There are several different factors to keep in mind in order to get an idea of how long the translation of a text will take, and of course, each factor brings about its own issues.
First and foremost, one must consider the number of words in question. Regardless of the language pair, it is estimated that a translator can translate about 2,500 words per day on average, which in turn can vary slightly depending on the complexity of the text. Editing takes less time, and it is calculated that about 5,000 words per day can be edited, depending on the quality of the translation. In turn, 10,000 words per day are calculated for proofreading (the final revision).
To give a specific example, imagine that we have a 10,000 word text to translate, say, from English to French. If the translation is done by a single translator, we can estimate that it will take four days to complete this first step. The editing would last two days, and proofreading would be completed in one day. Essentially, the project would be ready in one week’s time.
Now there are different methods to “streamline” a translation project and have it ready faster. In the example of the 10,000-word text, the translation can be divided between two resources, thus saving us two days. Any inconsistency or differences between the translation of the first resource and the second resource can be corrected by the editor whose job it is to standardize terms and vocabulary. Of course, the more resources we use to divide a translation, the more inconsistencies there will be. That is why it is always a good idea to have one editor review the whole text.
The vast majority of translation projects are carried out with the help of CAT tools, which keep already translated words in the translation memory. This makes it so the translator doesn’t have to translate the same term over and over again. It also has terminological bases and style guides so that each client’s projects maintain certain quality standards.
At Trusted Translations we know how important it is to maintain the balance between delivery times, costs and quality. This is why we analyze each project in a personalized way to deliver excellent quality projects, as quickly as possible and at the most optimal price.
