Editing and proofreading

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Often clients ask me if I have translations “proofread” by a second linguist.

In fact, they mean « edited » which involves comparing the source and target texts step by step to ensure that the original has been correctly understood by the translator and to check that there have been no omissions or copy-paste errors for numbers and proper nouns. Editing also involves the correction of writing, grammar and terminology. The editor will also standardise style and glossary for large projects which have required several translators. It is therefore a task which must be entrusted to a translator with the same level of skill and who works in the same languages as the translator(s) who first worked on the translation. This service costs on average 50% of the translation rate (if the translation costs 10, editing will cost 5, for a total production cost of 15).

Proofreading, however, simply involves quickly reading through the translated text to correct the most visible style and grammar errors. Comparison with the source text is only carried out to ensure nothing has been omitted, or when the translated text is incomprehensible. This work is often done within an agency by a project manager (not necessarily a linguist) whose native language is the same as the target language but who does not necessarily have a perfect understanding of the source language (it goes without saying that the agency nevertheless charges the client an « editing » rate). If this task is entrusted to a linguist, he or she will charge up to 20% of their translation rate. Proofreading can also be entrusted to someone who is very competent in the field covered by the text (for example, a surgeon if the text describes new surgical instruments). This person will have precise knowledge of the terms and turns of phrase used in documents written for professionals in the sector, even if he or she does not speak the source language (if the specialist has any questions, he or she is put in direct contact with the translator who can explain what was translated and how). In this case, the rate is as high as – if not higher than – the editing rate.

You can also ask request a ‘Super Deluxe’ service: translation + editing by a second linguist + proofreading by a technician/expert. I dream of one day having such a demanding customer!

It’s a wild word

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I receive ads, from time to time, from translation agencies boasting excellent quality translation services at unbeatable rates. Some even offer complete services at a price lower than I pay my suppliers.
The first thing that crosses my mind every time is, “how on earth do they do it?”
It is true that each language has its price. This price depends on demand, scarcity and the linguist’s country of residence. Irish and Japanese, for example, are very expensive. But, contrary to what you might think, Chinese can also be expensive – you always need to take account of a third factor: the source language. A translation from German or Finnish to Chinese is, of course, more costly than a translation from English into Chinese (for info, English is the most widespread source language for all translation combinations). I, in addition, prefer a Chinese translator living or having studied in Germany rather than another who has never left China. The quality of a translation is greatly based on knowledge of the source language country, its current news and culture.
There is also a price to pay for a linguist’s experience. A junior translator will be less expensive than a senior translator, the latter able to deliver translation of a quality which does not require redrafting or proofreading (at a cost) by an expert in the field.
In knowing all this, I just cannot fathom how it’s possible to offer prices well below the average for all languages, while claiming to deliver top quality translations.
I have therefore decided, from this day onwards, to request details on the methodology and resources of each agency which contacts me and to give you their responses (without naming the agency), analysing them on this blog.
While waiting, if you happen to have stumbled upon the wonderful world of Inexpensive Professional Linguists and know where it can be found, don’t hesitate to share your discovery in the comments section!

Fairtrad general terms of sale

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Article 1 – APPLICABILITY AND VALIDITY OF TERMS OF SALE

These general Terms of Sale govern all services rendered by FAIRTRAD, in other words and non-exhaustively: translation, interpreting, editing, desktop publishing, subtitling, dubbing and transcription services, whatever their form, content and place of undertaking. By requesting any of FAIRTRAD’s services, the Client accepts these general Terms of Sale. No special terms will take precedence over these Terms of Sale unless expressly stated in writing on the final and binding purchase order. The execution of any service by FAIRTRAD implies the Client accepts these Terms of Sale and waives his own general terms and conditions. Any condition to the contrary shall not be binding to FAIRTRAD unless expressly accepted in writing, regardless of when FAIRTRAD becomes aware of the condition. That FAIRTRAD does not exercise one or more of the provisions in these Terms of Sale shall not be interpreted as a waiver of FAIRTRAD’s right to exercise any of these provisions at a later date.

