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Quality
There are many things that can compromise the quality of a translation: unrealistic deadlines, ambiguities in the source text, lack of communication with the client, poor translation by a non-native speaker, poor translation by a native speaker without the relevant background knowledge or linguistic training, lack of quality control, to name but a few. Deadlines A good translation takes time. On average, an experienced linguist will translate 2,000 to 3,000 words per day, including research and quality control. It is possible to produce more, but quantity often comes at the expense of quality – “rush jobs” lead to errors. Of course, we realise that in today’s 24-hour society many documents have to be finished “by yesterday”. So when we commit ourselves to a deadline, we will stick to it. However, we will also advise you on what can be achieved within the desired time frame. Communication Communication is our business – and that includes communication with our clients. The more we know about a document, the better we can meet your requirements. Background knowledge such as the purpose of the document, the intended target audience etc. helps translators to ensure the highest possible quality. Good communication also helps clear up misunderstandings, often created by slight ambiguities in the original text that the author may not be aware of. Please remember – good translators ask questions, they don’t just guess or assume. The more information we receive from you, the better the end result. Linguists & Specialisation However well you speak a second language, it will always remain just that: your second language. So all our projects are undertaken by qualified native German linguists/writers with outstanding knowledge of the English language. Linguistic excellence alone, however, does not guarantee a great result. In fact, if a translator takes on a subject matter he or she is not familiar with, the results can be equally disappointing. So we concentrate on our specialist areas to ensure we always have the relevant background knowledge to achieve a high-quality end product. Quality Control All our linguists will thoroughly research any necessary terminology and background and carefully proofread/edit their work at least twice before returning it to the client. But to err is human – however diligent the translator. Therefore, we recommend having every text proofread by a second independent linguist to ensure nothing is overlooked. This is particularly important for any text that is going to be published, either in print or on a website. We also offer this service for existing German documents. |