Translation

Our experts can add any language to virtually any website in 90 days, regardless of its size or complexity.

We combine our two key strengths -- technical expertise and word-class translation -- to deliver a solution unlike any other. No other company offers such a rapid, robust turn-key solution.

We do not require you to have an English source language site.

It is very helpful, if not vital, to supply background materials relating to the meeting well in advance. References, terms and acronyms familiar to those in your field are not always clear to an outsider. Interpreters need to familiarise themselves with every new subject, so drafts and presentation slides are invaluable.

Most versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office will allow you to display foreign language text. Depending on your current settings, many common European and Asian languages will work on your computer without any changes. Some specialized settings and configurations are needed for other languages.
Word offers varying degrees of support for a wide variety of languages, including character-based languages such as Chinese and Japanese and languages written from right to left such as Arabic and Hebrew. You can review current settings or change them by using the “Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options” link after clicking on Window XP’s “Control Panel”.

Then you will need to configure Word by using its language settings tool. Even if you can’t configure your computer to display the translations, we can provide an Adobe Acrobat PDF file that you can view and print on almost any computer using Adobe Acrobat. 

At DBA we treat every piece of work as confidential, but we are happy to sign a Confidentiality Agreement if necessary. Please bear in mind, we will retain copies of your source documents and translations for three years unless you specify otherwise.

The reading level of DBA’s translations generally matches that of the English source text. However, when a client wishes to target individuals with lower levels of education, DBA’s Services’ Project Managers/Editors and Translators work closely to make sure the translation accommodates that need.

When the register of the English source text is significantly above that of the target audience, and use of common high register/low register synonyms will not meet the needs of the target audience due to the complexity of the English source text, DBA translators work with clients to simplify the source English text before beginning translation. By lowering the register of the English text prior to translation, the client sees the exact message given to the target audience and we is able to certify that the translation accurately reflects the English document.

Our conference interpreters tend to charge a daily fee. Preparation time, travel time, travel costs, accommodation and food are often factored into the cost. Other forms of interpreting are charged on a half-day or hourly basis, where a minimum charge applies. If an assignment is cancelled, a fee of up to 100% will be charged, as interpreters are unlikely to find an alternative job at short notice.

We agree a fixed fee per line, per page of source text (the language of the original document), so we can quote quickly at the beginning of the project.

We consider language combination, type of text, text formatting and other factors when providing an estimate. Extra formatting may cost more and require a longer delivery deadline, while discounts are available for high volume work involving multiple languages.

It’s never too early to book an interpreter – finding someone at short notice can be difficult, especially when multiple languages are involved, so it’s best to book as early as possible.

A maximum of eight hours (including breaks) is the standard working day. This helps avoid fatigue, which can affect the efficiency of proceedings and lead to misunderstandings.

We recommend that you allow roughly one working day per 150-200 lines for translation. But we are always willing to work around tight deadlines, so we can discuss getting your translation completed more quickly if necessary.

We usually email our clients directly in MS Word, Excel or Powerpoint format, or in other formats if necessary. However, you might not be able to read electronic files if you do not have the appropriate fonts for languages such as Japanese, Chinese or Arabic. We can usually send you a PDF to resolve this. Translations which need certification can only be returned by post. We can also return your original source documents by courier at an additional charge.

We only work with qualified, professional interpreters, who have total fluency in more than one language and an in-depth understanding of the culture. Bilingualism alone does not qualify someone to be an interpreter – this highly skilled profession takes years to perfect. Depending on your particular assignment and location, we can choose the right interpreter – someone who specialises in your industry, and who is based near you.

A translator deals with the written word, translating a text in a foreign language into their mother tongue. An interpreter deals with the spoken word, relaying messages between speakers of different languages face to face (eg. at meetings and conferences).

We can translate from any language to any language, including all major European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages.

We carefully consider the right translator for each individual project. All of our translation work is done by qualified, mother tongue translators who have a strong understanding of the cultures behind the languages they work in. Many of our translators are specialised in specific industries, so we can find a translator who understands the demands of your market.