Frequently Asked Question
Your translation questions answered
Most of our customers are fellow professionals However, if you are one of the growing number of businesses and private individuals with little knowledge of the translation and interpreting field that HERT is happy to serve, the answers to some frequently asked questions may help you to place enquiries and work out specific needs.
Apart from the "source" language (the original language of the text) and the "target" language (into which it has to be translated), I need to know the type of document, the number of words, lines or pages, and how difficult or specialised it is (if you are unable to make that assessment yourself, I can help). I also need to know the purpose of the translation - is it for information or publication? - and the required delivery date. Any previous versions or glossaries are helpful.
These days, translations are normally received and returned as electronic files by e-mail. This has a number of advantages as overtyping enables the original fonts and layout to be retained and the customer can use the text without reformatting. However, translations from hard copies are still quite common. Documents requiring certification should be supplied in the original, others can delivered by fax.
The standard pricing basis in the UK is per thousand words (normally about 3.5 pages with 1.5 line spacing). Other countries use line or page rates, and I can accommodate either of these. If a text is very complex or specialised, or if it is done as a "rush" job at the customer's request, the price will be adjusted to reflect this.
I no longer accept credit cards due to lack of demand for the service. I can accept any currency, but GBP and EUR are the most frequent. I have Euro accounts in the UK and Germany.
A translator can normally handle around 2,000 words a day. Naturally, this varies according to the difficulty of the text and other factors such as legibility. Lead time also needs to be counted, a good translator is a busy translator and may not be able to start straight away.
A translator works with written texts, while an interpreter works with the spoken language.
For more information on placing a translation order, please visit the Institute of Translation and Interpreting website at http://www.iti.org.uk
