Translating Documents: Most Frequently Asked Questions
Have any questions in mind about translation service? Find the answers below!
How Can I Find a Reliable Translator In Thailand?
Before choosing a translator, you should ask for their translation background and experience. Then, choose a translator who has translated the similar type of work you want to have translated. For instance, if you need to have a legal document translated, choose someone who has past experiences in translating legal documents.
You can also ask for a sample of the translator’s past translation or ask them to translate a few paragraphs of your documents. Doing this can help you find the best translator to fit your needs and standard.
Key Points
- Experience is one of the most important factors when choosing a translator.
- Many Thai translators prefer to handle their jobs without any legal process.
- The cost of translation service in Thailand depends on various factors, including the translator’s experience, difficulty, delivery speed, legalization, and certification.
Do Translators In Thailand Provide Revision?
Yes, you should be able to ask a translator for revisions. There’s no formal agreement on how many times you can ask for revision. However, it should not be more than three times unless you have made an agreement with the translator in advance.
Is a Contract Necessary When Hiring a Translator In Thailand?
Many Thai translators prefer to handle their jobs without any legal process, so contracts are unnecessary when hiring a translator in Thailand. In most cases, a verbal agreement is enough, especially for short documents that can be completed within a few hours or days.
However, if your project involves a lot of money and time, contracts can be important. The contract should mention details about normal conditions, such as deadline, rate, and payment method. In addition, the contract should also outline details about cancellation, confidentiality, copyright, and revisions. Make sure that both parties sign the contract.
Before choosing a translator, you should ask for their translation background and experience.
What Service Models Do Translation Services In Thailand Offer?
You can find various service models when hiring a translator in Thailand. Below are some of the most common:
Per Page
Translation services in Thailand usually use the pay-per-page model, especially when translating from Thai to English. One of the reason is that the word count tool is not very accurate in counting Thai words, resulting in more characters and words than what they should be. Also, calculating the fee is easier through the pay-per-page model when a file comes in pdf format.
Per Word
Although the pay-per-page model is more common, some translators use a pay-per-word model when it comes to Thai translation.
Per Hour
With assignments that are hard to calculate by page or word, some translators use the pay-per-hour model. For example, when they’re translating a website. The hour here means the number of hours it takes for the translator to complete the task.
Per Minute
Pay-per-minute is common for media translation, such as subtitles and documents for TV shows, cartoon animations, and discovery channels with no file scripts..
If your project involves a lot of money and time, contracts can be important.
How Much Does Translation Service In Thailand Cost?
The cost of translation service in Thailand depends on various factors, including the translator’s experience, difficulty, delivery speed, legalization, and certification. Keep in mind that translation rates don’t guarantee the quality of the translation.
Here is the rate based on an average market price:
- General – for general documents or articles that don’t include many technical terma, the translation rate for experienced translators usually starts at 400 baht per page or 1 baht per word.
- Technical – technical articles or documents, such as medical and scientific manuals, usually have higher rates. In most cases, the rates can be 2 to 3 baht per word. Depending on the level of difficulties, the rates can be higher than 3 baht per word.
- Legal Contract – the rate of translating legal contract is similar to technical articles. Depending on the difficulty levels, it can range between 2 and 3 baht per word or more.
Do Language Institutes In Thailand Offer Translation Services?
Yes, some language institutes in Thailand offer translation services. Many people consider them as the best translation services since the translators are university teachers and certified personal translators who teach translators. However, due to the quality, the rates of translation from language institutes are higher.