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It is a universal truth that hiring a translation company is more expensive. Wouldn't it be better to find a translator yourself?
The first obvious difference when hiring a translation company versus an individual translator is that the company charges higher rates. Given that a document can only be translated in a few ways and doesn't require the creativity and intricacy of a novel, why do companies charge more?
In a previous article, we talked about the basic qualifications of a translator. In this article, we will explain the work process of document translation companies and answer questions we often receive from clients, especially regarding pricing.
First, Translation Companies Have a Standard Translation Process as Follows:
1. Read the original document to determine its subject matter and whether additional terminology research is needed.
2. The translator then reads short sentences, retain their meaning, and conveys that meaning in the target language.
3. Verify accuracy by comparing the original and translated documents to ensure the translation communicates the correct meaning, no details are missing, and revise any translations that use awkward or unnatural wording.
4. Rest for a night. This step is to reduce pride in one's work, or what one master calls "self-satisfaction" of being "skilled," which might cause translators to overlook mistakes in their own work.
5. Read the translated version again without looking at the original to check for comprehension and fluency. The reason for not touching the original is to prevent the translator from adhering too closely to the source language structure, which might not sound natural in the target language. Also, double-check other details such as dates and numbers.
It sounds easy, but the human brain doesn't have enough RAM to perform all these steps simultaneously. Due to various life circumstances - dogs barking, children crying, cats sleeping on keyboards, or translators taking on too many projects - there might not be enough time to follow these steps properly, affecting the quality of work. Some translators might not know this process or may not see its importance.
Translation companies always check documents that pass through them using this method to ensure such problems don't occur.
If you know a professional translator you trust, you can hire them. But if you don't and have no one to verify your translation, we recommend hiring a translation company because they have a network of professional translators who can always help.
BEYOND INTERPRETER CO., LTD.
If you are interested in a professional language interpreter, you can contact the interpreting company Interpreter Services as follows:
- Email : [email protected]
- Line : @beyondinterpreter
- Facebook : beyondinterpreter
