FAQ
Q: How many words in one page?
A page usually contains about 250 words. Therefore it is defined as a translation unit which is used to determine the price of the translation.
Q: How do you check the number of words in a document?
Documents in Word2003 format:
first the text must be marked in the upper menu, then press Tools and select Count Words.
Documents in Word2007 format:
Press office→ prepare properties→ the properties toolbar will open; press the right end - "document features"→ advanced properties→ statistics
Q: What is the price for a translation of a page that contains less than 250 words?
There is a minimum tariff per translated page. Even if the document delivered for translation contains less than 250 words, the payment is calculated according to the minimum price of one translation page.
Q: Will you maintain confidentiality regarding the document submitted for translation?
"Globus Translations" undertakes to maintain complete confidentiality of the information and not to disclose it to others, applying to both the original files and the translated files.
Q: Is it possible to receive translation services that are extremely urgent?
We undertake to answer our clients 24/7 in order to offer a solution for urgent translations. Nonetheless, it is important to note that in urgent cases the quantity and complexity of the material for translation have a decisive impact. There is usually a payment addition of 25% for urgent translations.
Q: What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?
Translator – performs written translations.
Interpreter – performs verbal translations.
Q: What is the difference between consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting?
Consecutive interpreting involves translating a conversation between two people or more. It is more suitable for court hearings, meetings and conferences with guests from overseas.
Simultaneous interpreting is translating what a person is saying before an audience. This is done using a number of methods that require using technical equipment. Using this type of interpreting is suitable for conventions and lectures (for example, the UN uses simultaneous interpreting).
Q: How is simultaneous interpreting performed?
There are two ways of performing simultaneous interpreting:
The first: the interpreter receives the text that he needs to translate and whilst things are being said, he interprets the things written before him to the listeners.
The second: immediate interpretation performed whilst the interpreter hears the words himself. This is usually used in speeches, conversations or various conventions. This is a very demanding method that requires the interpreter to be quick on the uptake and capable of thinking fast as well as have extensive knowledge on the subject.
Q: Can a regular translator perform a medical translation?
Undoubtedly medical translations are one of the most important yet complicated translations. This kind of translation not only requires know-how and familiarity with various languages, meaning the source language and the target language, but also requires that the translator be thoroughly acquainted with the medical world on many levels, including basic concepts, professional terminology, names of body organs, names of medical procedure and treatments and so on.
Medical translation is much more complicated than mechanically converting one language to another.
In the medical world, professional translations are not a luxury, they are compulsory!
We understand that in translating a medical document, the quality of translation is ten times greater since they often deal with human lives and there is no room for error in terminology and names. Lack of accuracy and lack of professionalism may have far reaching consequences.
Since medical translations require complete accuracy and unequivocal phrasing, we at Globus Translations employ professional translators who are familiar with medical terms and have extensive knowledge in both the source language and the target language.
Q: What is the difference between a human translation and using the Google translation system?
Although the translation system on Google is free and an excellent tool for someone interested in generally understanding a text, you need to consider that when performing a translation through Google, the website's system will translate various words and terms without any regard to their context within the sentence, but rather according to their literal meaning.
Q: why not simply translate a document with the assistance of one of my employees that has knowledge in both languages?
Each area of expertise requires certain knowledge and translation is a field that requires specific expertise (remember that translation is an academic profession and like any other academic profession: a doctor, engineer etc., it requires through, professional knowledge).
Most people don’t appreciate how hard it is to professionally translate a document. Translation is a profession that requires many skills that not everyone claiming to be a translator does indeed posses. There are endless possibilities of how to translate a document and a professional translator knows how to choose the correct words and arrange a flowing sentence that sounds natural to readers.
A professional translator is more aware of the syntactic differences and precisions between languages and is also experienced in performing translations. Therefore, the result will be legible, flowing and most important – more understandable. At Globus Translations we only employ professional translators and make sure to match the field of the text intended for translation with the translator's area of expertise.
Q: Why turn to a translation company when the translation work can be handed over to our distributors (or clients) in the different target countries?
Using a translation company for all your translation needs has many important advantages:
Speed during marketing – when the responsibility for the translation is handed over to the distributors, this might cause frustrating delays in supplying products and documents that have gone through localization. The main role of the distributor is to sell the finished product in the target countries and therefore, translation is always a secondary priority and a distributor will usually prefer a cheap translation over a quality one.
Better quality control – turning to a translation company offers you the possibility of performing quality control. After receiving the complete and polished translation from the translation company, you can forward the translated version to your distributor for his comments (since in most cases, we're usually not proficient in the target language ourselves).
Since translation is not one of the distributors' main areas of expertise, they tend to ask acquaintances who lack any translation experience to perform the work. Clearly in such case there will be no proofreading or linguistic editing of the material.
Project management – by transferring management of the project and technical activities to a translation company, your employees will be free to focus on the activity that they do best, saving you lots of time and money.
Consistency – When translations are performed by Globus Translations we try to match our clients with a permanent translator based on their needs – the translation languages and the subject of the text - after the client gets a positive impression of our work. This makes it easy for us to make sure that all the printed material will appear similar, contain identical phrasing and be in precisely the right scope.
Copyrights – many companies only reached the conclusion that they need professional translation services after experiencing disputes with their distributors regarding copyrights. Once the companies initiated legal proceedings to receive their translations, the distributors claimed that they own the software and translated documents and refused to return them. After losing lawsuits, these companies were left with no choice but to resume the tiring process of translating the material from the start. If these companies would have had the sense to submit the material to professional translation companies from the start, these kinds of complications could have been prevented. Clearly we at Globus Translations undertake to maintain complete confidentiality of all the material forwarded to us as well as the translated material.
Q: What is translation memory?
Translation memory is a technology that allows the user to store translated terms or sentence in a database. Such tools (like Trados and SDLX) speed up the translation process, guarantee consistency and reduce costs.
Q: What details do I need to know about my translation project before contacting a translation company?
- What is the purpose of the translation
- What is the source language and target language (pay note to the difference between American English to British English, Spanish as in Spain or Argentina, because the correct dialect must be used)
- Who and what is the location of the target audience
- How many words are there in the document for translation
- What is the schedule
- In what format does the translated document have to be submitted
- Do I need a notary translation
- Do I have an internal glossary that can be sent to the translator
- Do I have any background information that might assist the translator in getting familiar with the relevant field and unique phrases used by the company
- Is the translation intended for publication or internal use
- Do I need two rounds of proofreading
- What is my available budget