Translation Guidelines Continued...

4. Unrealistic promises
Some companies can promise more than they can deliver. They are offered a lucrative assignment and hate to turn it down. So they commit themselves to a timetable which is unrealistic, hoping to get an extension, or make up an excuse in order to get away with it.

Experienced translation companies know that this is the best way to lose a client and tarnish a reputation. On average, a single translator will be able to translate no more than 1500 - 2500 words per day depending on subject matter. Overloading them is not going to increase this return.

The way to handle larger volumes of work quickly is to split the project between several translators. However, this method can give rise to inconsistencies. So to deal with this situation we always provide glossaries and guidelines for all of the translators who work together on large projects. This gives a level of consistency in terminology and style. The different segments will finally be brought together by one further linguist who will act as proofreader and editor.

5. Individual freelance translator or large agency?
a) There are many talented freelance translators who are working from home and can provide an excellent service. They can offer value for money and will give you personal 'one to one' attention. However, when working alone they often have to proofread their own work. Not having a second opinion can sometimes result in errors being overlooked.

b) Large agencies will offer translating and proofreading services for many language combinations. Some will have in-house translators and others will give assignments to freelancers. In-house translator services are good, but their pool of specialist knowledge may be limited. Make sure that your translation company has the right people to handle your project, especially if the subject matter is specialized.

We have analyzed the ways in which freelancers and agencies operate and have tried to combine the best parts of each into our Russian translation service. A specialised translation company like ours can provide a better service since we are more focused on bringing together all the necessary ingredients to deliver your exact requirements.

6. Pricing policies
Different companies will use different methods to price a job. Some companies will charge per 'target word' or even by 'target symbol'. This is a calculation based on the translated text, which means that you have to wait until the translation is finished before knowing how much you have to pay.

However, Russian words tend to be much longer than English ones, which means that the symbol count may end up being much higher than expected. Also, certain companies have been known to over elaborate a translation in order to increase the word count in the finished document.

There are other methods of calculating a quote, such as 'per page' or 'per line'. Whichever way a company quotes we would recommend that you try to agree a price up front so as to avoid any ambiguity later.

We looked into the various pricing methods and took the decision to charge all work on a rate per 'source word'. This is a set price based on the amount of words in your original document, therefore making everything clear from the start. We also quote in the currency of your choice and fix the exchange rate at the start of work, not the end.

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