Month: March 2022

How long does a translation project take?
22/03/2022

How Long Does a Translation Project Take?

Posted on | by Jacqueline De Marco | Leave a Comment on How Long Does a Translation Project Take?

When you need translation work done, it can be tempting to want to speed up the timeline a bit. Who doesn’t want to wrap up an exciting project as quickly as possible? While these feelings are understandable, trying to cut corners and rush through translation work can lead to less than desired results. Let’s take a look at how long an average translation project takes to complete, as well as how to speed up the process in an effective way. 

How Long Does the Average Translation Project Take to Complete?

How long a translation project takes depends greatly on the word count of the documents that you need translated. On average, a human translator can output 300 words per hour or 2,500 words per day. You also need to factor in some extra time for self-review of the work. After completion of the translation, giving the translator an extra day or two (depending on the final word count) provides time for them to proofread their work completely and allows them to approach their work with a fresh mind to make sure everything is polished.

Of course, this estimate is not a guarantee, but it can give you a general idea of how long a translation project can take to finish.

What Can Affect the Length of the Project?

There are many factors that can affect how long a translation project can take. Here are a few of them to take into consideration when trying to estimate how fast you can get a project completed.

  • The complexity of the text
  • Research requirements 
  • Experience level of the translators
  • Availability of the translator(s) and their current workload
  • Technical issues
  • Linguistic resources
  • Extensive workflow (edition, proofreading, DTP)
  • If a project involves more than one language

How to Speed Up the Process

If you’re looking to speed up your translation project timeline, without sacrificing quality, there are a few elements that can make the process go smoother and quicker. 

While it may be tempting to request a translator work longer hours in order to hasten their turnaround, we don’t advise this. Translation work requires deep focus and attention to detail. You don’t want someone who is overtired to work on your translation project. That’s how mistakes can happen. 

The Takeaway

While it’s impossible to nail down exactly how long a translation project will take without consulting your translation team, you can generally expect translators to output around 2,500 words per day. That being said, trying to cut corners in order to speed up your timeline can lead to quality issues. There are some legitimate steps you can take to help a translator work faster, like implementing CAT tools, so chat with your translation team about what resources they need to help you meet your timeline goals and to get the job done the right way.

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How the Translation Industry is Helping Ukraine - Portada
17/03/2022

How the Translation Industry is Helping Ukraine

Posted on | by Jacqueline De Marco | Leave a Comment on How the Translation Industry is Helping Ukraine

In light of recent events, we want to take some time to share how the translation industry is coming together to help the Ukrainian people and those affected by the situation. 

Let’s take a look at the initiatives and organizations that could use support and the incredible work translators and interpreters are doing to keep the information and news flowing—including how our team at Terra Translations is currently helping. 

How Translators and Interpreters are Getting Involved

Translators are offering a helping hand to the Ukrainian people in a variety of different ways. Translation industry experts are translating news broadcasts, providing medical translation assistance for those wounded and receiving care in foreign hospitals, and offering translation support for legal issues like immigration. With so many refugees fleeing to other countries, there’s a great need for translators around the world who can help make the process of receiving aid easier. 

Countless professionals in the translation space are teaming up to figure out how they can best be of service to those in need. For example, a handful of Polish translation organizations have compiled a database of Polish translators and interpreters for refugees that are in Poland and require language assistance. The Translation Vendor Management LinkedIn Group is collecting contact information for translators from Ukraine who have been impacted by the war in Ukraine and are looking for freelance work. 

Another critical initiative comes from Kate Tsurkan, a translator who lives in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. She called on social media to have more Ukrainian writers published in English to expand their reach and elevate their voices. To accomplish this, the help of translators is required. 

Organizations to Support

Many different organizations are stepping in to provide support to the Ukrainian people. Here are a few examples of organizations in the translation space who are devoting resources to assist Ukraine, some of which are currently looking for additional translators to support them in their efforts.

Other initiatives not directly related to translation that need support in the form of donations and volunteers include:

How Our Team is Providing Aid

At our core, Terra exists to connect the global community. We believe everyone deserves opportunities and access to information in order to live authentic, fulfilled lives. For our partners, colleagues, and friends in Ukraine, their opportunities and their democracy are being threatened at an incomprehensible level. To our Ukrainian partners and all of those seeking peace, we stand with you.

We encourage our global colleagues and partners to support Doctors without Borders, the Ukrainian Red Cross or Razom to directly aid the people of Ukraine. Terra is making donations to these organizations in an effort to reinforce words with action.

Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and we will continue to extend our support throughout this trying time.

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A Commitment to Women Beyond International Women's Day - Portada
08/03/2022

A Commitment to Women Beyond International Women’s Day

Posted on | by Jacqueline De Marco | Leave a Comment on A Commitment to Women Beyond International Women’s Day

The translation field, like many others, has historically been dominated by male participants. In the past, female translators weren’t always awarded the same opportunities as male translators or taken as seriously, despite the fact that they didn’t lack the talent or skills required to get the job done right. 

Even in time periods and locations where women weren’t encouraged (and often actively discouraged) to pursue formal education and careers, many women pushed forward and forged paths of their own in the translation space to become professional translators and interpreters.

We’re happy to report that today, the translation industry is now heavily dominated by female linguists. At Terra Translations, we are proud to be a part of the reason that many women are thriving in our industry. 

Terra has always been a company that values women. Since it first began, the CEO position was first held by Beatriz Cirera and later by her daughter, Marina Ilari. To date, Terra has 154 total team members, 112 of which are women. Currently, out of 17 leadership roles, 13 are held by women and many of Terra’s staff are involved with associations whose mission is to empower women.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we want to highlight some of our efforts to support women in the translation industry. 

How Terra Supports Women

Terra Translations is a certified women-owned business and we believe it’s our responsibility to lift other women in our industry up. As a part of this mission, Terra supports Chicas in Tecnología by providing pro bono translation services. Chicas in Tecnología is a non-profit organization in Argentina that works to reduce the gender gap in technology in that region by motivating and training the next generation of women leaders in technology.

Women in Localization is another nonprofit organization we love to support with a mission of fostering a global community for the advancement of women and the localization industry. Women in Localization accomplishes this mission by providing networking, education, career advancement, and mentoring opportunities to women in the localization industry. 

Another organization we like to support is Women in Games which aims to build a fair, equal and safe environment that empowers girls and women to join and thrive in the global gaming ecosystem.

Our CEO Marina Ilari is particularly passionate about supporting these types of organizations, including Enterprising Women Magazine, which is a national and global magazine for female entrepreneurs. As of 2020, Marina joined their Advisory Board. This Advisory Board is made up of professionals giving back to the women business owners’ community and as a board member Marina helps provide leadership and inspiration to female entrepreneurs worldwide.

At Terra, we don’t wait until International Women’s Day to celebrate women in our industry and beyond, we choose to celebrate them every day and hope you will join us!

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