Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about translation and interpretation (including some information about interpreting for videoconference on Zoom, Webex, and other online videoconferencing platforms).

If you have more specific questions about my interpretation or translation services, please do not hesitate to send me an email with your inquiries to luz@luznoguez.com.  I am also always happy to refer you to other quality translators and interpreters if I cannot meet your specific needs.

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Translation FAQs

Question:  What factors determine the price of a translation?

Answer:  The price of translations depends on a combination of three elements:

  1. Length:  The number of words in the original document (word count).
  2. Complexity:  How complex the language and formatting of original document is.
  3. Speed:  How quickly you need your document to be translated.

A bit more detail about each element may be useful here:

Length is fairly straightforward.  As most documents are now digital, a simple word count will usually provide the document length.

Complexity can relate to either the writing itself or how the text is formatted.  Niche or very technical topics will increase the rate.  Generally, these topics are highly specialized and require a translator familiar with that content in order to guarantee an accurate final product.

Take, for example, a paper on “Materials used in the original Byzantine mosaics of the 4th century.”  To guarantee an excellent translation, the translator will need to research the topic and perhaps even consult with a subject matter expert.  All this will inevitably require more time than a more “common” topic.

Similarly, poorly-written original documents can also be considered complex, as they can take much longer than usual to understand and translate their meaning.

Nonetheless, documents about industry-specific topics—e.g., mining, petrochemistry, or Gestalt therapy—are not necessarily considered niche topics, since the information available on the subject is widely available although not mastered by everyone.

With respect to formatting, a simple document consists of text and text only.  In contrast, documents with complex formatting could include those consisting of dozens of Excel charts in which the formulas will need to be edited, PDFs that cannot be converted into editable text, or PowerPoint presentations that are so narrow and space-limited that the translation will require additional editing just to fit the page.

Speed is the final element.  Skilled United Nations translators average, according to a meticulous U.N. study that performed some years ago, between approximately 1,300 and 2,300 words per day, depending on complexity and other factors.  The International Criminal Court follows a standard of 1,500 words per day for their more complex legal texts.

If the original document is well-written—it is understandable and makes sense grammatically—I generally average between 2,000 and 2,500 words per day.

As such, if you need a 50-page booklet translated for tomorrow, it will require multiple translators and a more complex standardization and proofreading process—and as a result, will be more expensive.

If you would like a quote for your document, please write me at luz@luznoguez.com and I would be happy to provide you with one!

Question:  How long does it take for a document to be translated?

Answer:  It depends on the length of the document, the complexity of the topic, and how many people will need to work on the job to meet your deadline.

As noted above, one translator usually can translate around 1,500 to 2,000 words per day on average, under ordinary conditions, although it is now very common to use CAT tools (computer-assisted translation tools; see below for more information) to help expedite the process.  Particularly complex documents will, of course, result in slower speeds.

Thus, if your document is long and/or complex and you need the translation ASAP, I might need to have more than one person work on your project.  While this speeds up the work, I will also have to “standardize” the work product of all translators involved to make sure that consistent terminology and style are used throughout the entire document.  Thus, using three translators means that the translation speed will increase, but may not necessarily triple.

Regardless, using teams of translators, aided by CAT tools, is usually the only way to translate large documents very quickly.

 

Question:  What is a CAT tool?

Answer:  Computer Assisted Translation tools—or CAT tools—are not Google Translate.  Rather, they are more complex software products that help the human translator keep track of certain terminology, phrases, expressions, and other elements of the text to facilitate the translation process.

For example, if the translator is translating a handbook on how to operate a specific crane, the terminology is going to be very specific and repetitive in both the source and target languages.  Once the translator has decided on which terminology to apply, he or she can instruct the software to provide that particular option in the target section.  This saves the translator(s) time, and can save you money.

Also, this process is particularly helpful for team projects, since the CAT tool can create a single glossary for all the translators to use, or lets the team change a particular term across the entire document with a single keystroke if needed.

Question:  How can I guarantee the quality of my translation?

