FAQ (Frequently-Asked Questions)
1 - How long has your translation agency been operational?
Our Italian translation agency (link alla pagina "Italian_translation_agency.html") has been active in the translation field since 1985.
2 - Can I visit your headquarters?
No problem whatsoever. Just phone for an appointment.
3 - Can I ask to be visited by one of your representatives?
Translation Agency business managers are at the customer’s disposal
for meetings to identify the subject of the supply, availability
of human resources, compatibility of hardware and software resources,
production time schedules, problems linked to company terminology,
final expectations and any other condition related to correct
supply of the service requested. They will suggest the best operational
solutions.
4 - How can I be sure of your professionalism
/ experience / references?
All the services and products we supply, from a simple business letter to
a multi-volume technical translation, undergo quality controls
right from the moment of receipt down to production process, Quality
Control and delivery. For each type of service specific controls
are envisaged, aimed at maintaining a high qualitative standard
and the management and elimination of any “nonconformities”.
20 years of experience and faithful, satisfied customers in Italy
and abroad bear witness to the fact that Translation Agency follows
extremely rigorous production and control procedures in supplying
its services, and that it sets objectives of excellence and ongoing
improvement. Highly professional organisation in continual growth
that operates in synergy with skilled, qualified collaborators
has made Translation Agency a widely consolidated and respected
company in the world of linguistic services.
5 – What do you mean by Aided Translation?
A CAT Tool (Computer Aided Translation) is software that can create a work
environment which is more compatible with the functions proper
to translation and pagination activities and which helps translators
(without of course replacing their indispensable professionalism),
thus ensuring numerous advantages:
- Terminological uniformity: the system produces and updates a
specific terminological database. Approved terms are automatically
highlighted with the appropriate translation in a specific window.
This means avoiding the risk of using terms that do not conform
with the approved ones.
It may also be utilised when a team of translators work together
on the same document, thus maintaining perfect terminological
uniformity.
- Maintaining original format: a special programme interface “conceals”
the formatting codes and styles used by the DTP programme that
generated the document and separates the graphics from the text
to be translated: so the translator works only on the texts that
appear without formatting, i.e. in the environment most congenial
to him. With the work completed the translated texts can be “re-imported”
to the original DTP format without losing graphics, pagination
etc. Here too the advantages are evident.
6 – Is it important to compile a glossary?
The glossary is a fundamental tool which guarantees a quality translation
service and adherence to the terminology employed by the Customer’s
company.
The glossary can be compiled using:
- Reference material supplied by the Customer
- Reference documentation prepared previously
- Monolingual or bilingual sector-specific dictionaries
- Specific dictionaries dealing with particular apparatus or systems
- Terminological research on sector company websites
Each glossary is submitted to the Customer for approval and for
any corrections or observations.
For large scale projects the glossary is created by means of computer
aided translation.
7 - Do you accept small jobs of even less
than a page?
Yes, we accept small jobs. There is a minimum one-sheet charge for jobs of
less than that length.
8 – How can I request a personalised estimate?
Estimates may be requested verbally, or in writing, or by using the online
forms. For greater estimating precision it is best to attach the
material (file, hard copy, CD etc.).
Translation Agency’s services are formalised by an estimate/offer
issued by the Business Manager. Where several services are envisaged,
these will be described in detail.
On receiving the order the Translation Agency Product Manager
will provide for re-examination of the contract (in accordance
with our Quality System methods) and for drawing up the work plan,
which is identified by a special reference number for each project.
This number will be communicated to the Customer on delivery of
the supply and will appear on the invoice.
9 - Does your agency have translators and interpreters
for all source and target languages?
Yes, we have translators and interpreters for all languages, both in Italy
and abroad.
10 - I’m a translator. How can I send
my CV in order to work with you?
Attach it to the special form on our site. The form must be filled in completely.
11 – What are your selection criteria
for collaborators?
Translation Agency uses only native speaker translators with sector specialisation.
A preferential requisite is at least 5 years of experience in
the translation world. Our translators are selected individually
for their skills and specialisation and are highly qualified.
Updating on the most advanced technologies and terminologies is
ongoing whether the field of translation be technical, medical
and scientific, financial, in the aerospace sector or generally
in sectors in continual evolution. Moreover our translators are
constantly evaluated on the basis of feedback we receive: in this
way we can guarantee our customers a job done by the most suitable
translation team for their product, their company and their activity.
New translators and interpreters are directly supervised by our
Quality Managers for at least one year. With view to achieving
greater terminological coherency and a constant quality of translation,
for each customer the same translators are used in a systematic
and ongoing way. A stability parameter to reflect on: 80% of our
translators have been working with us for 15 / 20 years.
12 – Is it possible to set up an ongoing
working relationship with you?
Of course. Contact our business service for further details.
13 – Are there special discounts
for companies in the services sector that resell your services
to their own customers?
Yes, we already work with several companies in this context. Please contact
our business service for further details.
14 – What’s the difference
between translation and localisation?
The translation process is something that goes beyond the terminological conversion
of a text from one language to another. Every text transmits a
message that must be transported in its entirety into another
language, respecting the informative and cultural context. Localisation
is closely linked to this concept: it means adapting a product
or service to the conditions and conventions proper to the end-user
country while maintaining intact the specificity and the integrity
of the code and message transmitted.
15 – Can you also download websites
for translation/localisation?
We can download and translate/localise all Web formats thanks to TagEditor®,
the standard acknowledged in the sector for Web and DTP formats
with tag. The formats HTML, ASP, JSP, SGML, XML and XSL can be
opened directly with TagEditor®, thanks to advanced conversion
mechanisms. Alternatively, the website text to be translated can
be extracted as a file of Office® and translated directly
with the corresponding programme.
16 - How should source language
material be sent to you for translation?
Material for translation can be sent by attaching the file(s) to our online
estimate request form, or as an ordinary attachment to our e-mail
addresses or by FTP, fax or courier.
17 - How do you handle the personal
data received through the contact forms on your site?
Personal data communicated through our contact forms are recorded and protected
electronically, and handled wholly confidentially by Translation
Agency for its own company purposes, connected with or instrumental
to its activities.
In accordance with Art. 13 of Italian Law N° 675/96, you have
the right to access your data and request corrections, additions,
cancellation or blocking.
