1. What does a professional translation cost?
Professional interpreting work and translations are highly specialised services. Trying to economise on them will usually end up in costing more, as either the results will simply not be good enough or corrections will have to be made. And they cost money! In terms of quality, the minimum than can be expected is: the text to be rendered precisely and in full, correct use of language and grammar. That means that for the reader of a translation the contents will be accurately reproduced and the text will be linguistically without error.
Translation work is usually charged per line. A line consists of 55 characters. The cost depends on the degree of difficulty of the original text and the work involved. Currently (January 2002), line rates range from Euro 1.53 to 1.96. For particular types of texts (advertising texts, packing lists, book texts) special agreements can be reached (e.g. per word, standard page, profit-sharing, royalties). For urgent, overnight or weekend work appropriate surcharges will apply.
For additional work, such as editing the original text, terminology, layout, proof-reading etc., an hourly rate is usually charged (about Euro 70.--). Any additional use of the translation will be charged extra. Special regulations apply in the case of certified translations (see the Claim for Fees Act 1975 as amended according to the Austrian Law Gazette No. 407/1997). Alternatively, certified translations for private individuals will be charged in line with the recommended rates of the OVGD (Official Gazette of the Austrian Legal Administrative Body of 5 August 1993).
The fact that the invoice is calculated on the basis of a translation which, at the time the estimate is made, does not yet exist, makes precise details difficult. What must be taken into consideration is the fact that translations - depending on the specific target language - can sometimes be longer than the original texts. In the following examples it is to be assumed that all the prices quoted are exclusive of VAT and not binding, they are merely a guide.
There is a very good reason why a whole chapter has been given over to the subject of homepages. As a rule an estimate for a Word document, an Excel file or even a text on paper can, with the help of modern equipment (such as a scanner), be produced with relatively little difficulty. Therefore an estimate for a document which reaches us in the form of a file can be produced on the same day with a high degree of accuracy.
Sadly things are more complicated as far as homepages are concerned. Many clients ask us for an estimate for their homepage and expect - quite rightly - a prompt reply.
However there are a number of factors regarding homepages which make accurate estimates very difficult for us to provide. Because of the variety of different ways that a homepage can be constructed (from text-dominated, static HTML pages, via graphically styled image sites - with JAVA-Applets, animated GIFs or FLASH-movies - to dynamic hi-tech sites (which combine conventional web design with audio and video techniques) or E-business sites with state-of-the-art database structure, e.g. online shopping systems) a simple estimate is impossible to produce for technical reasons.
The time spent on scrutinising a homepage with all the graphics, links, databases etc. is considerable and involves high costs. As we wish to continue to provide for you an estimate which is quick, easy to understand and free of charge, we would like you to consider the following possibility: we receive from you a so-called "Fließtext", (pure text?), that means the entire text that features in the homepage, as well as in the graphics, is sent to us in the form of a Word document or ASCII file (a pure text file). Your webmaster, or advertising agency or department must be able to prepare all the texts in the corresponding form. This will not only enable us to produce an accurate and very rapid estimate of the size of the job, how much it will cost and exactly how long it will take, but will also provides the translator with a precise break-down of the entire quantity of text to be translated, thereby avoiding a possible source of error (pages overlooked).
A further problem linked to homepages lies in the nature of the product. Homepages very frequently contain various types of text (e.g. advertising as well as technical information regarding the products of the company, information for investors, balance-sheet data, etc.). Among translators it is usual to concentrate on specific specialist areas. Problems can therefore arise in handing over a homepage to one translator. More often it will be necessary to get a team together for the translation or to provide subsequently for a thorough proof-reading process. Also worth considering is the fact that translators do not write advertising material. It is therefore recommended that for homepages designed primarily to advertise the products an advertising agency should be engaged in the target country to adapt the text accordingly.
This is not to say that the translation is bad or wrong. A translation can only be made on the basis of the original document. Too much deviation from the original and it is no longer a translation. However if the translation is too close to the original then it often reads unnaturally in the foreign language. Often it is enough to ask the local branch of your business (as far as one is available) to adapt the text as necessary. This process will ensure that you receive a good text, which will place your business in a favourable light and - last but not least - will lead to a greater turnover.
In this type of translation company slogans and headings will also need to be conveyed in the foreign language. The wording must be based on the original text, with the contents, the image and the correct level of style all being expressed in the translation. Production of a brochure usually requires several meetings and a lot of revision. For this reason either a rate per line higher than the standard rate or a surcharge for the extra workload will be agreed upon. Slogans in the foreign language are subject to special rates (from Euro 360.--). These costs cover the writing of a slogan or fitting a translation to the target culture, which involve more creativity than translation. Here too copyright law must be given particular consideration. Costs for the production of an image brochure of 12 A4 pages and 400 lines, roughly Euro 725.-- (excl.20% VAT).
The original consists of some 130 pages. The text contains alternately stage directions and dialogue in varying line lengths and with varying quantities of text per page. As it is not available in electronic format, the precise size of the text can only be estimated: Stage directions: about 37 pages of some 2,160 characters each; dialogue: about 95 pages of some 1,100 characters each. Total: 184,420 characters. Divided by 55 (characters per line) = 3,353 lines. The German text will be about 15% longer. Cost for 4,023 lines at Euro 1.45 = Euro 5,833 (plus 20% VAT).
Certified translation of an Austrian birth certificate consisting of 20 lines. This is usually charged per document. The costs are approx. Euro 50-70 (+ 20% VAT), depending on the size of the document. The price includes the certification fees that are usually charged by the translator.
Lease consisting of 5 pages. This is charged per line, the price per line for commercial texts being Euro 1.60. 5 pages contain some 150 lines at /Euro 1.60 = Euro 384 (plus 20% VAT). The client should subsequently not make any independent alterations to the translation; firstly as errors could creep in and secondly because, according to copyright law, alterations, cuts and revisions may be made only with the agreement of the translator. Copyright provides that the translator be designated the author of the work.
This law provides for different regulations than those otherwise applicable of the ABGB (= the Austrian civil law) (§1295 ABGB, §1324 ABGB). In the case of freelance or professional translators, pursuant to the ABGB and the HGB (=the Austrian commercial code), liability is regulated according to the laws governing liability for compensation of the specialist. The clients must take care that the original texts are technically and linguistically correct as they are responsible for any errors which arise out of faults in the original texts. Translators working professionally will draw attention to errors they have subsequently discovered in the texts presented for translation. Stylistic improvements or co-ordinating specific terminology are not classed as errors in translation. If any errors are corrected by the translator within a certain given time limit there can be no claim for a reduction in the price.
The DIN 2345 "Translation Assignments" deals with the organisation of a translation job and contains demands as regards the qualifications of the translator, agreements between client and translator, provision of information on the part of the client, the passing on and dividing up of translation jobs, documents accompanying the process etc. (January 2002, Euro 40 plus 20% VAT, available from the Austrian Standards Institute, Tel. 01/213 00 805). This standard does not apply to interpretations.
DIN 2345 provides for the possibility to register with DIN CERTCO, this is not however any certification. At the beginning of the year the Specialist Standardisation Committee 239 " Services - Translating and Interpreting" was founded to prepare a norm which will extend beyond the scope of the DIN 2345.