Frequently Asked Questions

Translation FAQs:

What is translation?

Translation is the conversion of the written word from one language to another. This could be the translation of documents, websites, brochures, technical specifications, manuals, and so on. Translation should not be confused with interpreting, which is the conversion of the spoken word from one language to another.

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How long does translation take?

A single translator can usually complete about 1,500-2,500 words per day, so a 10,000-word project would take about 5-7 working days. A short lead time is also needed to prepare texts and allocate work to linguists, which varies depending on the project.

Large projects can be split over multiple translators and consistency checked at review stage to speed things up. To give an example, we once translated a project of more than half a million words into English in 6 weeks... a task that would've taken a single translator approximately 250 working days to complete!

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How is the cost worked out?

This is usually done on a per-word basis. The more words there are to translate in the source document, the more it costs. We find that this is the fairest pricing method and there are no hidden extras. This approach is used consistently throughout the industry too.

For some tasks, such as multilingual DTP or document formatting, we charge by the hour. We also occasionally charge clients based on the translated (target) word count. This is usually only done when we're unable to ascertain the volume of words in the source text.

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Why can professional translation be expensive?

Those buying translation for the first time are sometimes surprised at the cost, but the prices are this way for good reason; when done properly, translation is a difficult and time-consuming task that requires far more than being able to speak another language.

At Sure Languages, our professional translators have studied languages and translation to post-graduate level, have an in-depth knowledge of all their working languages, are trained in using the right industry tools and have specialist subject expertise. When combined, these elements make for a highly skilled service and one that attracts a suitable rate.

To draw a comparison, a good copywriting agency may charge £400-£500 for a full day of writing services. A professional linguist translating for a full day - approximately 2,000 words - typically costs our clients £210 to £350, so the rates aren't as high as you might think.

Project costs tend to get high when multiple languages are involved, but a good translation agency will be able to make use of sophisticated industry tools to help keep costs at a minimum.

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Why do some languages cost more than others?

There are a number of factors that affect translation pricing:

Number of translators: if there are lots of translators for a certain language combination, prices are usually at the lower end of the scale because supply outweighs demand. For rarer languages or dialects, there are usually fewer translators available so they're able to charge higher rates.

Economic conditions: due to local economies and living costs, some translators have to charge more. For example, Scandinavian languages are expensive to translate because translators in these countries charge us much more.

Competitors: some prices have to be cheaper than others because, to remain competitive with other translation companies, prices need to be aligned.

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Do you include proofreading?

We give our clients two options with translation - both include proofreading but at different levels:

Option 1 - Standard. Your translation will be proofread as part of the initial process and quality checked by in-house linguists, but will not be reviewed, revised or edited by an additional translator. We recommend this option for business documentation and correspondence, and/or where the translation will be reviewed by a member of your team.

Option 2 - Premium. After initial translation and proofreading, the document will be proofread and edited by a second skilled native-speaking translator, and then quality checked by in-house linguists. We recommend this option for situations where highly polished text is required, for example marketing material, commercial publications, brochures and websites.

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Who does Sure Languages translate for?

We translate for clients in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. Some are major organisations, including international charities, leading hotel chains, computer manufacturers and luxury car makers... We even translate for a very well-known search engine! However, a large part of our work comes from small and medium-sized businesses around the UK. Big or small, every one of our clients gets the same quality translation and top notch customer service!

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What qualifications do your translators have?

Each Sure Languages translator has a relevant languages degree, with most also having post-graduate translation master's degrees. They also have at least 3-5 years full time translation experience, with some working as professional translators for more than 30 years!

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Are your translators native speakers?

This is one of the golden rules in translation. No matter how good your second language, a non-native speaker is rarely able to write in the same way as a native linguist. For this reason, our translators only ever translate INTO their native language.

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Are your translators in house?

Like most translation companies, we have a small in-house team made up of project managers, linguists and localisation experts. Most translators are in-country - for example, our French translators are in France, our Chinese translators are in China - as this ensures our linguists are immersed in the local culture and language. This results in the best possible translations, all managed by our close-knit UK team.

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How do you ensure confidentiality?

Client confidentiality is taken very seriously. As members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, we fully adhere to its code of professional conduct and treat all client information with professionalism and discretion. We also work within our own strict confidentiality rules and our translators are bound by service agreement contracts and non-disclosure agreements.

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Is Sure Languages a member of an official body?

Yes, we're corporate members of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting, the leading body in the language services industry. Member number 10680.