Article 2 – QUOTES AND ORDERS

The quote accepted by the Client shall serve as a final and binding order in the absence of a purchase order issued by the Client. FAIRTRAD reserves the right not to commence work on the project concerned before receiving the corresponding quote duly signed or the Client’s purchase order.
Each order placed by the Client shall be preceded by a free quote, issued by FAIRTRAD, based on the documents to be translated or information provided by the Client.
The quote FAIRTRAD sends to the Client by regular mail, electronic mail or fax shall include:

  • The number of pages or words to be translated;
  • The language pair;
  • The way in which the translation was priced. A translation is billed either at a flat rate, at an hourly rate, or based on FAIRTRAD’s rates at the time the quote is prepared, such as per source word (the number of words in the text to be translated) according to the Statistics function in Microsoft Word, by line, by page, or by hour;
  • The date of delivery of the translation;
  • The format of the translated documents if a specific layout has been requested;
  • Any special rates applied because of urgency, specific terminological research or any other service that goes beyond the services usually provided by FAIRTRAD.

To confirm an order, the unaltered quote must be returned to FAIRTRAD, with the Client’s written approval and signature, by regular mail or fax if the quote was sent to the Client by regular mail or fax. If the Client received the quote by electronic mail, the Client may confirm the order by expressing clear acceptance by return electronic mail. If order confirmation is not received, FAIRTRAD reserves the right not to commence work on the project concerned.
If confirmation of the order is not received within three (3) months of the date the quote is sent by the means stipulated above, the quote shall be considered null and void. FAIRTRAD reserves the right, after informing the Client, to charge an additional fee and/or not to adhere to the delivery date on the Client’s initial order in the following cases:

  • Modification or addition of documents by the Client after the initial quote was prepared by FAIRTRAD, in which case FAIRTRAD reserves the right to adjust the rate based on the additional volume of work estimated or requested;
  • Documents not furnished during the quote preparation process. If the initial quote was based on the Client’s estimation of the number of words and an excerpt of the text.

In the absence of the Client’s express acceptance of the new delivery and/or invoicing conditions, FAIRTRAD reserves the right not to commence work on the project concerned.
Unless otherwise stated on the quote, costs incurred during the provision of services (travel, courier or postal fees, etc.) shall be charged to the Client. Any decisions to offer a discount, reduction or sliding fee scale based on a percentage or flat rate (par page, line or hour), are at FAIRTRAD’s sole discretion and only for the service to which they apply. Any discounts or rebates offered to the Client shall not create a right vested in interest concerning future services.
In the event that a quote is not sent to the Client by FAIRTRAD before the commencement of work, translation services shall be invoiced at the base rate usually billed by FAIRTRAD.

Cancellation of an interpreting assignment or any other service involving the booking of a linguist for set times, days, periods, etc will be subject to a 50% invoice being issued unless a notice period of a minimum of 30 working days has been given, and of a100% invoice if the assignment is cancelled less than 15 working days from the set date. Booking fees and travel expenses already incurred by the linguist are due regardless of the cancellation period.

Under no circumstances can a translator, interpreter or any other staff member of FAIRTRAD detached to the Client be requested by the Client to undertake any other assignment, with or without direct relation to the initial work ordered, without prior express approval from FAIRTRAD management.

Article 3 – PROOF

The Client agrees to consider faxes, e-mails, copies and computer files as equivalent to the original and valid proof that the order was confirmed.

Article 4 – DEPOSITS

Any order exceeding 3,500.00 EUR excluding tax may be subject to a 50% deposit, which shall be clearly stipulated in the quote. In such a case, work shall begin only once the deposit payment has cleared.

