Rush Translations
With a team of 3,000 specialist translators, 001 Translation is able to complete and deliver all your rush translation requests.
Based on your requirements, we can translate your documents within a standard 24, 48 or 72-hour delivery window.
You can get an immediate estimate by connecting to our secure server and uploading the documents to be translated. To do this, click here.
We invite you to make a phone call to any of our language advisors at your closest 001 Translation representative office. He or she can make an immediate recommendation based on the nature of your project.
Summary:
Translator capacity
On average, a translator can output 3,000 words a day.
Depending on the contents of the document, translator output can climb to 4,000 words a day, such as when there are frequent repetitions in the text.
Rush translation situations
There are two main types of rush translation:
Rush translations of very short texts (e-mails or faxes with just a few lines or a few pages)
Rush translations of very short texts with a turnaround time of a few hours, provided that the work requested does not exceed the translator's capacity.
Rush translation of longer texts, including lengthy reports (several thousand words and dozens of pages), needed for meetings or conventions.
Though very short rush translations can assigned to a single translator, longer rush translations can be too much for one translator. In this case, several factors come into play: the length of the document to be translated, the turnaround time requested by the customer, the availability of translators or proofreaders in the language combination requested and, of course, cost considerations.
When a rush translation request for 3,000 words (approximately 10 pages) comes in, the translation agency has to balance these different factors.
Rush translation tools
For rush translations of even longer length, we recommend the use of terminology database management tools to expedite the work. When a lengthy rush translation is requested, employing a translation memory can be of tremendous help since time is essential. Such tools do not only increase the translator's output, but can also reduce the risk of error and the use of varying terms in the translation of the same word in a foreign language.
How translation memories work: Translation memories allow translators to reuse phrasing from previously translated texts having identical or related subject matter. Such memories can be very useful and efficient when working on rush translations that have repetitive content. But this may not always be the case. First, the translator may not have a suitable terminology database for your project. Second, using a terminology database requires special skills in addition to the translator's other abilities. A translator does not have the option of pressing a button to get the work done. In fact, using the data in a translation memory requires careful attention on the part of the translator. In the hands of an unskilled person, a translation memory can even be counterproductive when rush translation requests are concerned.
Rush translation with translation memory
Imagine a legal translator who translates court decisions every day and who relies on a 20 year-old translation memory that has been built up and fine-tuned over the years.
When our translator translates a new legal text using his or her translation software and translation memory, these tools can recognize series of sentences and can display suggestions the translator.
It is always up to the translator to make the determination on the best phrasing or on whether the translation memory is the appropriate one. This means that the translator has to very carefully re-read the text AND evaluate the translation suggested by the software. As legal texts are especially complicated, the comparison task is a complicated one for both the translator and the proofreader.
There is also another important technological factor: the source document must be written in an editable format such as Microsoft Word or Excel. If the documents submitted for rush translation are faxes, the translation memory is of no use.
Rush translation with no translation memory
A lengthy rush translation can also be done without using a translation memory. When a voluminous document consisting of several dozen pages needs to be translated on a rush basis and there is no translation memory that is applicable in the specific field (as in most cases), we split up the work among several translators. The output is then forwarded to a highly experienced proofreader, who then compares the original with the translations sent in by the different translators.
Role of the proofreader in rush translations
The proofreader's role is an essential one that requires concentration and discipline. Because the position of a comma can change the meaning of a sentence, it is the proofreader's task to detect any spelling, grammar or stylistic errors. A highly experienced proofreader can review up to 50 pages a day, depending on the subject matter and the style. It goes without saying that a rush translation of voluminous document is a sensitive task because it entails more risk than a document with standard deadline. In fact, splitting up the translation among several translators inevitably yields varying translations for identical terms. A same term can be translated in a number of different ways. And when multiple translators are working on a rush document that is several pages long, they may not have the time to consult. This is why the work of a proofreader is so crucial, especially when rush translations are involved. The proofreader's role is to compare the translation to the original. He or she has to ensure consistent terminology in the final document.
The translation agency that is able to deliver quality work in a rush translation situation stands out. Genuine know-how is required and choosing your service provider is something that must be done with great care.
The cost of a rush translation is unavoidable higher than for a so-called standard translation because a translation team has to be organized on-the-spot.