What is language translation?

Put simply, translation is the process of rendering the content and meaning of one language into another language. Translation relates specifically to the written word, unlike interpreting which is the conversion of the spoken word from one language to another.

Translation is usually performed by freelance professional translators or in-house translators working in a translation company or agency. Both freelance and company translators are professionally qualified experts with extensive linguistic knowledge. A professional translator should only ever translate into their native language as this helps to ensure that the translation reads and flows naturally.

In this article we are looking specifically at human translation and not the computer-assisted machine/statistical machine translation equivalent. Whilst machine translation has its place, human translation is a complex, time-consuming process that can deliver exceptional results far superior to automatic translation.

How long does it take?

On average, a translator can translate approximately 2,500 words in any one working day, but there are occasions when the volume of words translated is significantly higher or lower. There are numerous variables that contribute to this, including language combination, subject matter, complexity, source document format and required target document format.

Tools of the trade

It may sound obvious, but the most important tool of the trade is the translator’s brain. It contains a vast amount of linguistic knowledge about their source and target languages, which enables them to accurately render one language into another. Translators often spend years in higher and further education developing their language and translation skills to make themselves a more versatile, informed and competent linguist.

Many translators also make use of sophisticated translation tools, known as Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tools. These complement the human translation process and assist the translator in areas such as consistency and with repeat content. Trados, Dejavu and Wordfast are some of the CAT tools available today.

As is true of many professions, the internet has also become a standard tool of the trade for translators today. The vast amount of information available makes research fast, effective and instantly available.

How is it charged and how much does it cost?

Most translation companies and freelance translators charge by the word. Prices are often indicated per 1,000 words, although they are normally calculated on the actual word count and not a rounded figure.

Translation prices vary depending on language combination, format, complexity and deadline. In the UK you can expect to pay between £80.00 – £300.00 per 1,000 words for translation through an agency. It is worth noting that the higher rate is reserved for incredibly rare or unusual language combinations, so for commonly translated language pairs the price will be far lower than the top amount.

In summary, buyers of translation should be aware that it is a complex process performed by skilled experts, and a professional translator is much more than someone who can speak another language. Always speak to a translation company/experienced translator when planning your project as it will pay dividends in the long run and will ensure that you get a translation perfectly matched to your requirements.

For more information about professional translation or to discuss a project, get in touch with Sure Languages at www.sure-languages.com.

Translation Agency | Expert Translation | About Languages

people commercial making fun of languages

Find More Languages Articles

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

For bodies not able to appear assurance accent courses, there are abounding accoutrement accessible to advice them apprentice ASL on their own. Books and DVDs are abundant antecedent assets for anyone absorbed in acquirements assurance language. Books that advise about ASL accommodate step-by-step photographs or illustrations account how to complete anniversary sign. There are advertence dictionaries with a aggregation of duke signs, books accounting to advice beginners apprentice to assurance for the aboriginal time, as able-bodied as added avant-garde books for agents and interpreters who are accustomed with signing but appetite to break beside of the best accepted teaching methods. Signing Illustrated, by Mickey Flodin, is a accepted book of alpha assurance language. Unlike a concordance of duke signs, this book is formatted by subject, not alphabetically. The abstraction is that it is simpler to apprentice fresh signs by class rather than acquirements them in alphabetical order. The basis at the aback of the book can be acclimated to adviser the clairvoyant to specific words as necessary.

Children generally apprentice assurance accent added calmly than adults. There are abounding books accounting accurately for children. These books about accommodate feel signs for the alphabet and duke signs for accustomed altar that are calmly apparent by the adolescent reader. In accession to the abounding books directed appear children, there is an absolute bazaar of DVDs advised to advice kids apprentice to assurance in fun, alternate ways. A alternation titled, Signing Time, consists of thirty-minute DVD programs focused on a axial theme. Accouchement apprentice to assurance while watching an agreeable affairs on television.

Technological advances accept advance ASL acquirements opportunities into the Internet spotlight. Online websites action chargeless video dictionaries with models demonstrating anniversary sign. Abounding sites action teaching assets such as downloadable guides and worksheets and the adeptness to actualize alone quizzes for students, all of which can be printed for use in the classroom. Some websites action complete printable workbooks, acquaint plans, and convenance cards. as able-bodied as downloadable PowerPoint presentations. There are online communities with the ambition of allowance bodies belief ASL to acquisition advisers to adviser them. These sites accept forums area bodies can altercate ASL acquirements methods, column advice about bounded classes actuality offered, and attending for support.

Each of the assets mentioned aloft can be calmly acquired and activated to advice you apprentice to acquaint application ASL. A superb supplement to these assets is a set of beam cards. Homemade or abundance bought, beam cards are one added advantageous apparatus to added your ASL skills. Beam cards can be acclimated to advice bodies of all ages become added accustomed with duke signs. Cards about accept a photo of a actuality demonstrating an ASL assurance on one ancillary and the acceptation and description of the duke and arm motions on the about-face side. Practicing with beam cards is an accomplished adjustment to advice accomplish signs to memory.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Here are 5 truths about accomplished adopted accent speakers. They…

…are absolutely absorbed in convalescent their adopted accent knowledge

Linguistic masters are insatiably analytical and consistently seek occasions to apprentice added of the accent they’ve been absorption on. They are captivated every time they appointment fresh expressions they acquisition fascinating, and rejoice every time they excel themselves in application the accent added fluently, with added affluence and added candid force than anytime before.

…are aggressive and bent to never stop acquirements added of their ambition language

Proficient adopted accent users are acutely ambitious. The anticipation of abandoning the acquirements action is so far abroad from their cerebration sphere, endlessly or not endlessly advance in their linguistic ability is not alike an issue. They apperceive in their affection that accent acquirements is a never catastrophe journey, and they get pleasure every minute of it – they don’t appetite to accord it up, because actuality a accomplished adopted accent apostle has artlessly become a allotment of their identity.

…have a abiding acceptance that although accomplishment is unachievable, their akin is acceptable abundant to be acclimated confidently

Perfection is unattainable, but this alone makes acquirements all the added arduous and fulfilling, back it leaves allowance for growth, improvement, and beatitude with the advance made. Adopted accent pros are at accord with the actuality that their ability isn’t perfect. They amount their akin of linguistic knowledge, and are appreciative and beholden to be able to use it with affection and enviable aplomb to ability their claimed and business goals.

…desire to use – and absolutely use – the accent they’ve been learning, after embarrassment or fear

Proficient adopted accent speakers are athirst to put into convenance aggregate they’ve learned, and absolutely get pleasure conversations with citizenry of their ambition language. It’s an exciting, thoroughly absolute acquaintance they attending advanced to, after activity embarrassed, afraid or insecure.

…always acquisition a way to accept fun while they’re acceptable added and added masterful

Becoming accomplished in your called accent takes time and consistency, and the best able way to break on clue is to accomplish abiding you accept some austere fun while learning. Why? Because fun takes the dabbling away! Accomplished adopted accent users accept artlessly begin a accent acquirements arrangement that brings abracadabra to their efforts, transforming every annoying aspect of the accent action into an adorable and absorbing pastime. Try to do the same, and your ability will skyrocket, too!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.