English Manuals .... bad translation...!?!

[falther]

Do you know the situation, where you badly need an explanation of a function
or how to proceed with the new installed software and/or hardware tool?

Then you surch in the manual from start to end and dont find it. You have
following options:

- try and error with software / tool
- ask the manufacturer (expecting being told to be blind or dum ...)
- try synonyms of the words (expressions) you are looking for
- if you speak the producers language, translate their expression into english
word by word to find the meaning

The most displeasing manuals are those with big and bloomy explanations, where
sentenses are so long, that one forgot the start when arriving at the end.
Then, when you reach the end of the paragraph, you have (usually) to start all
over again - two or three times - to understand it (perhaps).

Thats where I start to be angry. It could usually be explained in one sentens
in one line.

About manuals and bad translations one could read and hear allready thousand
stories. I would like to point to our business and to the manufacturers of the
tools for us.

Please, dear collegues of the manufacturers, please ask your collegues in sales
that they not only have a friend or a friend of a friend translate into english,
but let translate from a native english speaking person with technical background
and understanding ---> and being firm in english grammar (!!!).

Competition in this market is growing and those companies whow are willing to
spend "the few bucks more (Euros/Rubels/Dollars etc)", will gain more business.

And sorry to say, a correct translation demonstrates not only the respect for your
customers, but also a higher level of your company not only in the technical field.

+++
Walter

[Creator]

Maybe the real problem caused with your personal understanding?
I've nevel feel the problems with translation of the manual to my native language from english. You just need a little imagination. As I could see your english is also far from perfect, mine too, and the most people here speaks not perfectly.

[BlackST]

Get the originals and ask a native speaker to translate it. It doesn't cost that much...