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| TIP! If you’re a freelance translator and looking for translation jobs – many online translation directories publish databases of translation agencies which you can apply to for jobs, often with comments from other translators who have worked with them. |
Big or small?
Translation agencies providing professional translation services vary hugely in size and quality. They range from one-person translation agencies to multi-national companies.Small agencies tend to specialize in a limited range of languages or specialized fields. In general, the larger the agency, the greater their management role, and the more language combinations, specializations and range of services they’ll be able to offer. Many agencies are run by qualified translators who have formed working networks with colleagues, taking on their own employees as they become more established.
Finding a good agency
Start local.Do a Google search for agencies in your area and then check up each translation agency’s website. Look for professional translation services which have been around for a while, have been awarded certification endorsing the quality of their work, and can refer to solid client lists. Start locally – it is always best to be able to meet up face-to-face!
There is a saying in the profession that “you’re only as good as your last translation”, and so agencies (and freelancers) who have been in business for several years are probably doing a good job.
As a freelance translator myself, I certainly prefer to work with local translation agencies – if you normally work from home then it’s nice to actually meet the people you work for, and you’re more likely to meet up at professional translation events held in your area. When the agency and translator are geographically close, it is also more likely that the translator has heard of the client and the business about which they'll be translating – don’t underestimate the importance of background knowledge!
Freelance Translators
Or you can choose to buy your German to English, or English to German translations directly from a freelance translator. There are several translator directories on the web in which freelance translators advertise their professional translation sevices.How do you know if your chosen freelance translator is adequately qualified?
You can do several forms of background check on a freelance translator:- are they a member of a recognised language translation association? (Membership usually requires that the translator has provided proof of their professional qualifications and references.)
- are they listed with some of the more respected translator directories?
A freelance translator is fine for your English to German translations when:
• You have found a good and reliable translator who you want to keep working with!
• Your jobs are not too large, your deadlines are realistic and - even better - when you can notify the translator of your translation requirements in advance.
• Your translations are limited to a set language pair such as German to English (the most frequent combination in German-speaking countries)
• Your translations deal with very specialised subject-matter and you find a freelance translator with the necessary specialist knowledge.
• Confidentiality is key, and you need to know exactly who has access to your publications.
Is it more expensive using translation agencies rather than a freelance translator?
Generally, yes.But you are paying for a different level of service. Freelancers, as individuals, can only take on translation jobs in the language pair (e.g. German to English) and field (e.g. medical translation) in which they specialize. They usually translate into their native language. (Some may charge more and get a second translator to check through their translation before submitting it to the client.)
Agencies usually have a large number of translators on their books and can select the best translator for a client’s particular needs. Their translations will then be double-checked – either by another qualified employee at the agency or by a second, freelance translator - also specialized in that field. Where several translators have had to work on a single translation, the agency will make sure that the terminology is consistent. Only then will the translation be sent to the client.
(See here how
translation jobs are charged
.)
Get the most out of your English to German translations!
Before looking for an agency, make sure you know a bit about what translation involves. Check out this guide to commissioning translations first so you know both you and the professional translation service are speaking the same language!Pay peanuts, get monkeys
Some professional translation services only have a “virtual” presence, and their sales pitch is primarily low cost. I’d say “be wary” – these agencies can only make money by hiring freelance translators who charge even less and, of course, you get what you pay for.Good translators are professionals and usually highly qualified, often with post-graduate language qualifications. Providing professional translation services is also a time-consuming task, requiring intense concentration on the part of the translator.
More German texts will be translated into English than into any other language.
Many larger companies in German-speaking countries (e.g. Deutsche Post AG) have adopted English as their corporate language. As a result, you’ll generally find that the translator working with the agency is an English native speaker with qualifications in German and translation, and based either in an English- or German-speaking country (a "DACH" country – Germany, Austria, Switzerland). So do be realistic - translation charges will also reflect the costs of living in these countries.
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