Frequently asked:

How can I tell whether your translation company is trustworthy?

You will only be able to know this ahead of time if someone suggests an agency to you. The industry of translation is still rather young and uncontrolled. The same is true of translators: there are good translators and lousy translators. Access to the field is unrestricted, and anybody can advertise themselves as a translator without having received any formal training. On the other side, this level of autonomy also keeps the industry vibrant and attractive. However, membership in our professional organization does provide some assurance of quality. The easiest method to determine whether our agency is trustworthy is to look at its list of clients and inquire with coworkers, friends, and other acquaintances about their experiences.

Do I need to submit my text in a specific format?

The translation process can be significantly sped up if the source text is provided digitally so the translator can examine it in a separate window on his or her screen. The fact that the document may be read by the translation software is another advantage of submitting it digitally. Various tools aid the translator in using terminology consistently throughout the document, even if it does not actually generate the translation. In this regard, the type and format of the document do have an impact on the translation's quality.

Do you translate projects in draft form?

This may be a challenging problem. Many clients ask us to begin translating incomplete manuscripts that they want to improve later in order to save time. Although there are situations when there is no other choice, it is generally advisable to attempt to polish your writing before sending it to us. Since incorporating changes requires a lot of time, it may result in needlessly higher expenses, especially for multilingual projects with complicating factors. Additionally, it makes the text more susceptible to mistakes.

Why are translation and delivery times different from one another?

Production time simply refers to how long it takes the translator to complete the translation, assuming that they can begin immediately and work uninterruptedly. On the other hand, we focus strongly on the caliber of the files we generate and go through a thorough editing process with each piece. The delivery time invariably takes longer than the manufacturing time due to the extra care needed to ensure the final product's quality.

Do short words like "a/an" or exclamations affect the cost?

Another question that frequently comes up is this one. Yes, these words do count as well. Typically, translators utilize the word-count function in their word processing program to compute their rates based on the total number of words. The word count function, of course, counts each and every word without discrimination. We would naturally be pushed to increase our own prices if we had to take the effort to filter out these units. Given the variations between British and US English, the use of the definite or indefinite article is also problematic. Thus, even seemingly simple terms like these can demand careful consideration.

Why do some languages require more words to convey the same idea?

Simply said, certain languages are more "verbose." A French translation, for instance, will frequently be substantially lengthier than the original English text. However, compared to Dutch, English may use words far more sparingly.

What does certified translation mean and when is it required?

A translation created by a professional translator is referred to as a certified translation. This refers to a translator who is qualified to interpret specific official documents because of his or her education and work experience and because they have taken an oath in court. For specific purposes, the authorities in several nations need certified translations. In a strict sense, accreditation offers no assurance regarding the caliber of the translator. In actuality, a lot of talented translators choose not to pursue certification.

What makes working with native speakers based in their home countries more preferable to me?

Our company's philosophy is to only use native speakers for all of our translations, which we define as translators who have grown up speaking the target language. We also think it's crucial to collaborate with translators who reside and are employed in a nation where the target language is a recognized official language. This is due to the fact that native speakers who relocate abroad frequently discover that their command of their own language becomes "polluted" if they constantly hear a foreign language. The greatest approach to verify that a translation's language and terminology are accurate is to live and work in a place where the target language is actually spoken.

What languages are presented at your agency?

We have access to our own network of vetted professional translators, just like any other agency that provides translation services in any language. For instance, we are able to provide clients with Japanese translations despite the fact that none of our internal staff members know the language. We do this by contracting Japanese-speaking translators in our network to handle every step of the process, from translation through final editing and proofreading. We are able to consistently offer our customers the highest quality at competitive prices because of our comprehensive revision procedure.

What is localization?

In general, localization refers to the conversion and adaption of a document to local needs. For instance, translating a contract alone is frequently insufficient; the translation must also be reviewed against local laws and regulations, which frequently calls for the help of a lawyer. The concept of localization also includes the conversion of weights and measures. When those working in the translation business use the term "localization," they typically refer to the process of adapting software for usage in another nation. In addition to translation, this procedure also involves translating layouts, graphics, plug-ins, program codes, units, etc.