Article 5 – THE CLIENT’S OBLIGATIONS

The Client shall provide FAIRTRAD with all of the texts to be translated in digital format by e-mail, USB key, CD or via an FTP site, or in hard copy format by courier, messenger or regular mail. These texts shall be accompanied by any reference document that the Client believes useful to aid FAIRTRAD in completing the project, particularly any technical information required to understand the text and, if necessary, the specific terminology required, glossaries, lexicons, terminological databases or translations previously completed and validated by the Client. FAIRTRAD will undertake work according to professional standards and practices within the constraints set by the Client. If the Client fails to provide reference information, FAIRTRAD shall not be held liable if the translation does not conform to the Client’s standards or if delivery is late.

Article 6 – DELIVERY

FAIRTRAD will make the necessary provisions to ensure delivery of the work ordered within the deadlines agreed on the quote accepted by the Client. Any additional service requested by the Client during the project (additional files or pages) will require a revision to the delivery deadline. The finalised translation shall be provided to the Client in the format of his choice: in digital format by email, USB key, CD or via an FTP site, or in hard copy format by courier, messenger or regular mail. The costs relating to delivery (excluding digital formats) of translated documents are at the Client’s expense. Any delay in delivery shall not give systematic rise to compensation unless expressly agreed between the Client and FAIRTRAD. Any Client overdue in his obligations to FAIRTRAD is liable to find delivery of work is conditioned by prior payment of these obligations.

Article 7 – INVOICING

Invoices shall be prepared and sent to the Client after the service has been completed. In the event that the Client cancels an order, the work completed by FAIRTRAD at the date of cancellation shall be billed in full, except for interpreting or on-site translation assignments. In these latter cases, the service shall be billed in full according to the terms of the quote accepted by the Client when this cancellation occurs less than five working days before the assignment’s start date, and half (50%) if cancelled more than five working days before the start date.

Article 8 – PAYMENT

Unless otherwise mentioned on the quote, invoices are prepared net of taxes, without discount and payable no later than 30 days from the date of invoice. In the case of payment by cheque or bank transfer from abroad, all forex and banking fees will be specified on the quote or be billed to the Client.
In the event of late payments, orders in progress can be unilaterally interrupted until full payment is received and the Client will be liable for late payment penalties of one and a half times the prevailing base legal interest rate applied to the entire sum in question, without any formal notice being required.
For any late payments and formal notifications without reaction, the Client shall be liable, in addition to the principal amount, to pay compensation at the fixed rate of 10% of the sum outstanding as a penalty clause that cannot be reduced in accordance with Article 1229 of the French Civil Code, without prejudice to the conventional default interest. Translations remain the property of FAIRTRAD until payment has been received in full.

Article 9 – COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTES

The Client has 10 working days from the time the translated or proofread documents are received to inform FAIRTRAD in writing, by recorded delivery, of any disagreement concerning the quality of the service and providing specific examples which illustrate defects affecting the service provided. Once this period has expired, the service shall be considered duly completed and no claims can be made. Any further service shall be subject to additional billing. The Client agrees to consider postal, fax or electronic mail receipts as proof of delivery.

Article 10 – RESPONSIBILITY

The services provided by FAIRTRAD are done so in the context of an obligation of means. In the event of disagreement relating to terminology employed, except for nuances to style, FAIRTRAD commits, with all the diligence reasonably possible, to find the solution best adapted to the Client’s requirements, with the understanding that this can in no case be used to call into question the service provided as a whole. FAIRTRAD shall endeavour to proceed with any corrections in a prompt manner. In the event that FAIRTRAD is held liable for any lack of execution or poor execution of the contract, for which the Client provides proof, compensation shall be limited to the direct damages incurred by the Client, up to a total of the amount billed for the service.

Article 11 – INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Before submitting any document for translation to FAIRTRAD, the Client must ensure that he has the right to do so. The Client must therefore be the author of the original document or have obtained prior written authorisation for translation from the holder of the document’s copyright(s).
Failing such, FAIRTRAD can in no way be held liable if all or part of the documents entrusted by the Client infringe intellectual property rights or any other third party rights or any applicable regulations. If necessary, the Client shall assume sole responsibility for any damages and financial consequences arising from his sole negligence.