A – Proofreading is key.  A quality translation will always be proofread by a professional human translator.  This is why you cannot trust a computerized translator—like Google Translate—to do all the work for you.

By having a simple conversation to reach a common agreement with the translator about your aspirations for the final product (tone, style, specific terminology you want to use), you can be sure that the translation is faithful to the original and to your standards and expectations.

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Interpretation FAQs

Question:  What are the different types of interpretation?

Answer:  There are two principal types of interpretation:  simultaneous and consecutive.

Simultaneous Interpretation:

This form of “translation” consists of listening to the speaker and –while the speaker is still talking — translating the speaker’s idea, context, tone, and purpose into the target language.  There is almost no delay between the speaker saying something in the original language and the interpreter saying it in the target language, which is why it is called “simultaneous.”

Simultaneous interpretation usually takes place in front of a live audience (meeting, lecture, class, conference, etc.).  Also, because it involves two people speaking at once, it usually requires specialized equipment, so that audience members can choose whether to listen to the speaker or the interpreter.  (Note this generally involves additional cost to the event organizer.)  This equipment usually includes:

  • An isolated/soundproof booth (so that the interpreter can listen to the speaker without distractions);
  • Wireless headsets (for audience members to listen to the interpreter instead of the speaker;
  • Microphones (so the speaker’s voice can be fed to the interpreter, and the interpreter’s voice fed to the audience’s headsets); and
  • Additional audio equipment (to link the microphones, booth, and headsets).

The almost complete lack of delay between the speaker’s words and the interpreter’s translation allows the speaker to address his or her audience without making any pauses, knowing that their message is being translated only a few seconds later.

Good interpreters will not only correctly communicate the speaker’s ideas into the target language, but will also communicate the appropriate tone and context.  This includes translating humor!  In big conferences, you can often see speakers cracking a joke, and a big audience staring silently and breaking into laughter two seconds after the punch line.

There is a real art to this — and to interpretation generally.  A good interpreter will always make sure that the speaker’s jokes are accurately understood in the target language.  In fact, if at all possible, the interpreter will go out of their way to talk with speakers beforehand, to understand what they will say, including whether they will use humor.  Because some jokes don’t translate well (such as those that involve a play on words in the original language), the interpreter may choose to explain the joke instead of translating it directly, and thus might ask the speaker to pause a bit after telling the joke in order to have time to do this.

Simultaneous interpretation is not easy, and involves much more than being bilingual.  It takes a lot of training and effort to develop the necessary skills.  You can feel confident that I have put in the work to learn this art — my background includes years of formal training and study, as well as years of experience interpreting for large events.

Consecutive Interpretation:

With consecutive interpretation, the speaker will say something, and then pause for the interpreter to translate it.  Only one person speaks at a time, in contrast to simultaneous interpretation.

The interpreter accomplishes this by taking notes of the speaker’s words.  Every so often, the speaker will stop and let the interpreter speak.  As such, it does not require any special equipment.

This method is often used for Q&A sessions or shorter presentations.  This is because it more than doubles the time required for the presentation.

Also note that consecutive interpretation is much harder than it might appear.  Without specialized training in listening and note-taking, it is challenging to listen to and remember everything that has been said, prepare the translation mentally, and be ready to speak when the speaker pauses.

You can try something similar yourself, even if you are not bilingual.  Play a video of a speech from YouTube,  pause it every few sentences, and try to repeat precisely what was said.  Even without needing to translate, it will be challenging once you get beyond very short sentences.  (Keep in mind that speakers will not pause after every single sentence.  They will often say two or three sentences at a time.)

As I have a degree in interpretation, I have spent years honing this skill, and can perform these translations with confidence.  I also know how to prepare a speaker to work with a consecutive interpretation, so that they understand how and when to pause to allow me to interpret.

If you are interested in hiring an interpreter for your event, please write me at luz@luznoguez.com and I would be happy to answer any questions or provide a quote!  I will also be happy to refer you to other quality interpreters if I cannot meet your specific needs.

