| Frequently Asked Questions |
Everything you need to know about the language service industry in general and MAT’s services in particular.
What is the difference between translation and interpretation?
What is "localization?"
What are your translators and interpreters' qualifications?
Do you use translation memory tools?
Do you use translation software?
How quickly can I get my translation back?
What are your price based on?
How will you quote my project?
How is your translation process?
Do you use machine translation?
Are MAT's translations native speakers?
What are expertise areas that your translators have?
Will MAT use my glossary of terms?
Is the translation proof-read?
What file types can MAT handle?
How do I send my document to MAT if it is not in an electronic format?
What is the difference between translation and interpretations?
Translating deals with the written word, while interpreting deals with the spoken word. Documents, web sites, contracts and patents are translated, while interpreting is provided in support of international conferences (such as at the UN) or in international meetings attended by people from many nations, where the attendees wear headphones or earpieces through which interpretation is provided by professional interpreters.
What is “localization?”
Localization is the process of creating a product like a software application, a web site or a video game, so that the product is entirely "at home" in the target country. Localization includes language translation but goes beyond it, to include, for example, the conversion of formats, standards, layouts and designs as well as the use of customized colors, slogans and other components that influence the "feel" of the product. ASET provides localization services to its clients in over 135 languages.
What are your translators and interpreters’ qualifications?
MAT's translators and interpreters are industry-leading, native-speaking professionals with a minimum of 5 years experience in the field (most have 20+ years) and distinguished performance records.
Do you use translation memory tools?
Yes, with translation memory tools, blocks of text that have been previously translated can be saved and reused to speed up turnaround and enhance consistency. When we manage large projects, we often rely on translation memory tools.
Do you use translation software?
No, we do not use software that actually produces the translation. The low quality of translation software generally makes it useless to professional translators. The amount of correction, editing and “clean-up” required is so extensive that it makes more sense to simply translate the material scratch.
How quickly can I get my translation back?
Turn- around times depend on many factors, such as the length of the document, the format in which it was produced, the complexity of layout and other elements that make up the translation. For instance, a translation of a word document most likely will require much less time than the translation of an indexed user’s manual in a DTP program such as in design. Our sales representative or account executive can provide you with guidance on turn-around times. We work closely with our clients in order to accommodate their production timelines and requirements.
What are your prices based on?
Translation is a professional service, much like dentistry or law. With professional services, you get what you pay for. The translations of your brochure, user's manual or web site constitute the public face of your company for millions of readers of that language. The translation of a patent or a medical consent form may involve significant liability for your company. This makes quality paramount in today's risky and competitive international business environment.
We do offer volume and special discounts and use translation memory tools to reduce costs, often considerably. We are also one of the few translation companies in the industry deemed to have a translation Quality Assurance Program sufficient for an insurance carrier to grant professional liability insurance. But rarely are we the absolute lowest price. As in dentistry, it is always possible to find a cheaper rate. However, most people would agree that it is not always a good idea to base a decision about a dentist — or a translation — on price alone.
How will you quote my project?
In general, translation and localization are priced on a per-word basis, with other professional services (layout, testing, engineering) priced on an hourly basis.
Because every translation and localization project is unique, fixed price lists are of limited use (that is why there are no price lists published on this site). Moreover, pricing is affected by such factors as format, deadline, volume and client-specified requirements. We also request your files in order to calculate potential discounts through the use of translation memory technology. For this reason, we provide quotes on a per-project basis to best meet client requirements.
In our quoting phase, we will request source files, discuss languages, formats, deadlines and deliverables, run analyses of files and develop our own recommendations for your project. We will provide you with a detailed assessment, proposal and quote for each project, including discounts. We are happy to provide these consulting services at no charge. The final quotes are free, involve no obligation, and can be helpful in scoping a project.
How is your translation Process?
The Translation through MAT Global Translations follows a number of simple steps: Firstly, after we receive your document, we will quote you a price and the expected delivery time. Next, on receiving your approval the document is allocated to one of our professional translators or a team of translators with the required subject specialization. Lastly, upon completion, the translation undergoes a quality check and is returned to you by mail.
Do you use machine translation?
Yes, our translators use Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools. We use localization tools (Translation Memory) as well as TRADOS which is mainly used, SDLX, and Corel Catalyst. In additional, we use software (DTP/Layout) such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Basic, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Freehand, Corel Draw, In design and Quark Xpress.
Are MAT’s translators native speakers?
Almost all MAT’s translators are native speakers of the target language. We believe that accuracy depends upon using native speakers as translators. We employ a mix of technical experts with strong linguistic skills, as well as expert linguists with good technical backgrounds. All staff members have passed a rigorous selection process, and their skills are exercised and improved day by day.
What are expertise areas that your translators have?
Our translators have many areas of expertise (e.g. legal, chemical, electrical, mechanical etc.). They often have advanced degrees in their area of specialty and have years of experience.
Will MAT use my glossary of terms?
If you have glossaries of terms or acronyms or technical information about the subject to be translated, please provide this information.
Is the translation proof-read?
Yes, the translation is reviewed and edited by a second translator to ensure that it is correct and accurate. Proofreading is essential when you want to get perfect results for business translations.
What file types can MAT handle?
The document you submit must be saved in a format that MAT can process. We can handle the following file types: .doc , .rtf, .pdf, .htm, .html, .txt
Note: graphics, headers, footers, and macros are not recognized as part of the text to be translated. For this reason, the word count may not be accurate. If the actual word count is different from the one quoted online, we will contact you before proceeding.
How do I send my document to MAT if it is not in an electronic format?
You can fax or mail your document to us for a quote. Our contact information can be found on the "Contact Us" page of our website.
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