Translation Clouds: Unmasking a Fatal Flaw

Discover the skepticism surrounding the translation cloud model, especially among professional translators who value quality.

 

Learn why seasoned translators hesitate to buy into the promise of machine-assisted translation dominating the cloud.

The 65% Myth: Deconstructing Cloud Translation Promises

The flawed logic of translation cloud companies suggests that professional human translators should only be compensated at 35% of prevailing market rates, or US$0.02~0.03 per word.

What gives?

Well, the cloud companies posit that since computer translation (machine translation & computer assisted translation) promises to deliver 65% accuracy human translators are only required to handle the remaining 35% and, therefore, should be compensated accordingly.

Read on to find out why this is flawed logic and what the implications are for the quality of your Japanese English translation project.

The Real Work: Understanding the Role of Professional Translators

First off, that 65% accuracy figured bandied around by the cloud folks is exactly that – Pie in the sky! Take it from a professional translator with decades of translation experience.

The bigger issue, though, is that remaining 35%. That part expected of human translators is where all the real Japanese translation work takes place. In other words, sorting through all the cr@p that the machines churn out, making sense of it, and presenting it in an intelligent format.

Here’s what you as a client of translation services need to be concerned with:

If professional Japanese translators refuse cloud translation work -and who worth their salt would work at sweatshop rates?- then you’ve just got to be wondering who these cloud translation outfits assign to your project…

This is the fatal flaw.

Professional Translators Aren't Sold on Translation Clouds

And neither should you be!

Ensure your projects are in the capable hands of experienced and professional translators – Contact the Translation Company Tokyo where the Cloud is eschewed for Professional Japanese Translation

 

Recommended Japanese Translation Service – Who are the Real People That Recommend?

When you're on the hunt for a recommended professional translation services, it's only natural to feel a tad skeptical about the legitimacy of those endorsements.  

 Let's face it, in a world where anyone can slap on a label of "excellence" without backing it up, how can you separate the genuine from the bogus?  

 This article shares a few industry secrets to you keep you on the straight ‘n narrow!  

Spotting the Real Gems from the Fakes

 You've probably stumbled upon recommendations that look like they were written by robots, not real people. You know the ones – generic praises with nothing substantial to back them up. Take this example for instance:   

 "Excellent translation service – Highly Recommended!"
D.Y., New York.
 

It's as vague as it gets. But let's be honest, can you really hold these faceless recommendations accountable? The anonymity of the Internet often shields them from any responsibility.  

The Accountability Dilemma

It's frustrating, isn't it?   

You read a glowing review but can't help but wonder if it's authentic. When all you have are a few initials, it's clear that the people -if it’s even a person- behind those recommendations aren't confident enough to put their names out there. And who can blame them? If you weren't entirely satisfied with a service, you wouldn't want your full name attached to that endorsement either. 

This lack of accountability is precisely why it's hard to trust those generic recommendations.  

The Faces Behind Genuine Recommendations

The solution to this conundrum is fairly straight forward. 

We're here to empower you with the knowledge to distinguish between real recommendations and the ones that are merely empty words. Curious about the secret sauce?   

It's simple – real people, flesh ‘n blood folks like you and I!

 

Those who genuinely believe in a service are willing to put their names on the line to vouch for it. Would you share your private information if you weren't confident about the translation service? Probably not. 

Genuine Recommendations, Professional Japanese Translation

So, what does a genuine recommendation look like? 

“Very professional, prompt and accurate. You can trust this site to complete your translation needs. I will use SAECULII YK again in the future and recommend them.”
R. Seeto (Ibaraki, Japan) 

 

Discover the power of genuine endorsements by watching our short, informative video: Professional Japanese Translation Recommended 

 

 

Translation Services Japan: Unveiling the Secrets of Professional Translation Pricing

Have you ever wondered why you receive vastly different quotes for the same Japanese-English translation project from different translation services?

 

The answer lies in the intricacies of translation pricing. In this article, we will demystify the pricing process and provide you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions.

Understanding the Intangible Nature of Translation Services

Unlike purchasing a tangible item like a smartphone, translation is a service that can't be physically examined or compared by simply looking at specifications. This inherent intangibility makes it challenging to measure and compare quotes from different service providers. While some may argue that it's just a "Japanese to English translation project," comparing translations is more like comparing apples to oranges.

