F.A.Q.

How can I use your services?

Modern technologies enable placing and receiving orders without even leaving your office or your home. You can order our services by e-mail, fax and phone or simply by visiting one of our offices, whichever is the closest to your location.

How long does it take to have the source text translated?

The time we need for translation depends on three criteria: volume, complexity and format of the source text. We can handle small documents (certificates, diplomas, ID documents, etc.) within one day or even just a few hours. All our translators are highly experienced professionals and can handle at least 2,000 words per day. At times, when required, large projects can be handled by several translators but beware this may have a negative impact on the quality of the target text due to differences of style and terminology used by each translator. Therefore, upon completion of the translation, it is necessary to homogenize the text, which can become in itself  a time consuming process. We however always do our best to meet deadlines without compromising on quality. Until now we have been translating about 4,000 pages per month.

How do you ensure quality of the translated text?

Translations are divided into several levels from a point of view of quality and price. If you need the translation for information purposes only, the translation will be correct, without deviating from the original meaning, free of style and grammar errors. If a mistake is spotted but is deemed having no impact on the essence and meaning of the text, the translation is considered to be correct. If however the translated text is to be used for publishing,  it must be proofread and edited by a language professional – native speaker.  At times, to ensure accuracy, we will need to call upon the services of industry or science experts. As a result, the price for such translations will be higher due to the fact that the text will be handled by at least three people. For optimal results, text editing is required to ensure high quality as translators are language experts and not professionals of a specific field. Even if a translator has an excellent command of a language he is not native in, only a native speaker can really feel all the aspects of said language and make the text sound as natural as possible, as if written originally by a native.

Clients’ support is also of prime importance and always deeply appreciated. The more translation – related materials, references, glossaries, terminology lists and advices provided the higher the translation quality and compliance with clients’ requirements.

Who translates the texts?

All the texts are translated by experienced translators with excellent language knowledge and at least two years’ experience in the field of translations. People usually think that if one knows the language, he or she can be a translator. Unfortunately, this is not true. Based on test translations, we choose as little as 20 percent of all applicants. It takes several years to become a quality translator. Very often a good language expert cannot become a good translator, because translation requires special abilities and, what is more important, a passion for the work at hand; a translator must be curious, able to find the necessary resources and information to deliver a translation of the highest quality.

What will the format of the translated materials be?

If source material is submitted in Word format, the format of the target text delivered will be identical. For other formats, at times it is just not possible to do so because of technical reasons. In that case, we can offer DTP (Desk Publishing) services at an extra charge.

Why are translation services expensive?

It is not enough for a translator to know a language. Recent university graduates are not able to deliver high-level translations due to their lack of experience and expertise. Translation is a time consuming process. A translator has to search for terminology and references prior to start translating. Translation is not a mechanical process. Currently available CAT (Computer Aided Translation) tools are only used to expedite the translation process and to homogenize terminology not to localize in place of the professional. Moreover, it is not enough to translate the text; in order for a translation to be of high quality, localization has to be followed by proofreading and editing.

How is the price for translation calculated?

The translation volume calculation is based on characters count. One standard page consists of 1,700 characters. More often, translation services are charged per single source word. If the source text is in Word format, it is easy to determine the final price. You only need to send us the source text in Word and within a few minutes we shall give you a quotation. For other formats, price calculation may be slightly more complicated. We will always however, prior to starting any translation, agree with you on a price and a deadline . Our quotations are always free of charge, even if you decide not to order from us and choose another provider of language services.

Which languages do you handle?

You can find the main language pairs we work with in our list of languages. We however offer other language combinations so feel free to ask. If your source language is English and target language is French, it will not be necessary to translate the text into Lithuanian and then into French. This process could be a cheaper but by no means a better option. In case of intermediate translation (e.g. English – Lithuanian – French), there is always a danger that the translated text will be of poor quality and very often original meaning will be lost in translation. Therefore, it is always recommended to avoid intermediate languages.

Are quick turnaround translations more expensive?

We are always doing our best to offer you the most competitive price. Nevertheless, in some cases, especially if the deadline is very short, rate can be increased by up to 30 percent (but this is not necessarily the case). We always advise our clients to avoid quick turnaround translations as if the turnaround period is too short, there won’t be enough time for thinking, neither searching accurate terminology and/or necessary materials nor proofreading. As the English proverb goes "Great haste makes great waste" and we strongly recommend you keep this in mind. We are nevertheless always ready to help our clients and we shall do our best to deliver translations within the shortest possible timeframe even if  it sometimes seems impossible.