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Videoconference Interpretation FAQs

Question:  Can I hire an interpreter for a videoconference, webinar, or other virtual event?

Answer:  Yes!  Interpretation services can be provided via a remote connection, and are often referred to as Remote Interpretation Services, or “RSI.”  The interpretation itself is the same as the simultaneous interpretation method mentioned above, but done using an internet audio (and sometimes video) connection through a reliable communication platform.

During the past few years, big international organizations like the European Union have increasingly relied on remote interpreters. It in not always possible to have a group of people from different countries physically present at the same time and in the same place, therefore, in order to guarantee everyone’s “attendance”, the participants “telecommute” to the meeting and listen to the speaker from their own home or office, regardless of their geographical whereabouts.  Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more and more companies and organizations to use remote interpretation in lieu of an in-person alternative.

RSI can translate into cost savings (travel, per diem, technician, equipment). However, these savings are counterbalanced in part by the cost of the software platforms required to handle RSI effectively, and the need to ensure a quality connection through the platform being used. The interpretation needs to be available on a separate audio channel, the remote interpreter needs to be able to hear the speaker clearly and without delay, and the interpreter’s audio channel must be clear and delay-free, as well.

As such, to choose the most appropriate RSI platform, you should consider some of these elements:

  • Speaker(s): How many speakers will you have, and where will they be located?
  • Audience:
    1. How many people will you have in the virtual audience?
    2. Will all members the audience be attending the event from the same place (classroom, meeting room), or will they connect from their own homes?
  • Network speed: Is the internet connection for the speakers, interpreter, and audience reliable and fast enough for the virtual event?
  • Dynamics of the event: Is it largely a lecture-type event (for which a webinar format may be appropriate), or will there be extensive audience participation (for which you may need more of a meeting-style format)?
  • Budget: How much money do you have to spend? Platforms that integrate RSI into a videoconference or webinar via a separate interpretation channel (i.e., Zoom) cost money. There are workarounds, as described below, but they involve additional logistical challenges.

As mentioned, some organizations have sought save money by using multiple platforms to implement RSI. The presentation is broadcast on one videoconferencing service (e.g., Zoom or Webex), and the interpretation is provided via either another such service (e.g., Skype) or even via phone or WhatsApp.

While this approach can reduce costs, it necessarily involves some challenges that can sometimes come as a surprise.  First, the organizers and audience must set up and use parallel connections with the interpreter and audience members using the interpretation services. More moving parts means more possibilities that something can go wrong. Second, bandwidth issues may arise if participants must have multiple teleconferencing platforms open simultaneously.

Also, I recommend employing a few strategies to improve the chances of having a successful RSI experience:

  • Share the material for the event with the interpreter(s) in advance.
  • Formalize the expected flow of the event, ideally with a written outline of how it will be executed. (Some experienced webinar organizers who manage high-stakes online events prepare detailed guides that discuss how each step of the process will take place.)
  • Have a backup plan if there are problems with the interpreter’s audio channel. For example, many videoconferencing services offer a phone number to call to participate in events via audio only, which can be used as a backup.  If your event is important, you absolutely should have a backup plan for all major, foreseeable problems.
  • If you are using RSI for the first time on a particular platform, do at least one practice session using all of the necessary technology. Aside from having the interpreter on-line, there should people playing the role the host, the speaker, and several audience members. This way, you will be more likely to identify potential problems, and get more comfortable with the platform interface.
  • On the day of the event, connect with your interpreter and speakers at least 20-30 minutes before it starts so that you can test everyone’s audio and video, and the interpretation channel. This process will take longer with an interpreter present, so prepare in advance.
  • Consult with your interpreter well before the event, as an experienced interpreter can help you navigate through this process by analyzing all of the variables and creating a plan.

Finally, I would be happy to work with you to design and execute videoconferences featuring RSI services. Getting the planning and logistics right can be more complex than it might seem at first. I also know a good deal about planning larger videoconferences and webinars in general.  Just send me an email at luz@luznoguez.com and we can discuss your needs.