Q & A

Right, let’s start at the heart of the question.

Pricing is consistently determined by the number of words, considering the total word count required for translation in a project, which includes factoring in volume discounts. On average, a translator can process approximately 2,000 to 3,000 words per day (at maximum capacity).

My pricing begins at 8p per word for straightforward, high-volume tasks. For intricate formats and complex/technical assignments, the rate may increase to 15p per word.

I offer discounts for repeated content within a text and maintain a secure, cloud-based translation memory of past jobs. This allows me to reuse previously translated sentences, resulting in cost savings for you.

Near-instantaneous and almost cost-free—what’s not to like?

Machine translation (MT) will indeed provide you with some understanding of a text.

However, there are two significant caveats:

1. When MT goes astray, it does so dramatically: its mistranslations have become legendary among (human) translators – and disgruntled users. The translated sentences usually appear grammatically sound, offering no telltale signs that would alert the reader to the machine’s missteps.
2. Machine translation a bit like Yoda in StarWars it sounds.Yes, the syntax is often so awkward that reading MT translations becomes an unpleasant experience.

The key takeaway: If your text holds little value for your company and clients, why not? Translators frequently use MT as a baseline and refine the output. This practice is known as MTPE (machine translation with human post-editing) and works well for lengthy and straightforward texts (e.g., some instruction manuals). I provide this service.

For customer-facing contents or brand-defining material, experience proves that a human translator is the only safe method.

I can offer three compelling reasons (alongside my cheery disposition and good humor):

1. Having resided in both the US and the UK for over 20 years, I not only comprehend the words but also grasp what’s implied—such as the tone and intent—between the lines.
2. With a business degree and a career background in sales, purchasing, marketing within aeronautics, and high-tech projects, I am adept at quickly grasping the message and accurately translating nuanced content.
3. My translation studio is equipped with the Phrase/Memsource translation platform, and I hold certification as a user of this SaaS. This enables me to provide discounts for repeated sentences, recycle previous jobs, and curate a personalized glossary for your preferred terminology.

Generally, an experienced translator typically handles between 2,000 and 2,500 words per day.

By employing MTPE (Machine Translation with Human Post Editing), this capacity can increase to 3 or 4,000 words.

Utilizing my SaaS platform, I have the capability to break down larger projects into smaller sub-projects. This facilitates the assembly of a team of translators collaborating on the same project (into French or other languages), ensuring consistent adherence to your preferred terminology.

I work on all the classic formats: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, but also InDesign (as .idml) , WordPress, PDFs can be translated, but usually using an intermediate file format.

The following file formats can be translated directly:

Similar to other translators, my quoting method is based on the “source word” count, referring to the number of words in the original text.

The per-word rate is contingent on several factors, including the overall word count of the project, text complexity, formatting, language combinations, and the deadline.

For simpler projects, I can provide quotes within a few hours.

Phrase (formerly known as Memsource) stands out as my preferred translation tool.

To begin with, it operates as a Software as a Service (SaaS), ensuring that all my work is continuously stored on a secure, cloud-based platform.

Additionally, it boasts exceptional power: capable of handling a diverse range of file formats and retaining all previous translations. This functionality enables me to extend discounts for repeated sentences within a file—or even from previously translated documents.

Moreover, it serves as an excellent resource for crafting glossaries that encompass and highlight the client’s preferred terminology. This feature proves invaluable when collaborating on larger projects within a team setting.