Following are a few frequently asked questions about translation in general and what you should take into account before submitting a text for translation.

What is translation?

According to Webster Dictionary, translation is “a rendering from one language into another;” in other words, the act of translation is conveying a text from one language to another, in an accurate a manner as possible  in such a way that it reads as if it was written in the target language to being with.

When should I submit a text for translation?

The text should be submitted in good time so as not to compromise the quality of the translation. Quality translation requires time and  in-depth reading to gain a comprehensive understanding of the text and more often than not, various degrees of research are required to pinpoint the professional jargon or just the right word play to do justice to the original text.

Is there translation terminology I should be familiar with?

Yes there is. For example:

• Source language – the language the original text was written in.
• Target language – the language into which original text is translated.
• Translation unit – the number of characters, words, pages according to which a translation is priced.
• Any given text will have about 30%- 50% more words in English than it has in Hebrew.

I have a text I want to have translated. What now?

• In order to begin the translation process, the text is sent by email or fax along with any special instructions, deadlines and so on.
• Once the text has been received and read, we prepare and send the client a price quote, factoring in the kind of material to be translated and the urgency of the translation. (The price quote is per translation units – usually according to units of 250 words in the target language, accompanied by a rough estimation of the total fee of the translation.) The minimal fee of a translation is the cost of one translation unit in the target language.
• After receiving the client’s approval, the text is translated in the best and most accurate way possible. The completed translation is sent to the client with a pro forma invoice.

After the completing the translation and delivering it to the client, I remain at the client’s service for any questions, clarifications and changes necessary.