Article 12 – INSURANCE

The Client is required to insure the original documents and materials sent and entrusted to FAIRTRAD.

Article 13 — JURISDICTION

The parties agree, in the event of whatever dispute, to try and come to an amicable settlement. However, in the event of dispute over the application of these general Terms of Sale or in the event of litigation relating to a service provided by FAIRTRAD, the Commercial Court of Paris has sole jurisdiction.

Translation methodology

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Fairtrad uses a network of professional translators, for the most part graduates of specialised translation schools who have been working for several years in specific technical fields.

Our network is one of experts whose reputation depends not only on the quality of their work but also the professional relationships they establish with their clients and other professionals in the field.

Our translators use the working methods which are taught at all major translation schools: these do not only involve a collection of technical expertise and linguistic skills, but also a code of ethics.
Given their training, our translators know translation methodology, have studied translation theories and are trained in researching terminology, using Computer-Aided Translation tools and building glossaries.

By common agreement, the process used by Fairtrad linguists is taken from the EN-15038 quality standard “Translation Services – Service Requirements”. This was the first standard to be applied in the industry to not only regulate the translation process itself, but also the other processes involved in the translation chain: from initial project specifications to final delivery to the client, including production and editing/proofreading.

What is more, all translators working with us are required to abide by the following Code of Conduct:

I. Members must only translate towards their A language, defined as “the cultivated native language in which one has a wide range of vocabulary and knows how to use with precision and ease”. However, upon the presentation of references (including a translation diploma mentioning the second language in AB combination and proof of long-term stay in the B language country), the translator is permitted to translate into his or her B language (special bilingual regime).
II. Members commit to maintaining high quality standards in their specialised fields, keeping constantly informed and updating their glossaries and translation memories after each assignment.
III. Each member assumes full responsibility for the quality of the translated text. As such, members must refuse any assignment outside of their skill set.

The complete methodology applied by Fairtrad is available upon request by email.
Here is a concise summary:

  • Methodology
    • I-Reception of source text
    • II-Selecting a linguist
    • III-Translation
    • IV-Editing
    • V-Delivery
    • VI-Client validation
    • VII-Confidentiality
  • Quality control and technical means
  • Glossary, technical datasheets
  • CAT tools, translation memory management
  • Project management, Project Managers per language, style guides
  • Technical datasheet
  • Average delivery times
  • Combinations of languages offered, with references
  • CAT tools
  • Project management tools
  • Work software

Interpreting

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Interpreting is the oral translation of speech.

There are several types of service available:

Consecutive interpreting – the interpreter translates the speaker‘s entire speech once finished, using notes taken if required.

Simultaneous interpreting – the interpreter is in a specially-equipped booth with a console, microphone and earphones. The interpreter follows the speech, translating what is said ‘live’ as the words are spoken. Given the intense level of concentration required, interpreters work in pairs and relay each other every 20 to 30 minutes. A good team shares out the work, the interpreter taking a break preparing the documents under discussion for his/her fellow interpreter, for example.

Whispered interpreting is a variation of simultaneous interpreting. The interpreter follows what is being said and translates by whispering into the ear of his or her delegate.
Liaison interpreting usually takes place in a more informal setting (work meetings, visits, etc.). The interpreter works most of the time without taking notes, memorising short passages and interpreting them into the target language.

An interpreter normally only translates into his/her native language when interpreting simultaneously, but may be required to provide « feedback ». This means sometimes translating both into the native language and second working language for consecutive interpreting and almost always in the liaison interpreting context.

But what is a native language? How should you address the interpreter during a meeting?

For more information about this subject, read the related posts on Fairblog and give us your opinion.

