Have a question?
Here you will find some more information about my language services. If you can’t see the answer to your question, please do not hesitate to contact me and let’s discuss your project together.
How much do you charge?
I don't quote a fixed, per-word price for a very simple reason: every job is different.
Take transcription, for instance. It takes a lot longer to transcribe a recording verbatim for legal use (including every 'ehm' and 'ahh') with a timecode every few seconds than it does to produce a 'media-ready' transcript ignoring any hesitations and with no timecodes at all. The same applies to translation and copywriting – the more complex the job, the longer it will take. That is why I quote for every job on an individual basis. To find out how much your project might cost, get in touch so that we can discuss your exact requirements.
Why don’t you work in both directions?
When translating, I only work from my foreign languages (French, German and Russian) into English, and not in the other direction.
This is because, as good as my foreign language skills are, it is very rare for anyone to be able to write equally well in multiple languages. Even if you have an excellent command of a foreign language, small mistakes can creep in, especially in writing, and native speakers of that language will spot those errors immediately (as I do when I proofread work in English). I don't want to risk making those kinds of errors when writing in a foreign language. Moreover, most agencies and professional bodies in the UK expect you to work into your native language only, not least because the Internet is full of sub-standard English.
Why shouldn’t I use machine translation?
Machine translation has made great strides in recent years, and it is a viable option for some projects, especially if they contain a lot of repetitions.
However, for most texts, using a machine is unlikely to give you the kind of accurate, natural English text that will protect and enhance your reputation. In the words of the famous Morecambe and Wise sketch, the machine may come up with all the right notes, but it is very unlikely to put them in the right order. If you need a professional translation that will resonate with your target audience, hire a professional linguist. It will be more expensive than the machine, but would you put a price on your company's reputation?
For a more detailed explanation of the perils of machine translation, you can find an article I wrote on this subject at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-right-notes-just-necessarily-order-how-machine-daniel/