The Devil is in the Details: Factors Affecting Translation Pricing

To obtain an accurate price for professional translation services that can be compared across vendors, it's important to consider the following guidelines:

Translation Type: Translation services come in various forms, such as human translation, computer translation, post-editing machine translation, translation crowdsourcing, and translation cloud. Each type varies in quality and cost. Japanese human translation services provide the highest quality but come at a higher price, while computer translation offers lower quality and sometimes even free options (like Google Translate). Other types of translation fall somewhere in between in terms of cost and quality. To ensure an apples-to-apples comparison, use the same type of translation for accurate pricing.

Pricing Structure: Translation services in Japan typically use a standard structure to calculate pricing based on parameters such as language combination (e.g., English to Japanese translation), subject matter (e.g., finance, legal, technical), volume (number of words or pages), turn-around time (higher rates for express jobs), and applicable discounts. To compare prices effectively, ensure that all these parameters are consistent.


Express Jobs: If you require urgent translation services, be prepared for additional costs. Express delivery fees can increase prices by up to 100% above regular rates. To obtain comparable pricing across vendors, keep the turn-around time parameter consistent.

HINT
By planning ahead and avoiding rush jobs, you can save significantly.

Value Added Services: Sometimes, translation projects may require more than just translation. For instance, if you need professional web copywriting for your translated Japanese materials, additional costs may apply, similar to hiring a professional copywriter for the original content. Be aware of these additional services and their associated costs.

Putting an End to the Mystery of Translation Pricing

Now that you understand the factors influencing translation pricing, you can confidently request quotes from various Translation Services in Japan. Armed with the knowledge of what to compare, you'll be able to obtain apples-to-apples quotes and choose the best rate for your project.

In conclusion, translation pricing may have seemed like a mystery before, but now it's clear that understanding the specific parameters and types of translation involved is the key to making accurate comparisons. By following these guidelines, you'll be empowered to navigate the world of professional Translation Services Japan, and find the right provider that offers competitive pricing for your translation needs.

Japanese Human Translation Services - You know what they say about a crowd of cooks, right?

English Japanese translation is no different: too many translators and your spoil it!

That is, while a translation service is a commodity (being provided by many translation companies, agencies and firms), the very act of translation itself is just like a broth -- Each is a uniquely human endeavor.

In order to understand why Translation Crowdsourcing will NOT get you the quality Japanese translation you expect in your projects, let’s take a look at what exactly Translation Crowdsourcing is.

Most people are familiar with crowdsourcing, although they may not necessary know it. Ever used Wikipedia? This is the same approach used by translation crowdsourcing outfits, with many translators working on the translation of a source, or “from language”, text. Translators respond to an “open call” over the Internet with each being assigned a different section of material to translate. The benefit of translation crowdsourcing is its ability to speed up the translation process.

However, much the same as Wikipedia, since many people - a crowd, essentially - do the translation, quality issues, such as quality of contributing translators, are to be expected. For example:

There is little in the way of tried and tested vetting processes employed by traditional translation service agencies to ensure only qualified translators, proof-checkers and editors (human translators with university education, practical training, translation tool knowledge, experience, and, most important, are experts in their subject matter of choice) get to work on your projects.

In addition, crowdsoucing operations are notoriously plagued by “Editor Wars”. Editor wars are where numerous editors continuously override each others’ editing. The result is a translation broth that is thoroughly ruined.

These, and other reasons which are too numerous to dive into here, are the reasons why Japanese Human Translation Service is your best option for quality Japanese translation.

 

Japanese Translation Service - A Quality & Cost Approach is the Secret to Fast Turnaround

What, exactly, does that mean for you?

It means no rush fees, no cr@ppy translation quality & no delayed projects!

When you adopt a quality first approach to your Japanese translation projects, you’ll realize translation cost savings through lower rates, and get a faster turn around. Now, I know that may sound like counter intuitive logic; however,

the reason why is that turnaround is a function of translation quality & cost.

Put another way, do the job properly and the benefits multiple.

Stick with me here, and as we work our way through the following short blog posts, you’ll see how you can a get fast turn around on that Japanese business document translation of yours without paying express fees or sacrificing quality. In other words, you get your cake and get to enjoy it!

Need more tips for your Japanese translation projects? Get the definitive Professional Japanese Translation Guide Overview, absolutely free

Translation Article bY Translation Company Tokyo
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/saeculii