Translation FAQ

‘Translator’ shall mean the party providing a translation work to the translation agency. He is the creator of a translation unless there are instructions from the translation agency that the translation work will be subcontracted, or the translator customarily trades as an intermediary, or the translator customarily distribute the work with his team members. Should I choose a translator or a translation agency for my project? There are many reasons to choose a translation agency:

1. Your text has very complex formatting
2. You need the text translated into many different languages
3. You need additional services (such as desktop publishing, voiceover etc.). Agencies can act as one-stop shops, thus covering whatever linguistic needs you might have.
4. You have a very large document that needs to be translated and you need it within the next few hours or days, plus quality is an important factor. Agencies usually have hundreds of translators in their databases, so they can find several translators to split your text and get it translated very fast and appropriately.

Reasons to choose a translator:

1. You have direct communication with the person translating your documents (for questions, alterations in text etc.)
2. In cases of long-term cooperation, there is consistency in terminology and the translator is well familiarized with your products/services, as well as your preferences as to the style of the text
3. The cost is usually much lower (30-50%), because there is no intermediary (agency) or project manager involved, even if you need third-party proofreading (most translators cooperate with colleagues who can provide the additional service)
4. It’s easier to check the translator’s references than the agency’s, plus even if you are satisfied with the agency’s references, you still can’t be sure which translators are going to work on your project.

Translation involves the transfer of meaning from a source language text (the source language being the language in which documents were originally created) to a target language text (the language in which the end users of the documents will read). Traditionally, the translation process has at least three steps: Translation, Editing and Proofreading,which call upon the translation skills of a translator, but not copy writing or adaptation.

Localization involves not just translating, which is the transfer of meaning into another language, but also the adaptation of specific content to conform to the standards of a language and a language community (the locale). Examples of localization are the re-sizing and re-designing of graphic content, formatting dates, figures, symbols and measurements, and adapting content to display properly in a foreign language or dialect.

A web site or web application is localized when a replicate of such a web site or web application is created in one or several foreign languages. Web sites and applications may be developed using several programming languages. For some of these, such as Flash presentations, localization may require they be re-created in each foreign language. All web sites and applications must be internationalized before they can be localized. Clients requesting web localization must share all original files with the translation services provider so that a proper analysis can be conducted and an accurate quote can be issued. Web sites are localized using Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools. This is not the same thing as machine translation. These tools allow translators to manipulate programming codes from web sites and web applications without any programming knowledge, while preserving the source code integrity. As a result, a mirror web site or web application can be created in the target languages. The 10 steps involved in a typical web localization project are:

1. File analysis
2. Terminology mining and glossary creation
3. File and translation memory preparation
4. Distribution of CAT files to translators for translation and editing
5. Post-translation file processing (files in the original programming languages are now in foreign languages)
6. Recompiling localized web site or application files
7. Testing of web site or application for functionality and linguistic issues
8. Bug correction
9. Final testing
10. Final release

Clients receive an exact replica of their original web site or application for deployment on a server.

In the language services industry, globalization implies preparing materials in a particular source language for translation and localization into other languages. Steps in the globalization process include, but are not limited to:

• Market penetration viability and feasibility studies
• Selection and training of international staff
• Availability of support in-language for end-users of any translated and localized materials (such as customer service in foreign languages)
• Use of controlled language (i.e., following certain guidelines to avoid culturally-biased content and provide consistent style and terminology in the source language)

The internationalization process consists of preparing materials such as packaging, graphics, software and web sites for proper display in foreign languages. For instance, the character set on a web site must be set to support the alphabets of the languages in which materials are to be localized. In addition, currency, dates and database-driven variables must be prepared for software localization. What industries does Lingvopedia cover for its translations? At Lingvopedia, we provide comprehensive and customized language solutions to enable precise global communication for your industry-specific needs. Our one-stop solutions are cost effective, swift and flexible. We focus on understanding your requirements and providing on-time, top quality services that you can rely on in the following domains: Advertisement & Market Research Business & Finance Clinical & Medical Education & Academic Gaming & Video Gaming Legal & Certified Real Estate & Architecture Scientific & Life Sciences Software & IT Technical & Engineering Tourism & Immigration There are free translations tools online, why can’t I just use one of those? If you need a quick translation of your text to understand the gist (although even that isn’t possible most of the times), then sure you can. Google Translate is one of the top online tools at the moment, you can give it a try. However, if you want to be sure to understand the text or the text is intended for publication for whatever reason (marketing material, user manual, product leaflet etc.), then you shouldn’t consider using a Machine Translation (MT) tool. A quick look on the Internet at some of the machine-translated websites will give you an idea what your text will look like. Do you use computer software to do my translation? We provide professional human translation services. However, we use computer technology like CAT tools extensively to work faster, smarter, and cost-effectively. Translations through software can only provide a basic understanding of the text and not a professional look.

Computer Assisted Translation is a process enabled by tools such as a translation memory program, a terminology management application, or a software localization application. Computer Assisted Translation is very different from machine translation. This is a human process in which human translators or localization engineers utilize tools to make their work more effective and faster while preserving consistency and ensuring overall quality.

Computer Assisted Translation tools enable an entire localization team and/or a single human translator to build a database of translations as they work on a project. These tools can aid in several different processes, including initial analysis of the file(s) to be translated (word count, number of repetitions, percentage of text with similarities, to name a few), leveraging translation as the text is translated, protecting formatting codes, reducing review time, and aiding in consistency checks. Some applications within CAT tools allow also for terminology management, alignment of older translations to build new translation memories, and creation of specific configurations for preserving the integrity of web documents during translation.

