The following checklist was compiled with
the assistance of the Client Education Committee of the Alexandria,
Va.-based American Translators Association (www.atanet.org).
Sizing up Needs
What type of translation service, written, oral or a
combination of both, is required for the meeting or event?Into how many languages will the program be translated?
Will translators be working on site?Are on-site translation services provided by the venue? If so,
is someone on the planning staff capable of judging translation
quality?Does the venue have a translation booth, or will the
translators provide their own equipment?Consider whether the event’s needs would be better served by a
translation company (when multiple translations into different
languages are required) or an independent translator (for
single-language translations).Evaluating Translation Companies
How does the company select and test its translators?For how many languages does it provide translations?Does the company specialize in a particular language?If the meeting or event requires translation services in a
language the company does not ordinarily offer, is it prepared to
find a competent translator for that language? If the firm contracts with outside translators, will the
translator bill you directly, or will the invoice go through the
translation company? Do markup fees apply?Is the translation company owned or operated by a professional
who is certified by the American Translators Association
(703-683-6100; www.atanet.org)?Does the company have its own editors and proofreaders to check
printed material that has been translated?What is the turnaround time for material to be translated?How does the company charge (by the hour, by number of
translated pages, etc.)? Do additional charges apply for on-site
translation or overtime?If a translator fails to show up, will backups be provided in a
timely fashion?
What related services does the translation company provide (i.e.,
updating glossaries, translating technical or medical data into
several languages)?Ask the translation provider for an estimate. Make sure cost
estimates and deadlines for printed materials are included in a
written contract.Ask for references from recent clients with similar needs.Evaluating Independent Translators
Is their promotional material well written?Can they provide multiple copies of translated material?Do they ask questions about the project at hand? Good
translators will try to get an understanding of the field to which
the meeting or event is geared.Are they certified by the American Translators Association?
Contact ATA to verify.What are the translators’ special subject fields (i.e., are
they adept at deciphering financial documents or medical
texts)?What experience do they have? Can they provide references from
previous clients whose needs were similar to yours?Are they skilled in the required languages?Do they have access to resources for translating dialects and
cultural nuances?Do they have the necessary translation equipment?What is the turnaround time for written translations?In case of emergency, can they guarantee a reliable backup
translator?How do they charge for their services (hourly, per document,
per page, etc.)? Ask for an estimate.Ask for references from recent clients who had similar
translation needs.