Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)2023-09-28T12:22:09+02:00

Do you have any questions about our services and processes?

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions. We will be happy to help you over the phone, by e-mail or via our contact form.

Which languages does Interlingua translate into?2021-08-20T11:33:25+02:00

Interlingua offers first-class translations into over 90 languages. A wide network of carefully vetted specialist translators and language experts will enable you to get your message across to your target audience with pinpoint accuracy.
Would you like to know whether we can handle the desired language combination for your subject field? Then feel free to contact us. There’s no obligation!

Which subject fields does Interlingua offer translations for?2021-08-20T10:25:21+02:00

Interlingua is a leading translation agency in nearly all subject fields. Whether for business, industry, technology, marketing, advertising, medicine, law, tourism, science, education, environment, film, media, insurance or IT – we have the right translators and revisers ready for you.

I would like to get a translation from Interlingua. How do I do that?2021-08-20T10:42:18+02:00

Normally your translation can be done easily online: you send us your file by email or via our contact form and let us know the language(s) you would like it to be translated into. We will analyse your source text and get right back to you with a non-binding offer, including the price, delivery date and information on how to make payment.

We are also happy to provide digital quotations for certified translations, which are often attached to the original document.

When you place an order with us, we will instruct our best translator for the language combination and subject area of your text. In this way we can provide you with a translation of the highest quality.

In which file format can I send you my source text?2022-11-08T13:45:29+01:00

Interlingua works with various file formats. You can send your text as a Word document, in Open Office format, as an Excel sheet, PDF or JPG. We can also process InDesign or XML files without any problems.

Is your source text in another file format? Get in contact with us and we will find a solution for you.

How much does a translation cost?2021-08-20T11:35:26+02:00

The cost of a translation depends on many factors – the language combination, the subject field, the amount of text, the number of repetitions and the date of delivery. Due to the long-term and stable collaboration with our translators and the fact that we work with modern translation technology, we can always offer you the best value for money. For an exact price, we look at your source text carefully and send you a non-binding offer.

How long will it take until my translation is ready?2021-08-20T10:51:54+02:00

We only work with professional specialist translators who will always process your project as quickly as possible. We will tell you the earliest possible delivery date for your translation project when we send you your quotation. As a guide, an experienced translator can translate approximately 1,500 words per working day.

For large translations, we can set up teams of translators for you to enable an even earlier delivery date. And if you need to have the translation even sooner, we can offer you an express translation.

How will my translation be delivered?2021-08-20T10:52:43+02:00

You will receive your finished translation on time either by email or (in the case of certified translations and also according to what has been agreed on) as a registered letter by post. We will agree on the desired format, ideally before starting the project.

We will be happy to adapt your translation to the original layout (DTP work) or ensure that it is conveniently arranged by laying out the source text and translation for you in tabular form.

I would like to have my entire website translated. What do you need me to send you?2021-12-06T15:24:30+01:00

Ideally, you should send us an export of your website, blog or online shop. This ensures that all the texts and background information (e.g. SEO metadata) are actually translated. You can also be sure that all the translated content will appear in the right place when you import it again later.

Depending on the website’s setup, the files are normally exported in XLIFF or XML format. Of course, you can also send us your texts in many other file formats, such as:

  • DOCX
  • XLSX
  • CSV
  • HTML
  • JSON

Are your website texts in a different format? No problem, we’ll find a solution. Feel free to contact us. There’s no obligation! We’d be happy to advise you!

I’m not sure how to export my website. Can you help me with this?2021-12-09T14:59:25+01:00

First, the good news: exporting your website(s) is usually much easier than it sounds. The procedure can vary depending on the provider, setup or plugin. It’s probably best to ask your service provider first. But we’d also be happy to assist, if necessary, either via our contact form, over the phone or by email.

I’d like to have you translate individual pages. Is it enough to just send you the link?2021-12-06T15:29:21+01:00

Have you created a new landing page, perhaps for an ad campaign? Does a blog entry need to be translated? Does your privacy policy have to be updated for a certain target market? There are many reasons for translating individual pages of a website.
However, we’d still like you to send us the full text. This way we can avoid any misunderstandings and can send you a cost estimate really quickly. Whether it’s a Word, Excel or XML file or some other format – it really doesn’t matter.

