Poll: How many words do you translate per hour?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 29, 2005

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many words do you translate per hour?".

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629


 
Natalia Zudaire
Natalia Zudaire  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 05:24
Member (2004)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I would like to know Jul 29, 2005

How do those people translate over 500 words an hour?????!!!

Can enyone tell me?


=)



Natalia


 
kimjasper
kimjasper  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 09:24
Member (2006)
English to Danish
+ ...
Translation speed Jul 29, 2005

Natalia Zudaire wrote:

How do those people translate over 500 words an hour?????!!!
Natalia


- Get your source language under your skin: read a lot, speak a lot
- Acquire fast typing skills
- Rehearse researching skills (in at least 3 ways: google, google, and then google...)
- Acquire basic knowledge in as many areas as possible (be curious)
- Use generic computer tools to support your translation work: spreadsheets, documents, databases
- Be effective and efficient communicating with your client / agency (e-mail rather than phone calls and meetings)
- Use specific productivity tools (CAT tools) as much as possible. A 10% productivity gain is 10% today, tomorrow, all of next year etc.
- Bring pre and post translations phases (e.g. proposals, negotiation, research, proofreading) down as much as possible so you can spend 75% of your day on heads down translation


 
Natalia Zudaire
Natalia Zudaire  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 05:24
Member (2004)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Notice Jul 30, 2005

kimjasper wrote:
- Get your source language under your skin: read a lot, speak a lot


I do.

- Acquire fast typing skills


I guess I could be faster.

- Rehearse researching skills (in at least 3 ways: google, google, and then google...)


I do. But I don't trust everything I read on the web, so I back it up sometimes with other sources.

- Acquire basic knowledge in as many areas as possible (be curious)


I am curious, I read a lot about almost everything.

- Use generic computer tools to support your translation work: spreadsheets, documents, databases


I do.

- Be effective and efficient communicating with your client / agency (e-mail rather than phone calls and meetings)


I am.

- Use specific productivity tools (CAT tools) as much as possible. A 10% productivity gain is 10% today, tomorrow, all of next year etc.


I use almost all of them in the most efficient way.

- Bring pre and post translations phases (e.g. proposals, negotiation, research, proofreading) down as much as possible so you can spend 75% of your day on heads down translation


What do you mean? What I understand by you saying this is: don´t spend much time negotiating with the client (How do you manage that? It is not always so easy...), don´t research, just search (??), and skip proofreading?

I translate around 400/500 words per hour, but then I spend the rest of the time rereading my translations. I don´t like to take any risk on delivering something I have not reviewed myself!

BTW, what was your answer to the poll?


Natalia


 
pcovs
pcovs
Denmark
Local time: 09:24
English to Danish
"Practise, man, practise" ;-) Jul 30, 2005

Well, in my case it's a matter of fast typing, the use of CAT tools and .... I get a lot of texts within the same area!

By now, I don't have to do much research for a lot of my jobs, since I have already done this research for previous translations within this area. This helps immensely regarding translation speed.

Also, after a job creating a new TM for the client, I import the translation units into one big TM for my own purpose.
This way I have everything comp
... See more
Well, in my case it's a matter of fast typing, the use of CAT tools and .... I get a lot of texts within the same area!

By now, I don't have to do much research for a lot of my jobs, since I have already done this research for previous translations within this area. This helps immensely regarding translation speed.

Also, after a job creating a new TM for the client, I import the translation units into one big TM for my own purpose.
This way I have everything compiled into one big TM, and I will have the full benefit of all my previous translation work. This really helps a lot.

(For those, who might be wondering: No, I don't copy a TM, which was sent from the client, since this is the client's property, as I understand it!)


Anyway, it's not about who's faster, it's about delevering a good translation
Collapse


 
Natalia Zudaire
Natalia Zudaire  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 05:24
Member (2004)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I agree. Jul 30, 2005

PCovs wrote:

Anyway, it's not about who's faster, it's about delevering a good translation



 
Eva Blanar
Eva Blanar  Identity Verified
Hungary
Local time: 09:24
English to Hungarian
+ ...
1000+ words/ HOUR?! Jul 30, 2005

Come on...

 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: How many words do you translate per hour?






Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »