The translation and language solutions industry has experienced substantial technological progress over the past 25 to 30 years. Indeed, it has shifted from relying primarily on manual processes to utilizing and benefitting from technological advancements in software tools and systems. The industry uses many terms today, from human translation or human-only translation to machine translation or raw machine translation, to AI-augmented translation or AI-generative translation. For many Language Service Providers (LSPs), these technological enhancements mean it is no longer viable to solely offer “traditional” translation services performed by professional human linguists. Instead, these LSPs have recognized the ongoing developments of AI and its incorporation in language solutions through machine translation, or MT. Simply put, this is an automated [...]

A common misconception among people seeking a translation in a specialized field such as medicine is that any translator can do the job. After all, the reasoning goes, translators understand both languages they are dealing with, so isn’t translation just the process of converting a text from one language to another? How hard can it be? In this post, we will take a look at some of the complexities surrounding medical translation, and the reasons why hiring a professional medical translation company is truly the only logical choice when obtaining a translation of medical documents of any nature. One issue is that translation is not simply an exercise in exchanging one word for another. If it were, [...]

When hiring a translation company, many have difficulty understanding why there is such a variation in price among document translation services. The following are some of the major components of a translation project’s pricing structure, all of which may affect the final cost. A thorough understanding of these points will help you in choosing a document translation company that best fits your needs. Document word count This is the main factor that will determine the cost of your translation. Whenever possible, the number of words, rather than the number of pages, is used as the basis for billing. A page may contain images or charts, or the text may simply end part of the way down a page. [...]

These days, there are many reasons that manufacturers may need to print their product instructions (user guides, manuals, MSDSs, etc.) in many different languages. They may be operating in one country with several different official or commonly-spoken languages, such as Switzerland or the United States, or they may be attempting to expand into other markets abroad. Regardless of the reason, selection of a high-quality technical translation service with expertise in the specific field involved is imperative. A poor translation could cause user error with consequences ranging from minor to extreme in nature, damaging the company’s reputation and bottom line. On the other hand, a good technical translation can drive product sales and improve the perception of the [...]

Now that we have established that it is best to use a translation agency when in need of document translation services, let’s explore the components involved in the price of a quality translation from a highly rated translation company. AdministrationThis includes the owners and managers, receptionists and secretarial work, talent recruitment, accounting and billing personnel, sales and marketing staff and costs, and, of course, the project managers who shepherd each project from the first contact with the client through final handover of the finished translation. TranslationAt a good translation company, in order to minimize errors in the final text, every translator is a highly educated and experienced professional who translates written documents from their foreign language(s) into their [...]

In part one of this series, we broke down some of the differences between human translation and translation by a program such as Google Translate from a linguistic point of view. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the more technical aspects of this comparison. What is it, exactly, about the nature of machine translation programs that makes them useful for travelers looking to quickly communicate short concepts to others in a foreign language, but far less desirable for the professional translation of documents? When our translators mention to acquaintances what they do for a living, they are sometimes met with a lack of understanding as to why their job is necessary in this [...]

If you’ve never needed a translation before, or if it’s been a while, it’s normal to be overwhelmed by all your options when choosing a language services provider (LSP). Some may wonder why it’s necessary to pay for a translation at all these days, now that Google Translate and other platforms have started to incorporate AI into their programming for many major languages. Others might ask why the fees at some translation agencies are so much lower than at others, and whether the service called “post-edited machine translation” that is offered by some translation companies is a good option. In part one of this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the linguistic aspects of the world [...]

Because you are making the choice to use a language service provider (LSP) rather than relying on a machine translation, you are already aware that your project requires a careful and educated human touch. That touch, however, comes with a price tag that many clients wish to reduce. The following are some easy methods for doing just that. Choose your translation languages wisely and sparingly. If, for instance, you are trying to make your website accessible to as many people worldwide as possible, it might seem logical to have it translated into as many languages as you can. After all, most people are most comfortable reading information in their native language, and your goal is to make [...]

Talking to Hans Schlamadinger, CEO of Apex Translation Services Q:  Did you know that Friday, September 30, is International Translators Day? HS:  Yes, I believe it is to celebrate St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators. I believe he translated the bible in the fourth century (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome). Q: What is it like to run a translation company? HS:  Well, I certainly keep busy with setting business objectives, meeting clients' requirements, solving technical issues, payroll, accounting, marketing, and communications. Q:  That certainly makes for a busy day! HS: Indeed!  Usually well into the evening. Q:  What language is most requested? HS:  Spanish is #1, and French is #2. Q:   How many translation projects have you completed and delivered [...]