's objective was to be a leading force in the birth of the Maltese translation industry. One thing we agreed to immediately was never to compromise on quality and only take on EU work (subject, of course, to winning a contract) once we are happy we have a team of translators that is well trained for the specific task that lay ahead. We are drawing heavily on the experience of Inter-Com - as a respected name on the international translations market and most especially as a long-term supplier to EU institutions - to help raise the quality of Maltese translations up to international standards.

Lexicom's first task was to submit various tenders to the EU in 2003. Putting an EU tender document together is a major project in itself, with explanations and descriptions expected in minutest detail. More than five typing errors in the 50-page presentation leads to automatic disqualification! Our second challenge was to recruit the freelance translators required for our bids, with over 450 applicants interviewed and 200 contracted.

The third major task was to put together a training programme to prepare our team members to handle EU translations. It is important to remember that on the international market a translator normally has to study and practise for a minimum of six years before being considered sufficiently experienced. We have had to compress it into six months! This has been by far the biggest challenge, handled, I must say, expertly and professionally by our partners from Inter-Com: Mr Beacom and Daniela Sambati together with the untiring support of our Jutta Wenzel.

To ensure that the training course fulfils our quality aspirations, we recruited top class trainers and experts in the Maltese language. But before the training of our translators could begin, we first had to instruct our trainers and provide constant and ongoing guidance on EU-specific translations. This is where Inter-Com's experience has been most valuable.

Lexicom decided to be proactive and started training six months prior to EU accession, even though the results on the EU call for tenders had not yet been announced. Since November 2003, we have had 150 translators training in five classes, each meeting twice a week.

This has not been without sacrifice for our translators - we have to make sure training is rigorous, aiming high in quality. But the effort has paid dividends: the standard and quality of their work has improved in leaps and bounds over the months. Of course, it would be foolish not to expect further difficulties and obstacles on the way - this is after all an industry in its embryonic stages in Malta - but we are confident that the local industry will not take long to reach international standards.

One enormous obstacle to contend with on a daily basis remains the one of Maltese terminology databases or, should I say, the lack of them. Adding to the confusion are the different camps among Maltese linguists, who often seem to be diametrically opposed to one another! Until the powers that be provide clearer linguistic guidance, Lexicom have adopted the EU's stance on such linguistic divergence, that is, accepting all published forms of a language. We have thus turned a problem to our advantage by fuelling debate among our trainers and translators, seeing what options are available in relation to specific terminology and allow each translator to develop his own style.

Back in January 2003, the visiting EU delegation indicated that results of their calls for tenders would be announced by autumn of the same year. Due to the well-publicised difficulties the EU encountered recruiting translators to set up the Maltese department in Brussels and Luxembourg, the results for Maltese language bids were delayed again and again despite the fact that contracts had already been announced for all the other official languages. Our training course continued throughout this uncertain period and keeping over 200 people motivated and focused all this time has been a mammoth task.

Hard work usually does pay off, though. A few days ago we received the news that we have been waiting for: Lexicom were awarded contracts in the 27 categories we bid for from English, French and German into Maltese. This in addition to the contract we won earlier this year for translations from Maltese into English, for which our bid classified as the best in terms of the quality/ price ratio used by the Commission.

We do not usually like to blow our own trumpets, but all the effort put in by our translators, the trainers, our partners and staff cannot go unnoticed.

All the negative media attention given to translators over the past year completely overlooks the fact that until now there was hardly any demand for Maltese translations. It takes time to form a good translator and we must all be patient. Things might have got off to a better start if those who got involved in Maltese translations had first sought advice from others with experience in the industry. Despite all this negativity, however, it is important not to forget that there are many talented people on our islands who, with the right training and support, can give a real boost to the translations industry in Malta.