Urgent translation is a service that provides you with a quick turnaround translation. Although it is not recommended for clients to seek urgent translations frequently, it is unavoidable in the real world where some situations demand it.

Urgent Translation Process- Having said that, urgent translations can still be done within a short time and to a high standard. The average industry standard for a normal translation of 6000 words would take up to 3 to 4 days. However, when it comes to an urgent translation, it is wise to give it a 24 hours window for a quality translation. The proof reading process of the document ensures that the urgent translation is of high quality and grammatically correct. Urgent translations are more expensive than normal translations because of intense labor involved to do the work. It is normal to have up to a 50% surcharge compared to the normal rates.

In order to make things even quicker, the client should send the documents needing urgent translations in electronic format. The translator will be able to translate quicker with the aid of Word, Excel, Power Point or PDF Viewer. These electronic formats are able to facilitate smoother coordination between the project manager and several translators. On the other hand, picture files such as .jpeg or .gif are not translator friendly. The final proof reading translator will also help to arrange all the translated text according to the original format before delivering it to the customer.

Certified Translations- If the document being urgently translated is an official document requiring certification, the clients will have to make sure that the translators working on the urgent translations can certify the document. Certified documents cannot be returned in 24 hours since they required being mailed back to the client. The original translation showing the Public Notary seal embossed in the document is required, an electronic copy is not adequate most of the time.

I specialize in translating personal documents such as diplomas, birth certificates, married licenses, etc. Except when the assignment includes several documents, my turn around is 48 hours after receiving the document in digital form. Urgent translations not requiring certification can be done in less than 24 hours period.

A website is a collection of web pages, images, videos and/or other digital contents that is hosted on at least one web server. It is usually accessed via the Internet. The pages of a website typically live in certain hierarchy and are retrieved from a common root URL called the Homepage. The hyperlinks between the pages also control how the user perceives the overall structure of the website and how the traffic flows between different parts of the site.

Websites can be built and launched by individuals, businesses and other public and private organizations. Whatever its nature – personal, commercial, governmental or non-profit – a website is typically dedicated to some particular topic or purpose. However it is structured, a website most commonly contains two major elements – navigation (such as buttons, hyperlinks, dialogs, pick lists and drop-down lists) and content (including text, image, video and other digital assets). In both cases, the translation needs to be clear, precise and free of error. Whether it is for the purpose of internationalization or localization, the translator needs to have sufficient knowledge and experience in fields related to the subject matter of the website in order to adequately interpret its navigation and content.

Many translation companies give their customers the opportunity of having their translations proofread. Some companies always include it, others do not, but what does it really mean and how do you know if you need it?

What is additional proofreading?

Additional proofreading is carried out after your document has been translated from the source language into the target language. The first translator will always proofread their own work to make sure the translation is accurate and free from errors, but additional proofreading goes that bit further and consolidates the first review.

Importantly, additional proofreading is carried out by a second skilled translator, which brings a different perspective and a fresh pair of eyes. While translators take every care to deliver translations of the highest quality, they are human and errors can happen. Furthermore, a proofreader can help to polish a document to make it more targeted to its intended audience.
In my practice, if the source is handwriting like an old birth certificate with names and places, I don’t know, I always ask the client to proofread the document before I certify it and notarize it. In the case of an essay or article translated from Spanish to English, I always ask a native English speaker to proofread the material to insure correct grammar and avoid literal translation.
I also proofread documents translated by other translators and my fees are lower than if I have done the original translation.

Are proofreaders also translators?

In order for a proofreader to accurately review a translation, they need to have a detailed understanding of both source and target languages and have the skills and experience to render the source language into their native tongue. Typically proofreaders are very experienced translators, well rehearsed at both language translation and proofreading, unless they are checking just for correct grammar usage and possible misspelling, in which case they should be native speakers of the target language.

Do I need additional proofreading?

The answer to this question is simple: it depends. In some situations it is strongly recommended that additional proofreading is included as part of your translation project. For example marketing documents, brochures, websites, leaflets and press releases are often intended to increase sales and raise awareness. A highly-polished proofread translation will have been reviewed by a second translator thus ensuring it is stylistically appropriate, error-free and with maximum return on investment potential. Also, as I pointed out earlier, in the case of handwriting documents, those are difficult to read, and long articles that might need a second person to polish the translation.

Conversely, in other situations it is not necessary for a document to be reviewed by an additional linguist. It is very important to stress that a translation can still be of high quality, even without additional proofreading (unless of course the original translator was bad at what they do). The initial translator will always thoroughly review their work and in many situations this is perfectly adequate. It is also worth remembering that a professional translation agency employs highly-skilled translators with formal linguistic education and many years of experience.

In summary, additional proofreading can add value to a translation but it is not always necessary. If you are unsure whether you need it for your next translation project, let me know so I understand your requirements, and I can assure your document will meet your exact needs.