Workplace Safety: How Translators Help Keep Your Employees Safe

Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

Today is one of the most important days of the year that many people have probably never heard of. Here in Canada, it’s called National Mourning Day, and it has been recognized annually on April 28 since 1991. It’s a day that recognizes and pays tributes to the many workers who are injured or killed [...]

Q&A with an English-Spanish literary translator

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Admin in Blog

A few months ago, we sent out a call on Twitter asking for a literary translator to talk to us about some of the specific details of the literary translation field. We were lucky enough to get Maia Figueroa Evans to heed our call and graciously offer to answer a few of our questions about working as a literary translator in the world today.
The content of our interview follows. Please note that none of her answers have been edited or amended. Please feel free to comment and join in the conversation, whether you’re a translator who specializes in literary texts or any other kind!

On translation pricing, value and rock-bottom rates

Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

In the translation industry, it sometimes seems like translators are involved in an ongoing race to the bottom. Unlike accountants, lawyers and other professionals providing a valuable service, translators are often asked to quote lower and lower rates and do so in an effort to secure as much business as possible with the hope that they will eventually, somehow, be able make a living off the low, low prices they are forced to charge.
This downward spiral means that translators are less and less likely to earn what they’re worth because the average price that clients are willing to pay for translations continues to decrease.

For first-time translation customers: 3 myths about translations that could cost you a lot

Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Admin in Blog

Quality? Price? Value? Experience? Service? Talk about an information overload!
If you are a first-time buyer of translation services, it can be overwhelming the first time you go looking for a translator to translate your documents. You might not know what to believe or who to turn to for help. To give you a better sense of direction, we have flushed out the three biggest translation myths you should avoid so you don’t spend more than you bargained for.

10 tasks of translators

Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Admin in Blog

Although translators clearly do a lot of translating, we also do a lot of other things that aren’t necessarily as glamorous or as exciting as conveying the words of someone else into another language for a new audience to understand and enjoy the work.
We have come up with a list of 10 things that translators do (besides translate), here it is!

Why you shouldn’t even think about hiring translators who don't translate into their native language

Posted on 05. Jan, 2010 by Admin in Blog

If you know two or more languages fluently or almost fluently, you may speak, write, or even think in your second or third language. However, even if you have a flawless understanding of your second language, you may not be able to translate into it.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re a translation client considering whether to hire a translator who translates exclusively into one language or a translator who claims to be able to translate into multiple languages.

Traits of Successful Translators

Posted on 27. Nov, 2009 by Ashleigh in Blog

Part language interpreter, writing specialist, subject matter expert, researcher, and detective, translators can sometimes seem like a different breed. We come from such a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, qualifications, and cultures that each of us is uniquely qualified. There is also this idea that translators are studious, even a bit geeky, with a passion for dictionaries, proper syntax and etymology.
Despite this seemingly endless array of differences, successful professional translators share a number of common traits and qualities.

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