 
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Localisation

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Localisation – also called regionalisation, L10N, internationalisation or L18N – is the adaptation of a User Interface to a foreign market.

This process therefore combines linguistic and cultural expertise with the knowledge of the technical constraints attached to software or website development.

Fairtrad is able to avoid additional development costs thanks to its prior source content editing service.

By tracking and eliminating any display and integration problems pertaining to the target language’s structure, Fairtrad guarantees reduced User Acceptance Testing (UAT) hours necessary before launching a product online or marketing a software program.

Did you know, for example, that you cannot re-use the same “yes” button on all the pages of a Japanese website? There are several ways to give a positive answer in Japanese and they depend on the question asked!

For more information about this subject, read the related posts on Fairblog and give us your opinion

Request a quote for the localisation and referencing of your website into 33 languages.

Marketing translations

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How can you be sure that your product’s image will be optimised on the international market with the same care and impact which have characterized your national campaign?

Fairtrad is the ideal partner for communicating with your foreign clients.

Translate bulletins, newsletters, promotions, information letters, packaging and brochures by entrusting the application of your communication strategy on an international level to real experts, who not only know the languages, but also the target country’s market.

For example, an online travel agency launches a campaign to sell holidays in Spain, presented by the UK-based marketing department as “the country where the sun always shines”. This sales concept will obviously not be effective in markets such as Greece or Italy where sea and sunshine are within arm’s reach. The Greek or Italian translator can share how he or she perceives this promotional message. It is up to the client to decide whether they would like to work with the linguist on what motivates Greeks or Italians to visit Spain, or whether they wish to maintain the same campaign for all markets.

Fairtrad allows you to let your clients know how much you respect their culture and opinion: a poorly formulated message will be poorly received.

For more information about this subject, read the related posts on Fairblog and give us your opinion

Legal translation

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Our agency has a team of legal linguists who are trained both in translation and law. These professionals are well acquainted with comparative law as well as the legal terminology used in their working language countries.

Request a quote for the translation of your contracts, deeds, legal texts, legal notices, testimonies, statutes, calls for tender, statements and patents from and into more than 20 languages.

For more information about this subject, read the related posts on Fairblog and give us your opinion.

Request a quote

 

Who is Fairtrad?

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Our policy is based on transparency, both towards our collaborators and in terms of translation rates. That’s why we chose to add the word “fair” to our name.

How much does it cost?

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Here is some information to take into consideration to understand how the cost of a translation is calculated:

A translator translates an average of 350 words an hour.

If you think this is quite low, keep in mind that the average typing speed is 33 words/min for text copying and 19 words/min for text composition. Add to this the time it takes to read and understand the source text, carry out terminology research, send questions to the client and incorporate responses, reformulate into the target language, proofread (by a second translator) and page layout, and you have your translation productivity rate. It goes without saying that the more technical a translation and the more complex the source text, the longer it takes to translate.

Intellectual productivity cannot be compressed.

A translator cannot work faster and still supply the same level of quality. This means that if you want your translation delivered faster, we will need to use more translators. Time is also required for proofreading by the last translator in the chain who will standardise the final translated text. That is why, at Fairtrad, quality always costs the same, but the deadline for delivery has a separate cost.

Yes, but another agency offered me the same quality and same deadlines for half the price.

Ask them to detail each task by time taken (translation, proofreading, page layout). Keep in mind that calculations are made on an average of 350 words per hour per translator and 1,500 words per hour for proofreading (which can definitely not be done by several people:

there is always one single proof-reader to ensure coherence in terms of style and terminology). There are two answers possible:

a) they are lying about the process, which means they either don’t proofread the translation or they use automatic translation and not real linguists;
b) they use junior, less expensive, translators and have texts proofread by senior translators. This presents several disadvantages which are detailed in this post.

For more information about this subject, read the related posts on Fairblog and give us your opinion

Now you know everything, all you need to do is request a translation quote!