FAQ

• Why would a Spanish translation help to promote my business or organization?
• Which languages do you translate into?
• I need a translation into Mexican Spanish. Can you target my translation for a specific country?
• What kind of translations can you do?
• How do you select translators?
• How do I order a translation?
• How do I submit my documents?
• Are your rates competitive?
• Do you offer discounts?
• Do you have a minimum fee?
• Do you charge extra for rush jobs?
• What are your payment terms?
• Do you charge for number of pages, words or characters in the document? Will I know exactly how much a translation will cost before ordering?
• I requested a quote. When should I expect an answer?
• What is a normal turnaround time?
• How do you ensure the confidentiality of documents?
• What is the difference between translating and proofreading?
• Will a proofreading service cost as much as a translation?
• Can you certify and notarize translations?
• You translated my Birth Certificate one year ago and I need a certified and notarized copy of the translation. Do you keep records of certified translations?
• Which software packages do you use?
• What is Desktop Publishing (DTP)?
• Who performs the DTP tasks?
• When do I need multilingual DTP?

Why would a translation help to promote my business or organization?

The Hispanic market is today the most rapidly expanding market in the United States. Over 350 million people in the world speak Spanish as their first language. If you want to reach out to the Hispanic community in US and abroad, addressing them in their own language will definitely be a major advantage for your business or organization.

Back to top

Which languages do you translate into?

We specialize exclusively in English into Spanish translations (as well as Spanish into English). We also translate documents into Portuguese upon request.

Back to top

What kind of translations can you do?

Our areas of specialization include: Commercial and Business, Personnel and Human Resources, Technical, Scientific and Industrial, Medical and Pharmaceutical, Health Care, Legal and Financial, Art / Music, Websites. If you need a translation in another field, please contact us and we will let you know if a translator from our network has the experience according to your needs

Back to top

I need a translation into Mexican Spanish. Can you target my translation for a specific country?

Our English to Spanish translations can be clearly understood by any Spanish speaking person in Latin America, Spain and the United States. This is because we use what is known as "neutral" or "generic" Spanish. We abide by the uses and definitions set by the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, without incurring in idiomatic peculiarities and minimizing regional vocabulary and syntax. However, if you need to target your translation to a specific country, please let us know it and we will try our best to accommodate your needs.

Back to top

How do you select translators?

We select translators based upon the following criteria

• · Native language speakers
• · Reliability
• · Qualifications and experience
• · References
• · Areas of specialization: Our translators must pass through a rigorous test before undertaking a translation

Back to top

How do I order a translation?

Please send us the document to be translated and we will get back to you with a quote within 24 hours. For more information, please visit our section: free quote

Back to top

How do I submit my documents?

You can send us your documents via e-mail, fax or delivery service.

Back to top

Are your rates competitive?

Yes, we encourage you to do a comparative analysis. Thanks to our completely internet-based structure and our network of freelance translators, our prices are reduced to a minimum without compromising quality.

Back to top

Do you offer discounts?

Yes, we offer discounts for Nonprofit Organizations and First-Time Clients.

Back to top

Do you have a minimum fee?

Yes, our minimum fee is $50. This policy does not apply to regular customers.

Back to top

Do you charge extra for rush jobs?

Yes, urgent projects require more resources to have the job done. We will provide you with a detailed quote. We usually charge 30% more for rush jobs.

Back to top

Do you charge for number of pages, words or characters in the document? Will I know exactly how much a translation will cost before ordering?

Translations are charged based on the number of words in the source text. Proofreading is charged based on the number of words in the document to be proofread. This way, you will always know how much we will charge for the translation/proofreading job in advance. Many companies give you an estimate and the final quote is based on the target document. With this method you never know the final quote until the job is done and this may lead into abuse on the part of the translator as he/she can use longer sentences on purpose, degrading the quality of the resulting text and inflating your price.

Back to top

I requested a quote. When should I expect an answer?

We do not have fixed working hours. You should get your quote within 24 hours.

Back to top

What is a normal turnaround time?

The typical turnaround time for most projects is two to five days. We are usually able to translate about 1300-2000 words per day and proofread about 2000-4000 per day. Extra time will be needed if your project requires DTP services. We work closely with our clients and translators to make sure that the translations are delivered within a reasonable time frame. We also provide an express translation service. Please request a free quote or Contact Us for more information.

Back to top

How do you ensure the confidentiality of documents?

All documents are treated with the highest degree of confidentiality. When requested, we are happy to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.

Back to top

What is the difference between translating and proofreading?

Proofreading is similar to translating. The same skills are needed. A proofreader reads and compares the original document to the translated document verifying the work done by the translator. The proofreader edits the document and ensures the consistency between the documents. Our team proofreads and edits translations as well as texts written by non-native speakers.

Back to top

Will a proofreading service cost as much as a translation?

If the quality is too low, as it is likely with some automatic translation services or if the text was translated by a non-native speaker, we may need to retranslate the document. In this case, we will have to apply our regular translation rates. If the text needs only minor corrections, the rate will be US$0.035.

Back to top

Can you certify and notarize translations?

Yes, we do provide certified translations. When a document is being used for immigration, admission to institutions of higher education, or for some legal or "official" purpose, a certified translation might be required. We certify our translations by providing a printed statement which states that the translation is complete and accurate, to the best of our knowledge. This certification contains the signature of the translator or Transpanish Director and a Notary Public when required. This procedure ensures that the document in question will be accepted as a valid translation for legal purposes in U.S.

Back to top

You translated my Birth Certificate one year ago and I need a certified and notarized copy of the translation. Do you keep records of certified translations?

Yes, we do keep records and we can provide you with the copies you may require.

Back to top

Which software packages do you use?

We use the latest versions of the most widely used applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Trados, Adobe FrameMaker, PageMaker, Illustrator, Acrobat (PDF), Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher, Quark Xpress, Corel Ventura, among many others.

Back to top

What are your payment terms?

We will require either an official purchase order or a signed contract before accepting a job. All invoices should be paid 30 days upon receipt of invoice, unless otherwise agreed by Transpanish. Unpaid invoices will be subject to a 15% per month late charge. Please note that payment terms vary depending on the project and we may require a down payment.

Back to top

What is Desktop Publishing (DTP)?

Desktop Publishing (DTP) is the process of using computer software and specific types of software to combine text, graphics, photographs, charts, and other visual graphic elements to produce publication-ready material such as newsletters, brochures, manuals, books, etc.

Back to top

Who performs the DTP tasks?

We have an experienced team of bilingual graphic designers to handle your DTP needs. Our translators work closely with the Desktop Publishing team and they proofread the document before it is sent to the client.

Back to top

When do I need multilingual DTP?

When you do not have access to professional DTP services or the professionals you have access to are not native speakers. Unless the translator is involved, the design may need to be drastically changed later. Also, some typesetters and desktop publishers are not familiar with the typesetting conventions of the Spanish language. For instance, Spanish questions and exclamations begin with an inverted question or exclamation mark: "¿Cómo estás?" or "¡Feliz Cumpleaños!"

Back to top