Can you do the translation directly in my CMS/on my website?2021-12-09T14:58:50+01:00

To be able to process the texts for your website in a way that saves costs, is quick and to a high standard, it’s important to have them translated using our CAT tools. We therefore strongly advise you not to have them translated directly in your system.

For one thing, the translation would be more expensive. Using a CAT tool to translate makes it possible to charge per word (instead of by the hour) and takes into account discounts for repetitions and similar things that don’t need translating – and there are many of these on a typical website.

This way, we are also able to ensure consistent use of terminology throughout the translation. Your specific corporate wording will be taken into consideration at all times and the desired tone achieved on each page.

An additional bonus is that we save your translations in dedicated translation memories, so we can access them again for future translations. This means that when you update your website’s content or develop a new landing page, you can be sure that the translation matches the other pages perfectly.

None of this would be possible by translating directly in your website.

How much does it cost to have my website, blog or online shop translated by Interlingua?2021-12-06T15:39:49+01:00

The cost of a translation depends on many factors, including the language combination, the subject field, the amount of text and the discount for the number of repetitions. For an exact price, please send us your source text and we’ll contact you as soon as possible with our best offer.

Do you have any tips for preparing my website translation?2023-01-24T11:19:45+01:00

Translating your website is an important project which needs to be well prepared. To support our customers in the best way possible, we have compiled the most important points in this article, so you can plan properly for the translation of your website.

Do you have any more questions? We’d be happy to advise you, either via our contact form, over the phone or by email.

What is a certified translation?2021-08-26T14:37:56+02:00

For a certified translation, a legally certified translator confirms that their translation matches the original document and is correct by means of an attestation clause, seal and signature. A certified or sworn translation is therefore a legally binding document and is recognised by authorities/official bodies.

When do I need a certified translation?2021-08-26T14:39:43+02:00

If you want to present official documents in a foreign language to the Austrian authorities, they usually have to be translated into German in a certified form (e.g. excerpts from commercial registers or criminal records, credentials, birth certificates).

This also applies if you want to submit Austrian certificates and items of proof at an office or an institute abroad (e.g. contract, annual report, notarised deed, expert report).

For which languages does Interlingua offer certified translations?2021-08-26T14:41:06+02:00

We can draw on a sustainable network of sworn and court-certified translators throughout Austria and can therefore offer you certified translations in many language combinations.

Not only do our certified interpreters translate into the most common European languages, such as German, English, French, Italian or Spanish, but also into less common languages – such as Croatian, Serbian, Slovakian or Turkish. As you would expect, we also work together with competent, certified translators for Russian, Chinese or Arabic.

Are you uncertain whether your desired language combination is possible? Then please send us an email and our project managers will be happy to advise you.

How much does a certified translation cost?2021-08-26T14:42:54+02:00

The price of a certified translation depends on many factors. Most importantly, it depends on the language combination, the amount of text and subject area. It is calculated either as a flat rate or according to the number of standard lines in the target text. In addition to this, the translator also charges a certification fee.

For a more exact price estimate, please send us your source document by email or via our contact form. We will then check it carefully and send you a non-binding offer as soon as possible.

How long will it take to get a certified translation of my document?2021-08-26T14:43:30+02:00

A certified translation is often needed yesterday rather than today. We work together with experienced sworn translators who will process your certified translation as soon as possible. We will tell you the earliest possible delivery date for your translation project when we send you your quotation.

Who is allowed to produce certified translations?2021-08-26T14:52:39+02:00

Only generally sworn and court-certified translators or interpreters with special training to become a court interpreter.

In order to do this training, translators must have successfully completed a degree in translation and interpreting and have two years of relevant work experience. Applicants must then complete a rigorous exam administered by the courts.

Court interpreters must also have outstanding language skills and be able to apply broad specialised knowledge in a field such as law (Austrian and European law and jurisprudence), medicine, or technology.

