Translation Service Prices
Translation services allow businesses to create and maintain a global presence. They increase the possibilities for business growth and maximise profit margins by facilitating business expansion into new global markets.
Translation services tend to use a number of in-house translators and recruit from a database of freelance translators. Some translation services have up to 4,000 linguists available and offer translation into a wide range of languages including Thai, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Hebrew. Different dialects of the same language are also available to ensure that a document is fully comprehensible to the target audience. For instance, companies offer translation into different French dialects including Canadian French, Moroccan French and European French. Some companies offer technical translations for specific industries: legal, medical, scientific or financial. Literary translations are also on offer to create the mood and tone of the original text in a secondary language rather than convey a direct meaning.
Website translation and localisation services are available to allow businesses to maintain a global internet presence. Microsite translation is on offer to provide a more cost-effective way to maintain a global internet presence. Software localization is also available through companies that employ web programmers.
Some agencies offer the services of translators accredited with recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Linguistics (CIoL) or the Institute of Translating and Interpreting (ITI). Companies also offer quality control checks such as proofreading to ensure the correct standards are met.
Translation Prices
Translation service prices depend on a number of factors. The language pair is a significant cost factor. Rarer languages cost more, and translation from English is less expensive than translation into English. The number of words is important when calculating translation service prices. Many companies have a minimum charge for shorter pieces (usually around £60), and some build in a discount for longer translations. Translation service prices vary according to timescale. The tighter the deadline, the more a client can expect to pay. The type of language the client requires also impacts translation service prices. If the document to be translated employs a legalistic, literary or technical register, only specialised translators have the skills to translate such work which therefore increases the price. Proofreading can also increase translation service prices, but is beneficial in cases where legal or technical documents are being translated.
Although translation service prices are dependent on a number of variables, it is possible to calculate a general price estimate for different types of services. Translation service prices from English into French, Italian or Spanish stand at between £60 - £135 per 1,000 words. Where prices are cheaper, a premium is often added if the text is of a technical nature. This can increase the price up from £90 to £125 per 1,000 words for a more technical text requiring specialised translators. Translation service prices increase again if the text is urgently required and has to be produced to a tight deadline, a client can expect to pay up to £40 more for an express service.
Translation service prices for languages including Dutch, German, Flemish and Portuguese (Brazilian and European) is a little higher. Translation from English into these languages costs between £90 - £135. Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Icelandic are rarer languages once again, and translation service prices are therefore slightly higher. Businesses can expect to pay between £120 - £140 for these languages. Languages such as Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Maltese, Romanian and Turkish are rarer still. Translation service prices for these languages stand at £140 -£175. Translation service prices for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese stand at around £185.
Additional Services
Some companies charge an additional flat rate for proofreading and others add this cost as a percentage of the total price. As an additional flat rate on top of translation service prices, the client can expect to pay £60 - £80 per 1,000 words. Website translation service prices are dependent on the type of service the client requests. It is possible to request solely the translation of a website’s text, or both the translation and a new web design. Website translation requires some specialised knowledge. Translators adapt their translation to increase Search Engine Optimisation. This increases the traffic to the client’s website in the target language, and maximises the website’s hits. Website translation service prizes again vary depending on the target language. Businesses can expect to pay between £90 - £135 depending on the language. Website translation service prices increase again if an express service is required. This can double the total price.
Certain companies offer the possibility of discounted rates on their translation service prices. In instances where understanding rather than the exact meaning is important, it is possible to receive a 40% discount and have work translated by a trainee translator.
