How to hire Urdu translators
Urdu is the official language of Pakistan. It is spoken predominantly in Pakistan and India. The next-largest communities of Urdu speakers can be found in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the USA. If you’re looking for a freelancer who can help you localize your business for Urdu-speaking communities, an Urdu translator can help.
So how do you hire Urdu translators? What follows are some tips for finding top Urdu translators on Upwork.
How to shortlist Urdu translation professionals
As you’re browsing available Urdu translation consultants, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the freelancers you may want to interview. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:
- Industry fit. You want a translator who can not only translate Urdu but also understands how to translate industry-specific lingo between languages.
- Communication. A translator needs strong written and verbal communication skills to ensure your message remains intact post-translation.
- Feedback Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular Urdu translator.
How to write an effective Urdu translation job post
With a clear picture of your ideal Urdu translator in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
An effective Urdu translation job post should include:
- Scope of work: From real-time Urdu-to-English translation to audio transcription, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer specific experience performing certain translation services, such as translating technical documents and user manuals, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Ready to bridge the communication gap between your business and Urdu-speaking communities? Log in and post your Urdu translation job on Upwork today.
URDU TRANSLATORS FAQ
What is Urdu?
Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language that is closely related to Hindi, with similar origins, phonology, and grammar. Urdu leans heavier on its Perso-Arabic roots, while Hindi leans closer to Sanskrit, but together they form the largest lingua franca spoken on the Indian subcontinent: Hindustani.
Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in Urdu translation freelancers:
- Urdu-to-English and/or English-to-Urdu translation
- CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools such as Workbench or MultiTrans
- Audio transcription (e.g., subtitles)
- Writing and grammar (English and Urdu)
- Specialist, technical, commercial, or industrial knowledge
- Strong understanding of how style, tone, and other cultural elements should be transferred between English and Urdu
Why hire Urdu translators?
The trick to finding top Urdu translators is to identify your needs. Is your goal to translate email templates for an automated email marketing campaign from English to Urdu? Or do you need help taking Urdu transcripts and translating them for English readers? The cost of your project will depend largely on your scope of work and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.
How much does it cost to hire an Urdu translator?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced Urdu translator may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their Urdu translation services more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.