At ICA Translation Services, we receive a lot of questions about translation times and how long it will take to translate a document. The answer to this question is not always straightforward because it depends on a number of factors, including the length of the document, the level of difficulty, the subject matter, the target audience, and the translator’s schedule.
In this blog post, we will provide some guidance on expected translation times by professional ICA translators. We hope this will give you a better understanding of how long it takes to translate a document and help you plan your project accordingly.
In general, we expect most professional translators to be able to translate approximately 2,000-2,500 words per day. This means that a translator can usually complete an average-sized document (e.g., 10 pages or 3,000 words) within 3-4 days. However, there are many factors that can impact translation times, so this is just a general guideline.
Factors That Impact Translation Times
Some factors that can impact translation times include:
The length of the document
Obviously, the longer the document, the longer it will take to translate. A translator can usually translate more words per day if they are working on a shorter document than if they are working on a longer one.
The level of difficulty
Some documents are more difficult to translate than others because they contain specialized terminology or require in-depth knowledge of a particular subject matter. These types of documents usually take longer to translate than simpler ones.
The subject matter
Certain subject matters are more complex than others and may require additional research on the part of the translator. For example, legal or medical documents often take longer to translate than general business documents because the translator needs to have a thorough understanding of the terminology before they can begin translating.
The target audience
The target audience for a translation can also impact translation times. If you need your translated document to be accessible to non-experts in your field (e.g., laypeople or people who are not familiar with your industry), it may take longer to complete because the translator needs to use simpler language that everyone can understand.
The translator’s schedule
When you contact a professional translator about your project, they will let you know if they have any upcoming deadlines that could impact their availability. In some cases, you may need your translated document sooner than the translator can realistically complete it and you may need to find another translator who can accommodate your timeline.
Conclusion
As you can see from this blog post, there are many factors that impact translation times and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question “How long does it take to translate a document?” We hope this post has given you some insight into expected translation times by professional translators and helped you understand how different factors can impact translation times. If you have any further questions about translation times or would like a free quote for your project, please contact us today!
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