A translation memory is a database of translation units or segments consisting of source and target languages. A translation memory may have a single source and one or several target languages. When a project is being translated for the first time, no previous translation memory exists from any documents. Therefore, a new translation memory (an empty database) is created. The fields delimiting this database are set up at the beginning of a project, before any translation has taken place, and while the database itself remains empty. Several fields may be set up for the users of a translation memory, such as user IDs, the date and time at which a segment was created or changed, whether multiple versions of a translated segment should be kept or overwritten, and the threshold for finding similar translation segments (“fuzzy matches”) in an existing memory. What Kinds of Qualifications do Translators, Editors and Proofreaders have? A competent, professional translator must have at a minimum:

• A high degree of proficiency in both the source and target languages
• Formal education in both languages
• Analytical skills
• Expert-level knowledge of a subject matter
• Expert-level knowledge of both source and target cultures

The output of a professional translator demonstrates accuracy, precision, correctness, completeness and consistency. A professional translator knows translation standards, and translation methodology. A professional translator understands the meaning of terms such as context (finding the appropriate equivalent in a target language based on content), register (the reading level and style of the source, which should be mirrored in the target text) and term validation (verifying the actual use of an equivalent in the target language, as opposed to simply relying on. A professional editor has all of the qualities outlined above, plus a great degree of experience, to be able to evaluate and improve upon the work of his/her peers. A proofreader may be the last person looking at a translated text, to see if it reads correctly and naturally in the target language (for instance, the client reviewer). It can also be the person that checks for completeness, format and punctuation (galley proofing). This person needs to have an understanding of the target language. The galley proofreader needs to understand the formatting norms for a specific language. How do I judge the quality of work done by Lingvopedia if I don’t know the languages being translated? Lingvopedia provides with professional & accurate translations at a competitive rate and reduces the possibility of dissatisfaction in terms of quality work. The work translated is proofread by a proofreader which helps to maintain quality of the work. Show trust on the work that we have done for you and if wanted by Well, trust does play a big role when working with a translation vendor, but it helps when steps are taken to guarantee quality every time.

Our company abides by the industrial standards of regular practice followed by forums and associations like Proz, ATA, GALA . We have an internal Quality Assurance process that begins at the recruiting stages with very specific criteria and testing, and continues with input from editors, in-house personnel, and client reviewers as applicable. For clients in regulated industries, we work solely with certified translators for those languages in which certification is available. When certification is not available for a particular language combination, we offer a company-issued certificate of accuracy. Can I request a test translation? Yes. We will gladly perform a test translation of 250 words or less at no charge. Should you require a longer sample, the extra number of words will be quoted accordingly.

This varies widely depending on your project, but here are some general guidelines: the online form covers what ever is required and if some additional information is required it will be communicated through a telephonic conversation or via e-mail.

Lingvopedia uses a word count to calculate translation costs. The word count is of the source language. The cost of projected is also based on the customization and the type of translation. For example : technical translation cost will differ from a simple translation.

Lingvopedia gives you an option to upload your document on our website for a word count or otherwise the word count can be done by clicking on tools in Ms Office which have an option of a word count. Else, a free version of Any Count Software can be downloaded for client word count reference.

Every project is different. We would like to have the opportunity to evaluate your needs and see how we can help you meet them. Acting as your business partner, we will price your projects based on their scope, and you can rest assured that our rates will be competitive, commensurate with the attention and high quality you’d expect from a professional translation team. When evaluating translation agencies, as in every business, quality must come first. In the world of translation, extremely low prices often indicate the lack of a quality assurance process. In general we price per word or per page for all the translation projects.

In general 1 translator of Lingvopedia can translate 1500 words per working day but delivery date or TAT agreed between Lingvopedia and the Client shall become binding only after we have seen or heard all of the Source Material to be translated and has received complete instructions from the Client. What is the confidentiality and safe-keeping policy of the client’s documents? No documents for translation shall be deemed confidential unless this is expressly stated by the Client. However we shall at all times exercise due discretion in respect of disclosure to any Third Party of any information contained in the Client’s original documents or translations thereof without the express authorization of the Client. Nevertheless a third party may be consulted over specific translation terminology queries, provided that there is no disclosure of confidential material. We shall be responsible for the safe-keeping of the Client’s documents and copies of the translations, and shall ensure their secure disposal. If requested to do so by the Client, we shall insure documents in transit from the Translation Agency, at the Client’s expense. What are the copyrights of translations? In the absence of a specific written agreement to the contrary, copyright in the translation remains the property of Lingvopedia. Lingvopedia may use and sell or resell any non-confidential translation or any part or record thereof not covered by copyright, the Official Secrets Act, legal professional privilege or public interest immunity. Where copyright is assigned or licensed (formally in writing) this shall be effective only on payment of the agreed fee in full. Copyright in any completed or residual part of a translation shall remain the property of Lingvopedia, and the conditions applicable to assignment of copyright and the grant of a license to publish shall be as specified above in relation to a completed translation.

Payment in full to Lingvopedia shall be effected not later than 30 days from the date of invoice by the method of payment specified in the invoice or in the vendor selection form or via official email. For long assignments or texts, Lingvopedia may request an initial payment, periodic partial payments and a confirmation order (Purchase-Order) on terms to be agreed. In general, we accept payments via:

• All domestic and international cheque/demand drafts (crossed and account payee only)
• Paypal, Moneybookers
• Credit cards & debit cards
• And wire-transfer.