Translation

Translators serve as bridges connecting messages with individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and institutions who do not speak the source language of the message, so that they can make sense of the information at hand.

Words We Trust is entrusted with a wide range materials to translate, or “bear across”, in its literal sense. We take words on a journey, and liberate them. We dismantle the old source structure and rebuild a new one instead with ideas, sentences, images, and metaphors appropriate to a different culture. There can never be perfection in the pursuit of the ideal word, but a translator’s true satisfaction lies in getting as close as possible, feeling the resonance, and taking one step closer to new wonders.

“Translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes.” 
― Günter Grass

Translation requires the ability to work independently, to focus on demand, to synthesize properly, and to write impeccably, as well as timeliness and thoroughness. We bring all this to our English>French and French>English translations.

Here is a mini-guide to buying translations, published by the American Translators Association (ATA), of which we are a member: http://www.atanet.org/publications/Getting_it_right.pdf

Translation rates:

Hourly rate: €55

General translation: starting at €0.12 per source word (depending on complexity and volume)

Specialty fields (humanitarian/international development, legal, Internet policies & governance): starting at €0.20 per source word

Minimum billable: €55

Rush/off-hours surcharge: 15% of total bill

Proofreading/editing

Proofreading is the correction of typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical inaccuracies. It could also include the comparison of a source text with its translation to review the accuracy and consistency of the target text, perfecting terminology where words are vague or inaccurate, reworking structure and sometimes syntax where the meaning isn’t clear.

Having an eye for detail and a good command of the language is not enough. Good proofreaders need to be familiar with official style manuals and build extensive glossaries, practice, practice, and then practice some more, and of course to be patient, accurate and methodical.

Why should you pay for a professional proofreading?

Because when you write, mistakes can lead to misunderstandings, and may even change the meaning or intent of your text; a misplaced punctuation, a dangling modifier, a jumbled metaphor, a tense shift, a clumsy run-on sentence. They can show you in a poor light, cost your company money, or result in the rejection of your academic article. The impact is undermined when a text looks sloppy. It creates a lasting impression of being unprofessional.

Proofreading your own work is a real challenge. A person is usually unaware of their own most common mistakes, which tend to slip by unnoticed. And you cannot rely entirely on spell-checkers and grammar checkers, as they do not catch every mistake and cannot replace the human eye/brain/sensibility. 

By hiring the services of a professional proofreader to review your document with a fresh pair of eyes, you make sure that your document is always consistent, accurate, and error-free; in other words, you make sure your message shines through.

Rates:

• Grammar/spelling/punctuation checks: €0.03/word
• Grammar/spelling/punctuation + syntax checks: €0.06/word
• Bilingual/quality checks & MTPE: €0.07/word
• Minimum billable: €50
• Hourly rate: €50 (post-DTP are always billed at an hourly rate)

Rush/off-hours surcharge: 15% of total bill

Other services

A suite of specialized linguistic services designed to support your long-term communication goals and enhance consistency across projects and platforms, reinforce strategic communication and content value: terminology development, glossary creation, translation memory optimization, corpus alignment, and linguistic audits.
Ideal for institutions seeking consistency, accuracy, and long-term efficiency across platforms.

Retainers

The power of continuous language consultancy and translations is at your fingertips

The global market waits for no one. To thrive in today’s interconnected world, businesses and organizations need to communicate effectively across borders, and that’s where a trusted translator becomes indispensable. But imagine having that expertise on tap, ready to go whenever you need it. That’s the power of retaining a linguist.

Bringing a dedicated translation agency like Words We Trust onto your team, especially in specialized fields, is a game-changer:

• Your voice, amplified: A retained translator becomes intimately familiar with your brand’s tone, style, and terminology. This ensures your message resonates authentically across languages, whether it’s a nuanced legal document, a compelling corporate communication, or a moving humanitarian report.
• No more last-minute scrambles: Urgent project? Tight deadline? With a retained translator, you have a dedicated expert who prioritizes your needs. No more scrambling to find a qualified linguist at the eleventh hour.
• Smart spending, maximum impact: Think of it as an investment. While a retainer agreement might seem like an initial outlay, it guarantees a set number of hours at a discounted rate compared to ad hoc requests. For instance, a monthly retainer of EUR 500 (at a discounted retainer hourly rate) gives you approximately 15 hours of dedicated expertise. You budget effectively and avoid unexpected costs.
• More than just words: Words We Trust brings more than language proficiency to the table. We dive deep into your industry, grasping the nuances of legal, corporate, or humanitarian terminology. This ensures accurate translations that resonate deeply with your target audience.
• Confidentiality is key: Sensitive information requires the utmost discretion. With a long-term relationship and a retainer agreement comes inherent trust and legal obligations. We prioritize confidentiality, handling your sensitive documents with the care and security they deserve.
• Growing together: As your business expands, your translation needs will too. A retained translator offers scalability and flexibility, seamlessly adapting to your evolving requirements.
• Your multilingual mentor: Words We Trust becomes a trusted advisor, proactively offering insights to refine your global communication strategy. We help navigate cultural nuances, avoid translation pitfalls, and elevate the overall quality of your international outreach.
• Seamless communication, stellar results: A single point of contact for all your translation needs means streamlined workflows, simplified project management, and reduced miscommunication. The result? Faster turnaround times and impactful translations.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your global communication? Contact us today and let’s start a conversation about how we can help you achieve your international goals.