Since the first copy of my book was published more than 8 years ago, it has gone through 6-translations and sold more than 75,000 copies and has been the target of praise. But despite the thousands of copies that have been sold there seems to be material in the book that is often over looked. Despite the many gratifying emails, letters, and telephone calls from around the world, I’ve discovered that most translator after reading the book default to the main concepts. Instead of reading all of the chapters, most readers only read the chapters that pertain to the title of the book. True to its promise, the book offers techniques about that classic art, but it does so for only two-thirds of its total pages. The other third is about proper layout, organization, attention to detail and presentations. I realize that this most readers don’t even know that this is included in the book.
The reason for emphasizing the document in French Translator agencies is that the text and language is much more important than graphics and illustrations. I think we all know that images alone do not make a speech. Just for fun, try to think of a time when you sat through a silent picture show that influenced you to go out and do something great. For example, think of some of the speeches that you have witnessed in your life that have been game changers in campaigns, sales pitches, Super Bowls, championships and more. How often did the presenter need to refer back to a PowerPoint presentation? What we are suggesting is that the oral content of a presentation will always have greater value to an audience than a few pictures. As a result, you can understand why we chose to devote most of this book to the accurate translation of written content and also include some content on delivering a presentation.
While text is king, I don’t think that the graphic designers need to rethink their career options and Portuguese Translation workers will continue using them. But regardless of what we think, PowerPoint is an unavoidable component of business presentations. Images and slides are just one tool that presenters can use to help simplify difficult ideas and convey thoughts that are often described as abstract. But while I’m not angry about the use of slides, I want students to use them correctly. Instead of making PowerPoint the main focus of a presentation, I think it should be a backseat strategy that is used for support. Students should have been taught earlier in their studies that slides and graphics should be used for support but not as a main method to convey your financial planning presentation, annual conference call, or strategic planning meeting.
Now we are beginning to see some of the issues experienced by some German Translator agencies. If we think back a few years then we can see why this has happened. Presentations originated as a form of communication back in the dark ages in the middle of the 20th century, when small peer groups within companies gathered around a flip chart perched on a rickety easel to exchange ideas. Back in those times, the flip chart of yesterday garnered as much attention as the speaker because all participants could see the information and direct questions about it. In addition, the notes that were written on it could be save for anyone who missed the meeting.