What is a technical translation? And what are the peculiarities of these translations? Below, we take a look at these and the inherent challenges of technical translations.
Technical translation: definition and peculiarities
Technical translation refers to the translation of texts from technical sectors, which use specialist terminology. This may be in the scientific, legal, medical, financial, IT or mechanical sectors, etc.
To produce a quality technical translation, accuracy and precision are essential. The technical translator must also have sectoral expertise in the field in question.
The technical translator needs to possess a perfect command of industry-specific terms in the relevant language pairing. In addition, to translate a technical text accurately, they must also be familiar with the norms and regulations in force in the industry concerned.
From descriptions on how to operate machines, to the instructions for use of a pharmaceutical product, to the translation of a scientific patent... A wide range of technical documents and media may need to be translated.
Given the great complexity of this type of translation, only a professional translator specialising in the sector concerned can deliver a reliable and accurate translation. Online technical translation with automatic translation software is not recommended.
In the medical, pharmaceutical, scientific, or legal sectors, for example, the slightest error in language or a mistranslated word could have very damaging consequences.
Alphatrad, technical translation agency
E-mail: info@alphatrad.co.uk
Telephone: 0808 234 2776
From abroad: +44 20 7092 6632
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm
Address:
Becket House, 1 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EU
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Alphatrad, one of the leading translation agencies in Europe, provides you with a high-quality technical translation service.
Your document is entrusted to professional translators who specialise in technical translation and have sectoral expertise in your field.
To guarantee the quality of the translation, these professionals translate into their native language only, and many are based in the country where the language is used.
This means that they have a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the vocabulary and standards of the sector and of the local culture.
Whatever your field of expertise, we can provide technical translation services that are aligned with your needs:
- translation services for the industrial sector (aeronautics, electronics, energy, chemical industry, technology, solar, industrial manufacturing, engineering, vehicles, textiles, moulds and dies, material safety data sheets (MSDS), technical documents, specifications, agricultural engineering etc.)
- translation services for the IT sector (software, websites, etc.)
- translation services for the scientific sector (patents, expert reports, studies, etc.)
- translation services for the medical sector (products, research, medical reports, clinical trials, medical instructions, etc.)
- translation services for the legal sector (laws, notarial deeds, company statutes, diplomas, patents, marriage certificates, GTCs, GTUs, etc.)
- translation services for the economic and financial sector (balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, audit reports, risk analyses, etc.).
Translation of your documents into over 100 languages
With over 40 years of experience in technical translation, Alphatrad is one of the leading international language service providers. In addition to its numerous agencies, the company works with over 3,500 professional and native translators worldwide. We work in more than a hundred different languages, from the most common to the rarest: French, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Arabic, German, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese...
Technical translation services by specialists
With over 3,500 native speakers, we not only offer a wide range of translators, our employees also have a strong understanding of the respective technologies. This means that they have the technical know-how and industry-specific experience to carry out your technical translations with a 100% accuracy. In addition, we use auxiliary software for technical translations. This enables us to guarantee the homogeneity of technical terms and expressions.
Technical translation services – what sets us apart?
We are honest: there are many translation agencies. So why should you come to us? There are a few good reasons:
- We offer technical translation services in around 100 languages
- We have been a reliable partner when it comes to translations for over 40 years
- We offer high-quality translation services and guarantee the best results through our more than 3,500 native speakers
- We not only have employees who are linguistically skilled, but who also have technical expertise and experience in the respective field
- We work quickly and can even handle rush jobs to your complete satisfaction.
So why wait? Why not contact us for a no-obligation quote for your technical translation right away and we'll get to work as soon as possible.
Prices for technical translations
From £104 per 1000 words plus VAT (the rate of the final translation depends on the volume and subject area).
For example, for language combinations: English > Italian, English > Spanish, English > Portuguese, etc.
Service: Technical translation by a professional translator (native speaker in the target language).
Other optional additional services or alternatives:
- Certified translation
- Proofreading by a second translator to guarantee the best possible result
- Neural machine translation and post-editing by a native speaker (a faster and cheaper solution)
- DTP the document in InDesign or other formats
FAQ about our technical translation services
Which documents can be translated for technical or scientific purposes?
Technical translations mainly concern documents from industrial sectors such as shipbuilding, aviation, food processing, transport, etc. The documents can include user manuals, technical data sheets, patents, catalogues, etc.
How is the cost of a technical translation worked out?
The cost of a translation varies according to the type of content and the length of the translation. To find out the cost of a technical translation, you can request a free quote online and you will receive a quotation within a few hours.
In what format can I send my document for technical translation?
The most commonly used formats for translating technical documents are PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. However, you can send us a document in another format and we will check whether we can process it.
How long does a technical translation take?
The average turnaround time is two days (excluding weekends and public holidays) for a text of less than 1,000 words. This timeframe can vary, not only according to the number of words, but also according to the subject of the text and the language pairing. However, by choosing the priority option, you can reduce the turnaround time to just a few hours.
More types of translations:
Certified translations
International calls for tenders, driving licences, visas, and documents intended for government authorities, etc.
For more information