Like many simple questions, this is one with no easy answer. For one thing, it'll depend whether it's a complex technical report, a novel, or just an email in another language.

The answer to “how much does translation cost” also depends on how accurate it needs to be. Running your marketing brochure through Google Translate might be free, but it’s unlikely to be cost-effective in the longer term!  We’ve all had a laugh at amusing translation mistakes, such as a Welsh road sign which translated as “I’m not in the office at the moment".

The cost also depends on the languages. While it’s easy to find translators specialising in French to Spanish, or English to Chinese, less common combinations can be more tricky. And it’s hardly surprising that translators from  countries with a high cost of living, such as Norway, tend to charge more.

One way we’re cutting costs at Lingo24 is by offering five different service levels, depending on the project. For important business documents or client brochures, our fully-managed services will ensure they’re word perfect.  There’s no point cutting corners when it comes to selling your products to new customers.

If it’s simply a case of documents for internal use, then a fast, accurate service is all that’s needed. Our “first draft translations” by professional translators cut costs while still ensuring accuracy.

Another way to reduce costs is by using smarter technology. This can streamline the process, and spot duplications, which only need to be translated once. Over time, building up a database of terminology makes translations quicker and cheaper.

Computer translation has improved dramatically in recent years. While tools such as Google Translate can’t yet match a human linguist, they begin to seem a tempting option when it comes to large volumes of material.

 At Lingo24, we’ve come up with a compromise – machine translation which is then edited by a human translator. Post-edited machine translation provides accurate, easily understood results, when a polished translation isn’t needed or possible. It’s a cost-saving way to translate large volumes of “non-essential content” such as user comments on a website, or to make sense of hundreds of incoming emails.

Of course we could turn around the question. Instead of asking “how much does translation cost”, it pays to look at the potential benefits. A recent report by the Common Sense Advisory found that translation costs were “minuscule” when compared to the payoffs in attracting new customers. 

And, as English gradually loses its status as the dominant online language, more and more companies are realising the advantages of going multilingual.

tags: language services, translation costs