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What is the EU translation standard?

The European Union, in conjunction with the professional language associations in Europe, had become increasingly concerned at the lack of transparency as to what “language translation services" meant and the confusion this caused for clients of this sector.

The published EU standard requires that:

• the initial translation be undertaken by a professionally qualified translator / linguist and
• his / her work be then subject to the checking and proof reading stage in which another second and independent unconnected professional translator / linguist will check the original to the translation word-for-word on a 100% basis to ensure accuracy of translation, clarity of meaning and suitability for the client’s requirements.

The EU-proposed standard has now been adopted in the UK as British Standard BS EN 15038.

Some translation companies offer only a single-run translation. Others offer the more appropriate full proper “translation plus independent checking and proofreading service".

These variations are often fudged: the translation providers of only single-run translations often quote lower prices per thousand words. They do not make it clear that the second stage checking / proof reading “peer” review is not offered or, if offered is an additional cost. So they look better value: this is not in fact the case - only the full service is acceptable to deliver a professional result.

Total Language Solutions have always worked to standards that match these standards of professionalism ever since the business' inception almost ten years ago: not many UK providers can make that claim.

Prospective clients in the language translation services sector should require the translation agency to attest in writing that they meet these standards prior winning the assignment.

Common questions relating to language translations, translators, and Total Language Solutions.

• Does my document need to be translated by a professional translator?
• Does my document need to be translated by a specialist?
• Does the translation need to be checked and proofread?
• What is a translation?
• What is a professional translator?
• What is a language?
• What is a dialect?
• What is a professional linguist?
• What is print ready?
• What is checking and proofreading?
• What is the EU standard now adopted by the UK?
• How quickly can you translate my material?
• What are the main stages of the translation process?
• What is “translation only”?
• Do you undertake translation only assignments?
• Will you do an edit and proofreading only assignment?
• What is quality control?
• What is quality assurance?
• What is QA?
• What is your price tariff?
• What is the culturalisation element of your service?
• What is the localisation element of your service?
• What is the internationalisation element of your service?
• What is the globalisation element of your service?
• How do I know that the translation is correct?
• How can I compare prices?
• How do you maintain confidentiality?
• What is the EU standard?
• What is the UK standard?
• My business is unique: How do I know that your translators will understand my business?
• Why should I get my material translated?
• Can you translate my website?
• What is the translation web site?
• How long has your company been in the translation business?
• Do directors and marketing representatives of your company visit clients?
• How do I get a quotation for my requirements?
• Can I take up references to validate your experience and professional capabilities?
• Does your agency have translators for all languages?
• We are looking to establish a long-term relationship with a translation company.
• Do you offer long-term contracts / working relationships with your clients?
• We are a service consultancy/agency like you: do you come to special arrangements with such companies?
• How is it that your pricing structure is lower than many of your competitors?
• What are the main differences between: translation, localisation, internationalisation, globalisation?
• Can you translate our website?
• How do I send you the material which I require to be translated?
• What sectors do you cover?
• What forms do you work in and formats?
• What software do you use?
• What languages do you work in?
• Do you have full-time in-house translators or freelance translators?
• How much do you charge?
• Where to I find the cheapest translation?
• How fast does a translator work?
• What is computer aided translation (“CAT”)?
• What is computer translation memory?
• Why are there significantly different pricing tariffs between different agencies offering what seems to be the same service?
• What is human translation?
• How can I get the best benefit out of my translation project?
• In order to get a quote, what information do I need to provide?
• How do I get the text to you to work on?
• Why are different prices charged per 1,000 words according to the languages involved?
• Are the translations always of the same length?
• Does the translation take up the same amount of space as the original material?
• Do rush jobs demand a higher fee?
• What is a certified translation?
• What is apostilled translation?
• What is a native speaker?
• Are computers taking over translation?
• Do your employees speak more than one language?
• Can you translate my documents yesterday?
• What about different fonts, for example, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and other Far Eastern fonts? How do you deal with them?
• What is the translation-only service?
• What is checking and proof-reading?
• What is editing and proof-reading?
• What is the total translation service?
• What are matched words?
• What is the new client discount?
• What is meant by “edit and proof read alone”?
• What is a freelance translator?
• What is Desk Top Publishing (“DTP”)
• What is a translation company?
• What is a translation agency?
• What is an apostille?
• What is culturalisation?
• What is localisation?
• What is internationalisation?
• What is globalisation?
• What is editing?
• What is proof reading?
• What is a literal translation?
• What is a machine translation?
• What is memory translation?
• What is a qualified translator?
• How do you ensure an accurate translation?
• For how long has your agency been in operation?
• Can I visit your head office?
• Can I receive a visit from your representative?
• How do I get a personalized quotation?
• How can I verify your references / experience / professionalism?
• I have half a page to translate. Do you accept small jobs?
• Does your agency have translators for all languages?
• I am a translator. How can I send you my CV in order to work with you?
• We are interested in establishing an ongoing working relationship with you. Is that possible?
• We are a service agency. Do you offer special discounts to enable us to resell your services to our clients?
• What criteria do you use to select your collaborators?
• I have read about your web site translation and localization services and about your experience in search engine positioning. Do you include this in your list of services too?
• How did you position your site amongst the top search engine rankings on most search engines?
• How do you maintain such reasonable prices for your services?
• Are you able to download our web site to translate / localize it?
• How can I send you translation material?
• Do you use permanent, in-house translators or freelance translators?
• Do you do technical translations? Medical? Legal? What specific industries do you cover?
• What forms do you work in and formats?
• What software do you use?
• What languages do you work in?