A professional translation should not read like a translation, but like an original text written by an expert writer.

 

Why should I pay for a professional, human translator?

 

Would you entrust your documents to just anyone? If you've spent a long time crafting the perfect copy, you want someone who can recreate that in English and do justice to your work.

 

There's a lot more to being a translator than being bilingual. Professional translators are more than this; they have received extensive training and are fluent in their specified languages, in addition to having excellent writing skills and subject knowledge.

 

Language by its very nature is context and culture-dependent and the time taken to translate your document will usually include some time spent researching terminology and the subject field, in order to deliver a document that is customer-ready. This level of service cannot currently be matched (not even close!) by machine translation.

 

A translator is a qualified language professional and expert writer. You can spot a suitably qualified translator by their experience, professional accreditation and/or academic qualifications.


More information for translation buyers can be found at http://www.iti.org.uk and in the booklets 'Translation - Getting It Right' and Buying a non-commodity

 

How long will the translation take?

 

A translator can translate around 2,000 words per day, on average. The exact timescale will depend on the particular job. I will discuss this with you.

 

How much will it cost?


I offer competitive pricing based on the format, size, urgency and complexity of your requirements. My prices are usually based on £ (or € or USD) per 1,000 words of source text (the language your document is written in). Visit the 'Contact' page to discuss your project specifications. Extra charges are applied for weekend and out of hours work.

 

What's involved? 

  1. I will ask for your project's specifications1, to make sure I'm the right person for the job. If I'm not the right person, I will point you in the right direction by recommending a trusted colleague

  2. Once I have received the project specifications, I will start by researching around the subject-matter and by getting a feel for your business/sector and the purpose of the translation

  3. I may then come back to you with questions before I begin the translation itself, and as I am writing the translation. I like to have a communicative relationship with my clients, as I strongly believe this will produce the best results

  4. I produce at least 2 drafts of my translations before editing and then proofreading the final copy

  5. I deliver the translation, on time and on budget

 

 

What about the confidentiality of my documents?

 

Your data and documents are kept secure and confidential throughout the whole process, and will never be disclosed to third parties without your prior consent. Client confidentiality is one of the prerequisites of my professional code of conduct.



Paper documents are stored in a locked cabinet at the end of each day, while their digital counterparts are stored on a password-protected computer and backed-up regularly to avoid data loss. I use a cross-cut shredder to dispose of all paper document once the translation is complete.

 

 

 

1By specifications I mean readership, purpose, deadline, price, subject-matter, source language and regional variation, format and volume.