FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing for translation is inherently complicated. It depends highly on the source document. How difficult is the language? How technical is the jargon? What is the intended use of the translation? Will it be public and distributed, or is it more for knowledge and personal use? All of these factors in more go into figuring out the price of a translation. I prefer to work on a per word basis ranging from $0.10-0.25 per word, depending on difficulty and how quickly the translation is needed. When it comes to transcription, things are also variable. I tend to start at a base rate of $1.00 per recorded minute. However, for extensive projects, this can be a very high rate, so I am willing to work with clients who have larger transcription needs to find a price system that is more amenable to their budget limits. That said, transcription can be very time consuming, especially when the recording is not very clear. It usually takes between 2-4 times the recorded length or longer to compile a complete and polished transcription. My approach is to work closely with clients so that they understand the reality of the project, which in turn allows us to find a price that is both fair for them and also worth my time.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have Bachelors degrees in Linguistics and French, as well as two Masters degrees in French, from the University of Kentucky and Duke University. Currently, I work for a global travel agency, which gives me the opportunity to interact with customers and suppliers in French on an almost day-to-day basis. I am constantly growing and learning with regard to my language skills.