The Translation User's FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a "good" translation?
Will machine translation eventually replace human translators?
Is a bilingual individual automatically qualified to translate between his or her languages?
Should I choose an individual translator or a translation company for my translation project?
A translation bureau I contacted claims that they have 500 translators and that they handle all languages and all subject matters in house. Is that true?
What should I look for in a translation bureau?
Am I better served by a small or a large translation company?
What can I do to ensure quality translation of my text?
How is the cost of a translation calculated?
Is a more expensive translation necessarily a better one?
Why does my large translation project take so long to complete? Can't you just put more translators to work on it?

Q: Should I choose an individual translator or a translation company for my translation project?

While many translation companies are actually individuals incorporated for tax or marketing purposes, a full-service translation company is equipped to offer a broader range of services. It is not restricted to the particular skills of a single individual, but relies on a team consisting of both in-house talent and independent contractors that are carefully tested and selected for each particular project due to their expertise in a given area. When you buy translations from a reputable translation company, you pay for extra quality control and resources that are usually not available to an individual translator. If you need nothing more than a simple translation for information purposes, you may get better value from a competent individual translator. For demanding projects, however, where even the smallest mistake can be costly, and projects involving large volumes, several languages, tight deadlines, complex or unusual technical subjects, and typesetting, you'll need a full-service translation company.

Q: A translation bureau I contacted claims that they have 500 translators and that they handle all languages and all subject matters in house. Is that true?

No, it isn't. No translation business, not even the largest franchises, can afford to have translators in all imaginable combinations of languages and subject matters in house. The translation industry just doesn't work that way. All full-service translation bureaus rely on independent translators ("freelancers") for the majority of their work. What distinguishes reputable translation bureaus from "envelope switchers," i.e., merchants who buy translations from the cheapest available source and resell them at a hefty markup, is careful selection and testing of those independent contractors by a competent in-house core staff and a team approach to each translation job, whether in-house talent or outside experts are used for translation and editing.

Q: What should I look for in a translation bureau?

Translation bureaus come and go. In the United States the translation industry is not regulated, which means that any individual, regardless of his or her qualifications or financial strength, can open a business and call him/herself a "translation bureau." Many of these businesses established on shaky bases fail within their first years of existence, but not before they cause incalculable harm to unwary customers. Look for staying power; the number of years in the business will tell you about both the company's experience and its ability to satisfy a demanding and highly competitive market. 

Is translation the company's main business or is it an afterthought, while the bulk of its resources is sunk into language teaching, interpretation, graphic design, or other more or less related activities?

Ask about and check the qualifications and experience of the bureau's management, its references, as well as the human and technical resources of the business.