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Dutch to English Translation Guide: All About Dutch Translation
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Dutch Translation Guide - ContentsComparison of Translation Options. Should you send your translation to an agency or hire a freelance translator directly? What about free translation options? How Much Does a Dutch Language Translation Cost? See sample prices from Dutch freelance translators and translation agencies. How to Choose a Freelance Translator. Choosing a translator may be the most important decision you make about your Dutch to English translation. How to Save Money on Your Translation. Find out ten easy ways to reduce your Dutch translation costs. Meet a Dutch to English Translator. Lindsay Gasser, a freelance translator, talks about her craft. Free Language Translator. Use this free Dutch to English translation tool to translate websites or phrases instantly. Dutch Translation Guide - Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: How much should I expect to pay for a translation? A: Translation pricing is normally based on the number of words in the original document. In our study of twenty U.S.-based freelance Dutch translators, we found an average per word rate of $0.11 for English to Dutch translation, and $0.10 for Dutch to English translation. Agency rates are generally higher than freelance translator rates. Rates will also vary widely depending on many factors, including the location of the translator, the difficulty of the specific project, and the service level being offered. We recommend e-mailing your document to several different translation providers to ask for price quotations in order to have a basis for comparison. Read more about Dutch translation pricing. Q: What about free translation tools? A: Machine translation and professional translation are for different purposes. A machine translator is a tool that can give you a general idea of what a Dutch text means, but you cannot count on it to produce an accurate or coherent translation. Read more about free Dutch to English translation tools. "Every day, someone says to me, 'You're a translator? But I can go to Google and translate everything.' What I think about automatic translators is, they're great for words, not for sentences. Software has not yet reached the point where it can emulate the human brain where it comes to language. You look at a machine translation and think "I don't say it like that." To see the problem, you only have to look at product instruction manuals that have been written in English by someone who doesn't really speak English. The words are English, but the sentences are not anything an English person would ever say. Sometimes you can understand it, and sometimes you can't. I use Google Translator as a tool when I have a phrase I don't understand. That doesn't mean I believe it! But I use it to check individual words." - Lindsay Gasser, Dutch Translator Q: How long will my translation take? A: The short answer to this question is: ask your translator. As a general rule, a translator needs at least a day for 3000 words. However, the timing of your translation will also depend on how difficult it is, how much terminology research your translator will need to do, how experienced and careful your translator is, and your translator's other time commitments. Q: Should I use a translation agency? A: There are two main options for a professional translation: going to an agency, or going directly to a freelance translator. An agency may be the best choice for translations in multiple languages or when you want a quick, convenient solution. A freelance translator will normally charge less than an agency and can be a good option for a straightforward English to Dutch or Dutch to English translation. Read a comparison of different Dutch translation options. Q: How can I tell if someone is a good translator? A: When hiring a translator, we recommend looking at several things.
We also advise checking professional references and asking for a sample translation or test. Read more about choosing a translator. "Many people don't realize that to do translation, you need to know about the subject in your own language. It's not just a matter of reading the foreign language and understanding what it says; you need to have a wide vocabulary in your mother tongue and be able to find the words in your own language." - Lindsay Gasser, Dutch Translator << BACK from Dutch Translation to Free Language Translator and Professional Translation Services Home |