Do you need my original document for the certified translation?2021-08-26T14:57:05+02:00

It may be the case that we have to attach the sworn translation to your original document. This depends on the requirements of the authority you wish to submit your documents to. So that we can deliver your certified translation as soon as possible, we recommend you find out in advance whether attaching the translation to a copy (scan) is sufficient.

For the quotation and the translation itself, it is enough to send a scan of the original document(s).

Can you also digitally certify my translation?2021-11-09T16:05:36+01:00

As a rule, certified translations are issued on paper. This involves attaching and then sealing the original document (or a copy of it), the attestation clause and the translation.

However, it is becoming more common to use electronic signatures to confirm translations. Currently, we can offer you digital certified translations into Bosnian, Croatian, Danish, English, French, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian and Spanish.

Digital certifications are particularly useful when you want to deliver your document electronically to somewhere abroad (e.g. tender documents, university admission papers). Another advantage is that nothing has to be delivered by post, which can save a little time.

We recommend that you find out in advance whether digital certification is applicable in your case.

What is an apostille and how do I get one?2021-08-26T14:54:59+02:00

The apostille serves as confirmation of the validity of documents, certificates and signatures in international legal correspondence. It is a simplified form of legalisation and is valid among states that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention.

Whether your documents require an apostille depends on the requirements of the authorities in the target country. To be able to deliver your project as quickly as possible, we recommend that you ask about these things in advance.

For certificates issued in Austria, the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs is responsible. For documents from other countries, please consult the relevant representative body. The authorities/institutions you would like to submit your certified translation to will also be able to help you.

What is (neural) machine translation and how does it work?2021-08-24T14:32:13+02:00

Neural Machine Translation (NMT) is the latest MT method and is based on deep learning. This is a machine learning process in which so-called artificial neuronal networks are formed and continuously updated using huge amounts of data. In this way, the engine learns with every translation.

Which tools does Interlingua use for machine translation?2021-08-24T14:32:24+02:00

For post-editing projects, we work with a combination of different, well-established machine translation tools and CAT tools. With the help of plug-ins, the advantages of both systems can be combined (e.g. by using a terminology management system and existing translation memories).

My company is thinking about using machine translation. How can Interlingua support us with this?2021-08-24T14:32:36+02:00

Interlingua will support you in all phases of the project and offer you tailored MT and PE services:
– You leave the machine translation as well as the post-editing to our experts.
– You already have an in-house engine and require post-editing of your machine-translated texts.
– You would like to optimise your source texts for MT projects: the more consistent your source text is, the better MT results you can expect. We have created translation-orientated authoring and style guides to help you with this.

What results/quality can be achieved with machine translation?2021-08-24T14:32:47+02:00

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. The results vary depending on the language, text type and subject field. The quality of the source text also plays an important role.

My machine-translated text is full of mistakes. Can Interlingua help me?2021-08-24T14:33:00+02:00

As part of the post-editing, your machine-translated texts will be checked and corrected. Depending on whether you opt for light or full post-editing, our post-editors will focus on different aspects and types of mistakes.

What is the difference between full and light post-editing?2021-08-24T14:33:15+02:00

In appropriate cases, full post-editing delivers a quality of translation that comes close to that of human translation:

  • A grammatically, syntactically and semantically correct translation
  • Correct and consistent key terminology, consideration of terms not to be translated
  • No additions or omissions
  • No culturally inappropriate content
  • Extensive adoption of machine-translated content (to save costs)
  • Correct formatting
  • Stylistically acceptable (correction of rough drafts)

Light Post-Editing provides an understandable translation that should be used purely for internal information purposes:

  • Semantically correct translation (might contain minor grammatical and syntax errors)
  • No additions or omissions
  • No culturally inappropriate content
  • Extensive adoption of machine-translated content (to save costs)
  • No stylistic corrections
I would like to create subtitles for a video How do I do that?2021-08-25T11:46:29+02:00

Send us the file or a link to the video via E-Mail or via our contact form and tell us the desired target languages. This will enable us to calculate the time needed to transcribe the video and the number of words for the translation, and then make you a non-binding offer.

