Frequently Asked Questions
 

What is the difference between translation and interpreting?

Translation is written communication whereas interpreting is oral communication

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How long will the translation take?

It depends on the length of the document(s). Generally speaking, a professional translator can usually translate between 2000 and 3000 words per day. However, if you need a quicker turnaround than this, R L Translations can arrange for the translation of your document to be split between two or more translators. As each translator writes in their own particular style and their use of terminology may differ, we can then arrange for the final version of the translation to be edited.

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Do your translation services include proofreading?

The inclusion of proofreading is optional. If you receive a quote for translation, unless proofreading is requested to provide the quotation, it will not be included. This is mainly because many companies prefer to have the translation proofread by one of their overseas offices.

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How do you calculate the cost of my translation?

The cost of a translation depends on a number of things, including:

• the number of words in the original file
• the source and target languages
• the subject matter for translation
• whether any special formatting is required
• the amount of text embedded in any graphics
• whether proofreading is required
• the amount of repeated text

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Is translation memory the same as machine translation?

No. Machine translation is automatic translation without any human input and as a result, machine translation may not be very accurate and could cause your business to be a laughing stock. Translation memory simply means that any text that has been previously translated by a translator does not have to be translated again as it is automatically inserted into the translation.

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How can I get my translation back?

We can deliver your translated documents as a hard copy, by fax, by email, on CD or by courier. In the event of delivery by courier, the cost of the courier will be borne by the client.

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Why can’t I read the translation?

Some languages require the use of fonts which may not be installed on your computer. If you encounter this problem, let us know and we can embed the fonts in a pdf file, which can then be opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable free-of charge).

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How do I pay for the translation?

We can accept payment by cash, cheque or bank transfer.

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