How to evaluate translators (level and fees)

The use of the internet to recruit translation freelancers has probably affected many translation companies. One of the advantages of working with freelancers is that there are no intermediaries.  There is no use making a company responsible for one of its employee's work (delivery time and quality wise) if you lose a million-dollar deal because a document was not delivered in time or was poorly translated.

When thinking about a translator, many people feel that if a person speaks a language, he/she can translate.  While this is partially true, when it comes to translation work for business purposes, the issue becomes a lot more complicated.  Companies will obviously opt to go for the cheapest option and they may not be totally wrong.  However, before hiring a translator and assessing his/her fees, companies should first evaluate what type of translation work they are looking for and pay accordingly. If companies take the time to analyze the level of translation they are looking for, they will undoubtedly be able to select the right level of translator and accept his/her fees without hesitation. 

For companies that will require ongoing translation work, translators should be recruited and selected with care with the intention of hiring him/her on a permanent basis.  This will allow the selected translator to become familiar with the jargon used in the company thereby eventually achieving improved translation.  In other words, working with outside translators require training as well so that the work produced undergoes ongoing improvement as the selected translator becomes familiarized with the company he/she is working for on a continued basis.

Level One

Only a very basic idea of the foreign text is needed. Use online translators. 

Cost: No charge

Level Two

A lot more detail and information are required but still for internal use. Have any of the company’s bilingual staff do the work (secretary, assistant, intern).

Cost: No additional charge

Level Three

A more professional text is required as it may be used for external use. The translator may not command grammar and/or have problems understanding and translating complex texts, thereby misconstruing/mistranslating texts. In-depth review by a company professional proficient in the both the original as well as the target language is not only required but mandatory.

Cost: Between $10-12 Dollars per page*

Level Four

An expert translator with full command of both languages is required including excellent grammar in the target language, understanding and translating accurately complex texts.  Review might not be necessary after the company has acquired total confidence in the translator. 

Cost: Between $15-20 Dollars per page*

Level Five

This expert translator does not only have Level Four qualifications but is also knowledgeable in industry related jargon and issues. It can be a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer etc. It is also worth mentioning that translators at this level, in view of their deep knowledge of the terms and issues they are translating, do not deliver literal translation but, while not departing from the main idea, they essentially rewrite the texts.  While this may sound daunting, some of the problems translators face are texts that are poorly drafted in the original language, are confusing or repetitive forcing the translator to rewrite them (and submit them for approval) and issue notes making observations with respect to the original text. 

For companies that will be using the texts as marketing tools or share them with top level executives, the cost may very well be worth paying.

Cost: Between $25 to $50 per page*

Professional translators do not lower the bar.  In other words, they will not charge less to do less quality translation work.  It just does not work that way.  Good translation work may be quite impressive when the reader is made aware that the text they are reading is not the original but a translation.  This happens frequently with legal translation, for example. Professional translators become writers and take great pride in their work.  That is why it is extremely important for companies to be aware of the finished product they are looking for.

 *25 lines with 10 words each. [Some translators may use other metrics and/or charge by word]