Bilingual Publications

Spanish language visitor guide to San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

In the past Harpers Ferry Center has produced foreign-language versions of selected park brochures. Because of constraints on budget and staff, we are rarely able to do this now. Below is information on procedures and costs for obtaining a foreign language version of a park brochure.

Planning for Success: Developing a Script & Design

Involve management and public contact staff early in the process.

Keep it simple; keep it general.

Be sure that your original English version:

• is clearly written.
• deals with metric conversions and other specifics consistently.
• deals with subject matter in a generalized way (to avoid immediate translation changes).
• addresses unique considerations by language; minimizes English colloquialisms.
• Use graphics liberally—pictures communicate in any language.

Finding a Translator

Ask the right questions of potential translators.

• native speaker?
• which dialect?
• formal education in a country where the language is spoken?
• their view/definition of audience/reader?

Make your specifications for translation quotes as detailed as possible.

• number of words
• proposed layout and output desired (diskette, paper, film)
• second party reviews
• special considerations

How much will the translator cost?

Coordinating a Review

Review is essential—ideally from someone who knows both the language and your facility/site.

Compensation for reviewer(s)—honoraria or other.

Selected Translation Resources

University Language Departments:

Contact individual foreign language departments; some offer translation services while others provide names of students who do freelance translation. Sometimes a professor is searching for “real world” projects for students to translate.

For Federal Agencies:

U.S. Government Printing Office

Any GPO office (central or regional) will write or have written contracts for translation as part of typesetting or desktop publishing contracts; talk to your regional GPO office.

For National Park Service:

Office of International Affairs, National Park Service (202-354-1807).

• Skills roster for foreign language reviews