1) How are translations priced? The price is based on a rate per 1000 words of completed text (often referred to as the "target" text). Our price includes proofreading and delivery to our client by e-mail or fax and/or hardcopy by post. 2) Is it true that the text can be increased or decreased in length during the translation process? Yes. For instance English texts translated into French often expand by as much as 15% but remember that a French text will often be reduced in length by the same amount when translated into English .There is little change in length with, for instance, Dutch or German into English. 3) How fast do we translate? A reasonable workload for a translator is approximately 1500-2000 words per day depending on the complexity of the subject matter. With Oriental languages the average is around 1000 words per day due to the complexity of the characters. The higher prices charged for Oriental translations reflect this slower work-rate. 4) How do we cope with very tight deadlines? With large translations where a tight deadline is involved we may use two or more translators on the same job but this is something we try to avoid since it can lead to inconsistencies in style unless carefully edited. We, therefore, only use this method with the client's prior approval. We will work at weekends if necessary in order to complete the job sooner but a 50% surcharge will be incurred for that portion of the work. We, therefore, require our client's permission before allowing our translators to work at the weekend. 5) How is the work received by us and returned to our client? Our preferred way to receive documents is by e-mail but we will naturally accept faxed documents or hardcopy by post if less urgency is involved. 6) How creative can a translator be expected to be? Translating is an art but a translator's task is to convey accurately the meaning conveyed by the source text. Translators are not copywriters but like copywriters each translator has an individual style. A given text may be translated slightly differently by two different but equally competent professional translators. If a sub-standard source text is supplied one cannot expect a translator to improve the original content. In fact a translator should only do this with the prior permission of the client. 7) What guarantee can we have of the professional competence of our translators? Most of our translators are Members or Associates of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting (MITI or AITI) or Members or Associates of the Institute of Linguists (MIL or AIL). Sometimes we will use a foreign translator who is a member of his or her country's translation association. Most of our translators have worked for us for many years and have , therefore, proved their professional competence to us.