When you place an order with us, we will transcribe your video first and then create an SRT file. This forms the basis of the translation. If you already have a transcription of the video, please send this to us as well. This will shorten the editing time and, of course, reduce your costs.

However, the translation is not the end of the process. Next, we will carefully adjust the subtitles to your video, so that the text matches what is said as closely as possible. This aspect of the work is therefore almost as important as the translation itself.

Is a transcription always necessary?2021-08-25T11:47:21+02:00

Yes, the video has to be transcribed in advance in order to be able to create and translate the subtitles. We will use the transcription to prepare an SRT file, which we then translate. If you already have a transcription, you can send this to us. This reduces not only the processing time but also your costs.

Do the subtitles always have to be adjusted?2021-08-25T11:51:05+02:00

Yes, it is always necessary to adjust the subtitles after they have been translated, as there are guidelines on how long the subtitles have to be, which are not always adhered to when translating. This means that the subtitles will be checked after they are translated and shortened, if necessary.

I already have automatically generated subtitles from YouTube, can these be used or will they need adjusting?2021-08-25T11:50:01+02:00

Automatically generated subtitles definitely need adjusting. However, the total amount of time needed for your project will be reduced if automatically generated subtitles are already available, as we won’t need to transcribe the video.

Revision, linguistic editing, proofreading: which service is the right one for me?2021-08-25T12:47:14+02:00

Do you need to have a document proofread, improved, checked or processed? With so many different terms used for checking texts, it is easy to get confused. To stay on top of things, you only have to ask yourself two questions:

Would you like to have a monolingual or a bilingual review?

You have a translation and would like to have it checked to see if it matches exactly what is written in the original text? Then you should choose a revision. This is when the translation is compared with the original text in terms of its content as well as linguistic and formal criteria. If there are any inadequacies then the translation will be corrected.

Should your text be checked only formally or also stylistically?

If you would like to have a text in one language checked then you have the choice between linguistic editing, which includes all the aspects of revision except the comparison with the original text, and proofreading, which focuses on the linguistic accuracy and the formal aspects.

What is the difference between linguistic editing and proofreading?2021-08-25T12:48:05+02:00

Proofreading is restricted to checking and correcting formal aspects, such as punctuation, spelling, grammar and layout. Classic proofreading is mostly suitable for texts that have to be checked one last time in the final layout before they are published.

Linguistic editing goes into more depth. If you have your text proofread by Interlingua, then the proofreader will also make additional stylistic suggestions for improvement. This service is mainly suitable for making sure that the text is pleasant and easy to read.

Which languages can be checked at Interlingua?2021-08-25T12:50:33+02:00

Whether you need a monolingual or bilingual review to formally or also stylistically check your text then Interlingua can check your texts and translations in over 90 languages.
From common European languages like English, French or Spanish to world languages like Chinese and Arabic all the way to “less common” languages like Czech or Polish, we are your competent partner for linguistic editing and proofreading.
The carefully selected experts in our network possess a wide range of experience in proofreading and editing, and can support you in getting your message across with crystal clarity.

What texts can I have proofread and edited at Interlingua?2021-08-25T12:52:24+02:00

Whether annual financial statements for the banking industry, leaflets for enclosing with medical products or contracts for the property sector, we have suitable experts available for every kind of text.

For our customers in the areas of marketing and advertising, we ensure linguistically and stylistically flawless advertising messages in brochures and magazines or on websites and social media channels.

Of course, precisely worded and error-free texts are essential in all industries and subject fields. Checking the readability is suitable for technical instruction manuals, reports in the education and research sector, as well as material on information relating to complex subject areas, such as law and insurance.

How long will it take to check my text?2021-08-25T12:52:52+02:00

It depends on which type of check you choose (proofreading, linguistic editing, revision).

Proofreading mainly deals with a purely formal check. We estimate that the proofreader can improve about 1,000 words of text in one hour.

