{"id":674,"date":"2016-11-23T11:33:01","date_gmt":"2016-11-23T06:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulatus.com\/translation-blog\/?p=674"},"modified":"2016-11-24T12:17:37","modified_gmt":"2016-11-24T06:47:37","slug":"how-to-navigate-the-impervious-seas-of-translation-budgets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulatus.com\/translation-blog\/how-to-navigate-the-impervious-seas-of-translation-budgets\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Navigate the Impervious Seas of Translation Budgets?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saving money on translation services, especially with the variety of automated translation tools<\/a> that are available nowadays, may seem like a wise decision. However, there is a difference between getting a text of \u201cunderstandable\u201d quality and one of \u201cpublishable\u201d quality. If you are investing your time in getting content translated and your name and reputation is on the line, you might want something good, rather than of merely \u201ccomprehensible\u201d quality.<\/p>\n

So, how do you make sure you are imagining the right budget for a translation project? Why don\u2019t translation firms write their prices on their websites? What is this \u201cper word\u201d deal?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a few basics.<\/p>\n

Translation prices vary according to a few variables:<\/p>\n

1. Complexity of the Subject<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have a highly technical document that requires a specific level of expertise, you will have to pay a premium.<\/p>\n

2. Languages Requested<\/strong><\/p>\n

The price varies according to the languages requested, as some languages are more common than others. For example, Spanish is a language that is more frequently requested than, for example, Icelandic<\/a>. As a result, the Spanish into English or English into Spanish translation price is more competitive than the Icelandic into English or vice versa. This is because there is less demand for some language combinations and there are fewer translators that specialize in those language pairs, so the price is higher.<\/p>\n

3. Turnaround Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

On average, a translator can translate between 2,000\u20132,500 words per day. If you have a lengthy project with a quick turnaround time, you will likely pay a premium.<\/p>\n

4. Volume of Work<\/strong><\/p>\n

Translation firms often give discounts for high volumes of work, or if you are willing to make a long-term commitment and become a returning costumer you may also receive discount pricing.<\/p>\n

5. Additional Costs to Take into Account<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before a translation project is ready for delivery to the client, it needs to go through editing and proofreading. Adding this up results in the final cost quoted to the client. It is essential that the translation is edited and proofread by additional translators to ensure its impeccable quality.<\/p>\n

Also, additional fees might come if your text is not in a simple text format (i.e. MS Word). If, for example, your document is in Adobe InDesign or has visual content, it will require advanced formatting and DTP (desktop publishing) layout services<\/a>, which add up to the final bill.<\/p>\n

Some translators and translation firms will quote you on different grounds according to their preference:<\/p>\n