Do you have a corporate or personal translation project that you need to have completed in a timely manner? Trying to tackle it yourself may seem like a time-saving tactic, but this isn’t the best idea unless you’re fluent in both your source and target language. Instead, entrusting a linguist who specializes in the relevant subject matter and languages is the better route to ensure a highly accurate translation. This begs the question: How long does a translation take to get back from a translation company? Let’s look at factors which can affect turnaround time.
How Long Does a Translation Take from a Professional Agency?
Whether you’re seeking assistance with translating company marketing materials, legal documents or personal identification documents like your birth certificate, you may be working within a tight timeline. In turn, you’ll likely wonder how long does a translation take, and how can you make sure it’s ready when you need it?
To set yourself up for success, it’s important to be aware of things that can impact the return time for a document translation. Factors that are likely to play a role in this include:
- Word count & subject matter – Certainly, the length of your document will influence how many hours need to be spent on it. However, the complexity of its contents also matters. If a document includes technical language or otherwise calls for specialized knowledge, expect a longer turnaround time to allow for the necessary skills and attention to detail to be applied.
- Languages – The particular languages you’re requesting to translate between can also influence your project timeline. For example, Spanish to English translation is likely to happen more quickly than translation between two less commonly spoken languages. Ultimately, this is dependent on the availability of translators equipped with the necessary linguistic prowess.
- Formatting needs – If your document needs to be in a special format, this too can increase the time it takes to finish the project.
Because professional document translation requires in-depth work by a real person – not a machine – to maximize accuracy and respect the nuances of language, turnaround time can be variable. Beware of any agency advertising same- or next-day service, as this may indicate that translations are being done in a rush rather than with the dedicated focus necessary to deliver top-notch accuracy.
ABS: Document Translation That’s Both Speedy & Trustworthy
When you partner with a translation agency for a personal or professional project, you shouldn’t have to compromise on quality in order to get prompt results. At ABS, we provide an up-front estimate for both cost and turnaround time, so you know exactly what to expect. Our vast network of language professionals features experts in over 100 world languages plus a range of subject matters, enabling us to complete a wide variety of projects in a swift fashion.
If you’re ready to get started on planning and executing your document translation with the help of leading linguists, reach out to us today at 215-233-3000 or info@abstrans.com for a free quote.