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Global Lingo FAQs If we don't answer all your questions please give us a ring on: +44 (0) 20 7978 0126
Translation >> What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter? In the industry, the term translator tends to refer to any written work carried out, i.e. rendering one document into another language. An interpreter always refers to someone who translates orally, e.g. at a conference where there are two or more parties speaking different languages. Just to confuse you, the term "translator" can also sometimes refer to someone translating orally. However "Interpreter" never refers to written translation. How long does it take to translate a document? A competent translator tends to work toward a target of 1,500 to 2,500 words per day. Therefore, should you require a much larger job urgently, it may be necessary to split the job between several translators. In such situations Global Lingo would appoint a project manager in order to maintain consistency in style and to oversee the smooth running of the project. How are translation jobs priced? Each translation job is priced separately according to a number of factors: the deadline, format of the source document (e.g. PowerPoint or Word), format of the finished document and complexity and level of specialist knowledge required. However, the two main variables that affect the price are the length of the document(s), and the language combinations. For example, a Japanese to Swedish translation would cost significantly more than a French to English translation. We tend to price each job per 1,000 words. Our sales team would always discuss these options with you before you commit to a project, to ensure you know what you will be paying and to eliminate the danger of any hidden costs added after the job. Does a translator need to be an expert in the subject matter of the translation? This depends on the complexity of your document. If, for example, you require a technical electrical-engineering manual to be translated from English into Mandarin, then we would appoint someone with a specialist knowledge in this subject matter. If however you want a general business document translated from French into English, it would be much more straightforward. The translator appointed would research your company, including technical terms and any in-house acronyms to ensure maximum accuracy. Which languages can you translate? Global Lingo has a core of over 100 languages that it translates regularly. These include every major world language (Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish). In addition, we cover many more languages from every continent so please don't hesitate to contact us. Are you just a translation agency? No, we are a fully integrated language-services company. In addition to translation, we offer interpreting, transcripts, reports, summaries, localisation services, proofreading, and project management. How would I pay? We accept payment by credit card, cheque and bank transfer. We can also accept payments in euros and dollars by bank transfer. What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter? In the industry, the term translator tends to refer to any written work carried out, i.e. rendering one document into another language. An interpreter always refers to someone who translates orally, e.g. at a conference where there are two or more parties speaking different languages. Just to confuse you, the term "translator" can also sometimes refer to someone translating orally. However "Interpreter" never refers to written translation. What is the difference between simultaneous and consecutive interpretation? Simultaneous interpreting is the complex and highly skilled task of rendering one spoken language into another and is usually provided at high-end conferences. This is the interpreting format employed by the UN and the EU. Interpreters, working in teams of two per language, listen to the speaker and at the same time provide an interpretation of what has just been said, in real time. The interpreters tend to sit in sound-proof booths out of the way of the main conference proceedings. Consecutive interpretation is meant for smaller business meetings, interviews and seminars. Less demanding than simultaneous interpreting, the speaker delivers a few sentences and then pauses whilst the interpreter repeats what has just been said in the target language. The interpreter may interpret for the whole group or, as is becoming increasingly common, sit next to an individual and whisper what has just been said. Unlike simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting does not happen in real time. However, as no special equipment is required, it is considerably cheaper than simultaneous interpretation. How are interpretation jobs priced? There are several variables. Unless otherwise stated, most interpretation jobs are priced by the day. The language variables, the location of the event, the level of interpreting (i.e. consecutive, whispering or simultaneous) and the complexity of the event can all affect the price. All of this would be discussed with the client in advance of any project undertaking. Why do interpreters work in pairs? Surely that means I will be paying double? Simultaneous interpreters often spend no longer than twenty minutes working before taking a break, since the process requires the ability to concentrate for sustained periods and a degree of mental stamina. Hence, it is an industry standard that they work in pairs, and effectively swap over at convenient points throughout the meeting or conference. Is there any information we can provide to you in advance of the meeting to help the interpreter's preparation? Yes, absolutely: the more information the better! The more information about the company and the meeting in question that we can provide to the interpreter in advance of the meeting, the more research they can do with regards to technical terms, speakers, acronyms, etc. Examples of useful prior information include: location (hotel, room size, location of electrical points, etc.); in-house jargon, such as acronyms; speeches or PowerPoint slides to be used; technical terms, such as new products to be launched; and the meeting agenda and attendance lists. How much equipment is required for an interpretation job, and do you supply this? Global Lingo supplies all necessary equipment and trained staff to ensure the smooth running of your event. Depending on the level of interpretation and the size of your event, you may require equipment, such as booths, digital microphone systems, and a control unit operated by one of our sound specialists. Why is it important to have a record of a meeting? The reasons for recording a meeting are as varied as the reasons for having the meeting in the first place. Functional reasons for recording meetings range from knowledge sharing internally or externally to indemnifying yourself against the consequences of misrepresented meetings. The reason for using Global Lingo to record that meeting is that we ensure it is recorded to the highest levels of elegance and accuracy. You value the information contained in your meeting and so do we. How do you price your transcripts and summaries? The most important element of our pricing policy is the metric: we charge clients and pay writers by the meeting hour. First, this means that the total cost to you will be transparent as soon as the meeting ends. Second, this means that there is no incentive for our writers to produce incomprehensible and expensive documents for you because they are paid per word and so include every ‘um' and ‘er'. Third, this means that there is no incentive for our writers to work slowly because they are paid per hour of their time. Stenographers are renowned for demanding a day rate for an hour's work. What is the difference between your summaries and standard minutes written by someone in-house? The differences are efficiency and quality. Our summaries are efficient because minutes take time to write up, time that your people do not have. Our rigorous quality assurance takes care of the rest. Using in‑house staff to take minutes always presents problems. Those senior enough to have a command of the discussion rarely have the time to devote to minutes; those junior enough to have the time rarely have the command of the topic to be able to produce comprehensive minutes. Global Lingo is the solution. How is one of your writers qualified to provide a summary of our technical meeting? Surely to summarise you need a specialised knowledge of the subject matter? You do indeed need specialised knowledge. That is why our writers are well versed in their sectors. Our selection process first ensures that all our writers are highly educated with a broad awareness of current events. We then develop our writers within a speciality, furnishing them with copious background material on a client and industry. Due to the breadth of our client base in any one sector, our writers are quickly able to understand high‑level discussion points at any new client's meeting because of their experience of similar clients. How can your writers gain access to our competitors' events in order to provide an account of proceedings? Don't worry, Global Lingo does not break any domestic or international laws when offering this service; we're not tapping phones! We are merely providing a simple service enabling organisations to compare themselves with other organisations, allowing them to make informed decisions. Our writers don't tend to go to your competitors' events unless it is completely allowed. The most common way we access information is by listening to conference calls and webcasts. For example, you may want us to provide you with a transcript from your competitor's Q3 earnings results. Provided they are a Public Limited Company, this is public information available to anyone who knows how to access it. What is the difference between your writers and a stenographer or shorthand writer? Our experience in the marketplace has afforded us an intimate acquaintance with stenographers, shorthand writers, palantypists and all other arcane transcribers. None has matched the high standards that we demand. Because they are trained as speed typists rather than writers, clients frequently have to spend significant amounts of their own time tidying and correcting documents. For the exorbitant fees they claim (stenographers' charges can be in excess of barristers') they are simply not worth it. How do you train your writers to summarise? First, we train them to write coherently. Second, we train them to write concisely. Third, we ensure that our writers have equal measures of experience in the client's industry and summary writing. Combined, this means that our writers have a researched familiarity with both lucid writing and the instant identification of key points. Because all our summary writers are also trained transcribers, they are rehearsed in providing full documents and never exclude material arbitrarily. How is the document itself produced? Do you need specialist equipment? Our basic tools are a laptop, the internet, and a recording device, all of which we provide at no surcharge. Our writers work principally from the recording of the meeting, using the internet to research names and terms. When the writer's work is done, an editor then verifies the document's accuracy and fluency before it is sent to the client. What do you need from us in order to write the document? All that we need is a recording of your meeting, either from you directly or from one of our writers onsite at your event. Of course, that isn't to say that any additional information from you about names or terms wouldn't be appreciated! What is the best format for audio we send to you? How do I get it over to your writers? For your own convenience, we suggest uploading an MP3 file directly to our ftp site. We can work from any other audio source, though, and we are always available to discuss any technical issues with you. |
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