Monday 26 January 2009

F.A.Q

Questions

What is the maximum capacity per day for translation?
What is the maximum capacity per day for proofreading?
What is the maximum capacity per day for writing?
Which formats do you accept?
What QA (quality assurance) method do you use?


What is the maximum capacity per day for translation?
Depending on the subject, it is possible to translate between 1500 and 2500 words per day. It may be difficult the first days to reach that number if the topic is highly technical and specialized. When the topic is already more familiar or when glossaries or translation memory are available, it may be possible to translate up to 4000 words per day. This cannot be guaranteed in advance, however.

What is the maximum capacity per day for proofreading?
The capacity for proofreading depends on the quality of the text at hand. When proofreading only the target text, the capacity lies between 3,000 and 10,000 words per day. Verification of the translation against the original text for accuracy takes double the amount of time. When texts are longer, it is possible to work faster, because the context becomes more familiar.

What is the maximum capacity per day for writing?
For writing, turnaround time largely depends on the nature of the project. The more reading and research on a certain topic are necessary, the more time it takes. For technical texts that must be rewritten, one can expect around 1,500 words per day. The text is not rewritten sentence per sentence, but rather in its entirety, expressing the same content more clearly. For texts that involve more creativity, it is best to build in a safe margin to guarantee best results. In this case 1,500 words per week is the target.

Which formats do you accept?
The following is an overview of the formats that can be translated:

MS Office: .doc, .xls, .ppt
Web: .html, .htm, .xml
Other documents: .rtf, .txt, Pdf, paper

Please contact me for formats not listed above. For DTP formats, a conversion may be necessary before and after translation.


What QA (quality assurance) method do you use?
All texts are thoroughly proofread prior to delivery. Spelling, style and consistent use of words are checked. If despite this review, the text still does not meet your expectations, you can contact me within one month of delivery and I will do what is necessary to satisfy your needs without additional cost. The results will, of course, depend on the input that was given at the start of the project. The clearer the description of the desired results, the intended audience and the specific requirements, the better the work can be fine-tuned to your needs.

Do you provide DTP services?
No. It is better to consult a DTP specialist.