Home / F.A.Q.

F.A.Q.

What is the difference between revision and rereading?

Rereadingonly covers the target text whereas revision also includes a comparison of the source text and the target text..

Revision provides for an in-depth examination of the text’s consistency, to check the meaning of the text in detail and ensure that there are no omissions, whereas rereading simply involves a formal check (spelling, grammar, absence of major misunderstandings, etc.). 

When should I choose to have translation and revision (compliance with the EN 15038 standard)?

You are always advised to opt for revision by a third party when it is within your budget. If your budget cannot be increased, you must decide how important the text is. Is it intended for a few colleagues or will it be distributed more widely, or used to make important decisions? What if they are safety instructions? All of these criteria must be considered. A slightly higher cost is often worth it in terms of positive feedback.

To help, we suggest a classification which will help you to reach your decision.
1/ Required
2/ Strongly recommended
3/ Optional 

Which points are systematically checked in a translation?

Grammar, syntax and spelling
Pagination
Consistent terminology
The way the text flows and ideas follow

What are the pitfalls and advantages of translation agencies?

Translation agencies have high administration costs which often eat into what the translator is paid and therefore the quality of the service. What is more, they often work with a large number of people, which means that quality is often irregular. Finally, they don’t always communicate customer needs and translator queries, which can be difficult!

On the other hand, they provide added value by being better suited to manage large multilingual projects. Of course, that depends on whether you have found a serious agency, really offering added value, and not simply an attractive shop window...

Which languages do translators translate into?

Is there any language we understand better than our own? We always translate into our mother tongue for professional and ethical reasons. This means that your translations into German will be handled by a German speaker, into English by an English speaker, etc.

Watch out for people who claim to be able to translate into different languages. In most cases, all this demonstrates is a lack of professionalism.