An unbelievable windfall has arrived from you know who.

Very many thanks for your brilliant research.

Now, here's the Question for which I require an answer:

'How do you do it?'

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 29 Jan 2004 07:35 PST

Forget my last question and please answer this ...

I have a document in French that I would like translated into English.
It has 7,674 words.

Where is the best place to get this translated, and how much? (It's
not at all technical and I can understand it pretty well.)

(If this goes well, there may be more to come.)

I don't want to post the document here for obvious reasons.

I'm absolutely delighted that this has worked out so well. It would
have been awful if you hadn't got your answers, and now you've even
had a windfall. Very satisfying indeed.

For translation, my first thought is your local university. If you
don't actually need a professional translator, you should be able to
find a postgrad or other student who could do a decent job and charge
less than the professionals. Perhaps you could find a noticeboard or
friendly contact?
I see Sussex teach French via their Language Institute:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/languages/index.html
They have people studying French-English translation there:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/languages/R1110.html

Tehuti has very generously helped me with information about
professional translation services. If you want someone in the UK you
will pay not much less than £60 per thousand words, or up to £90 if
you go through an agency which arranges for a second translator to
check the work. You may find someone abroad who would do the work for
less than UK-based translators.

There's a website called Proz which is a good hunting ground for
independent translators and agencies. You can search through their
directory or post details of your job and invite bids.

When searching for a translator, you can restrict your search to the
UK only and enter keywords like history or politics if you want. The
"platinum members" have paid for listing.

If you decide to invite bids, it's a good idea to limit the number of
replies you'll get by specifying a few criteria that matter to you,
e.g. the translator's location, native language, specialist subjects
or whatever. Many people also restrict bidding to platinum members to
keep replies to a manageable level. It is considered fair for you to
ask for a sample translation of up to 100 words as a check on quality.

PROZ - The Translation Workplace
http://proz.com/

There are also a few UK-based translators listed with the Society of Indexers:
http://www.indexers.org.uk/

Usually a university town is a good place to find translation services
and there are several listed in the BT directory:
http://www.bt.com/directory-enquiries/

This agency came up in a google search for 'french translation sussex':
http://www.frenchtoenglish.co.uk/

I hope this helps you find a suitable person. Good luck.


I really am so pleased about your enquiries bearing fruit - I always
like a happy ending. Thank-you for posting a question for me and
letting me know the good news.

Best Wishes - Leli

Hi, Leli

Great! 

I have had a quote from a (former) friend of mine of 9 Eurocents per
word. Outrageous!

Another friend of mine (Luc, a Belge no less) was given the job of
acting as Official Translator for a Diplomatic Mission to the Gabon.

The highlight of the visit was a dinner, hosted by President Bongo (I
kid you not), where Luc's job was to translate the various speeches
into and out of French.

Unfortunately, M Le President spoke the most atrocious French and my
friend Luc could not understand a word ... So Luc had to guess at what
the President might have said ...

Reportedly, all went well ... anyway, Luc returned with his head intact.

Warmest whatsits

Bryan

Thank-you very much for your generosity, Bryan - extra generous since
you were the one who wrote the "winning" letter. Your kindness adds to
the pleasure I get from knowing you have some good quality info.

I hadn't realised translators sometimes quote a price per word, or I'd
have emphasised the "per thousand words" part of my answer more. I'm
afraid it was "£60 per thousand words", which makes a hefty amount for
seven and a half thousand. Perhaps a French translation student would
be pleased to do it for considerably less?

Your friend Luc sounds interesting. I've always thought interpreters
in key positions have a lot of scope for, well, interpretation.

Best Wishes - Leli

PS I see the British Library have a collection of "monthly records"
published by the BEU. If you're interested in a particular date, you
can even order a photocopy.

Title:   	BRITISH EMPIRE UNION MONTHLY RECORD
Copyright fee: 	Current copyright fee: GBP 5.00
Shelfmark: 	2299.660500n
Holdings - HSS: 	NO. 1, 1916- 50, 1921 *A=1. COL. Held but not currently received
Notes - Cross references: 	CONTD AS 3736.469N 

There are also some oddments (?)

Annual Report, 1923 [etc.].
LONDON. III. Miscellaneous Institutions, Societies, and Other Bodies.
British Empire Union
London, [1924- .] 8o.

[Pamphlets, etc.]
LONDON. III. Miscellaneous Institutions, Societies, and Other Bodies.
British Empire Union
London, [1918, etc.] 8o.

Hi, Leli

Very many thanks for the British Library references.

I will certainly follow them up.

Isn't it exciting?

Warmest regards

Bryan