Tips for requesting a translation

As a customer, you can significantly influence the fluency of a translation process. When sending a text to the translator, it is a good idea to send all the material that needs to be translated at once so that the translator can provide you with an exact price quote based on the length and complexity of the text. In addition, you may want to discuss the following issues:

1. Deadline: When is the translation due? Is there a strict deadline or can the translator suggest a suitable deadline? Urgent translations may be subject to an additional fee.

2. Source and target language: What language is the text in and what is it translated to? If the text needs to be translated from Finnish to English, for example, it is a good idea to specify the desired language variety: e.g. American English or British English.

3. Proofreading: The translation service provided by ELSA Kielipalvelut automatically includes proofreading done by the translator. Customers may also request proofreading by a native speaker of English, which is subject to an additional fee.

4. Purpose: What is the purpose of the text and how would you describe its target group? Is it perhaps a marketing text, a user manual or a brochure sent to customers? Will the translation be public or is it for in-house use only? Knowing the purpose of the text and its target group helps the translator with e.g. stylistic issues.

5. Background material: When requesting a translation, you may also provide possible background information or supplementary material related to the same topic, or any previous translations or glossaries that can help the translator.

6. File formats: Texts can be sent as e.g. Word, Excel or PowerPoint files. Translations are delivered to the customer in the same format as the original text, unless other agreements are made in advance.

7. Websites: The translation of more complex, multi-level websites is easier if the full text is first transferred into e.g. a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, which allows the content to be more clearly defined. This way both parties are aware of what is translated and what the price is based on. Alternatively, translations may be done directly into HTML code, for example.