FAQ: Healthcare Translation
The more you know about the translation process and how it works, the easier it is to create efficiencies and take advantage of savings opportunities for your healthcare translation project. We’ve put together this guide to help you get the best from your translation agency and to make the process as straightforward as possible.
What Will A Healthcare Translation Project Typically Entail?
Once you’ve chosen a healthcare translation agency and met with your key contact, you’ll provide the documents that need to be translated. Before the translation begins, you may be asked to provide a glossary of standard terms or common names. If you have an English glossary, your LSP can help to translate this into your target languages to ensure accuracy and consistency across documents. If you have never used a glossary, consider creating one before getting started.
If you’re working with Avantpage, next we upload your original text into the translation memory tool, which breaks it up into segments. Our native-speaking linguistic team then translates and edits each text segment, and their work is saved in what we call a Translation Memory (TM).
The next time you have new text for translation, your text is likewise uploaded into the tool. If the new text is the same or similar to what was previously translated, the TM recognizes this and classifies the matches by degree of repetition (e.g. 100% repetitions vs. similar segments that require some edits). The TM provides the 100% and fuzzy matching text, and the linguistic team makes the appropriate adjustments to quickly render the most precise and consistent translation for all your documents.
The next steps vary depending on your needs, but can include one or more of the following elements:
- Translation: Written translation services of documents, web pages, brochures, forms and other materials.
- Desktop Publishing: Re-creating foreign language page design and layouts both for print and Web use, without compromising the message and feel of the original material.
- Website Localization: Ensures your website performs as if it were produced in the target country.
- Linguistic Asset Management: Create, manage and deploy your linguistic assets such as translation memories, style guides, and glossaries.
- Software Localization: Ensures your software functions properly in all target languages
How Much Will A Healthcare Translation Project Cost?
Written translation is most commonly charged by the word. Medical translation rates vary based on word count, complexity, and scope.
The source language word count is generally used as a basis for the translation because the target languages can differ by varying degrees from the source. The target language may be longer or more compact than your source language. While there is no universal rule, it is interesting to note that text in Spanish, for example, can take up 20% more space than English.
Other elements that can increase or decrease the price of your medical translation project include language combination, formatting needs, urgency, and subject matter.
How Long Will A Healthcare Translation Project Take?
Like rates, the time a medical translation project takes depends on the project itself. A larger, more complex project will take longer than a simple one. Additional time is required for text that requires heavy formatting (DTP – Desktop Publishing) after translation. In one case, an LSP such as Avantpage can translate a 600-page, 205,000-word document in a month. But, the time a project takes is always dependent on the complexity of it.
For projects of all sizes, you can ensure quick and efficient completion by compiling all the documents and data your LSP will need in advance. The more organized you can be, the more quickly the process will go.
Each project is different and its timeline, process, and cost will vary.
While there are many more intricacies to a medical translation project, this should give you a high-level understanding of what it’s like to work with an LSP.
At Avantpage our experienced team can help guide you through the translation process and make it fast and easy. To find out more about our services call us at 530-750-2040 x11, or request a free quote.
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