Linguistic editing involves checking the stylistic and terminological features of the text. Here the reviewer needs approximately 30% more time depending on the linguistic quality of the text.

A revision also requires checking and improving the source text. You can expect a speed of approximately 600 words an hour for this kind of bilingual correction.

Why does a translation agency also offer a DTP service?2022-03-17T12:42:35+01:00

Our graphic designers either speak the foreign language in question or can consult our translators at any time. That way we can often adapt the layout of the translation more efficiently than your own in-house graphic designer. And you can publish your translated files straight away, without needing additional resources of your own.

For what sort of translations do you recommend your DTP service?2022-03-17T12:51:06+01:00

The number of words, sentence structure, text length: it may be the case that your translation differs considerably from your original text. In our experience, a graphic service that works with the target language is therefore highly advisable for the following products:

  • Brochures, catalogues and image folders
  • Magazines, books and e-books
  • Product specification sheets, manuals and operating instructions
  • Infographics for websites, social media or newsletters
For which languages do you offer DTP services or foreign-language typesetting?2022-03-17T13:06:54+01:00

With our international network of graphic designers, we can offer you our DTP service in nearly all languages: whether you need a manual in Russian, technical documentation in Chinese or package inserts in Arabic.

For which data formats or programs do you offer DTP services?2022-03-17T13:16:19+01:00

Most layout programs are compatible with our CAT tools. These make it possible to translate directly in your original file, after which we carry out the post processing of the graphics or foreign-language typesetting.

Using this software we mainly work with:

  • Adobe InDesign, Framemaker, Illustrator, Photoshop
  • MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, MS Publisher
  • QuarkXPress
  • AutoCAD
  • CorelDraw

Can’t find your software on the list? Contact us – we’ll find a solution.

Why terminology management?2021-09-15T15:43:45+02:00

The use of consistent, structured and company-specific terminology is an important criterion for the success of your company as is it your linguistic figurehead. Terminology management contributes to improved text quality and legal certainty thanks to clear definitions and terms. It promotes the comprehensibility and consistency of your translations and strengthens your corporate identity.

What is a terminology database?2021-09-15T15:43:59+02:00

The terminology database (termbase) stores subject-specific terminology and equivalents – similar to a glossary. As a rule, a termbase doesn’t just consist of lists of words but is supplemented by additional information such as synonyms, forbidden terms, sample sentences, references, sources or metadata. While using a translation tool (CAT tool), translators receive suggestions and tips from the termbase, which means that they can be sure they are adhering to the customer’s wording.

What does terminology management mean?2021-09-15T15:35:50+02:00

This refers to the management of technical terms and related information in a monolingual or multilingual database. These databases usually contain terms relating to your industry and subject, as well as your company’s preferred in-house terminology. This information is maintained and updated on a regular basis.

How can I access my terminology database?2021-09-15T15:45:16+02:00

We can export your termbase in different formats (e.g. Excel or TBX) if you would like to check the status of your customer-specific, Interlingua terminology database.
If you would like to have immediate access, e.g. to edit the terms yourself or make them available to staff, this is possible via a secure web-based terminology management system that we can provide. You decide which access rights you require and we deal with the maintenance of your data.

To what extent does plain language differ from the original text?2021-08-24T14:12:07+02:00

Translations into plain language should remain as close a possible to the original text in terms of their structure, context and function. There can, however, be some changes: normally, additional explanations and examples are added. The order of certain pieces of information can be changed, as long as this helps the reader understand the text. It is possible to discuss in advance which terms and elements must be kept or explained.

What do you have to keep in mind regarding the layout of a text in plain language?2021-08-24T14:12:19+02:00

As a rule, texts in plain language are longer because technical terms in particular have to be explained and the layout needs to be changed using features such as a larger font and more space between the lines. In the case of images, it is also important that they match the content and convey a clear message.

Which subject areas is plain language suitable for?2021-08-24T14:12:33+02:00

Plain language is suitable for almost any subject area. Typically, texts in the areas of health, social affairs, education, administration and law are translated into plain language.

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