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: Am I better served by a small or a large translation company?

Most translation companies are single-individual or mom-and-pop businesses. In this industry, a company with 5-10 employees is "medium-sized" and one with 20 employees is "large." While there are competent businesses among both large and small companies, your translation is more likely to get the attention it deserves in a company where translator and management are not separated by several administrative layers. Experience has shown that medium-sized translation companies, owned and managed by translators, can best balance hands-on attention to each individual job and the resources needed for producing high-quality work with high productivity at a reasonable cost.

Q: What can I do to ensure quality translation of my text?

Press here    for the answer.

Q: How is the cost of a translation calculated?

In the United States translations are normally charged for by the word. While this practice may vary somewhat between one service provider and another, final charges are usually based on the computer word count of the finished translation. If a firm quote is required prior to the start of the translation work, the "target" word count is estimated from the "source" word count using expansion or contraction factors based on the translation provider's experience. The per-word rate normally depends on the language combination (translations into and from Chinese, Japanese, and languages of limited diffusion cost more than translations involving the major European languages), the degree of technical difficulty, formatting requirements, and deadlines. "For publication" quality usually commands a premium for the extra proofreading and editing steps involved. 

In the United States, expect to pay US$15 to US$40 or more per one hundred words of translation, depending on the above factors and the price structure of the individual translation provider. A "minimum charge," whichmay vary from one supplier to another, is paid for small jobs to cover adminstrative expenses. Advertising and other special translations are often charged on a per-job basis. Editing-proofreading and some other translation-related jobs may be charged on a per-hour basis.