Why not use a computer program to translate my document?

As advanced as computing is nowadays, machines don't have the common sense ... the human sense … that a living, breathing person does. Computers cannot inherently sense the meaning from something that is illogical on the surface. How would a computer know that "Once in a blue moon" in English is the same as "Every time a bishop dies” (“Cada muerte de obispo”) in Spanish? Humans, on the other hand, are able to comprehend subtle changes in tone and account for those changes in their translation. Humans are able to present a well written, easy to read text that is closer to the overall meaning of the original than a computer will ever be.

Why choose Alboum & Associates over a cheaper company? 

You should choose us because we provide high quality translations with stellar customer service. You may find other companies that are slightly cheaper, but as the old saying goes, “You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” The last thing you want is to offend your intended audience with an improper or even offensive translation.

Does Alboum & Associates provide desktop publishing (DTP) or formatting?

We always try to maintain the formatting of the original text provided. Sometimes, translations can run longer or shorter than the original, which makes this challenging.  Therefore, we can provide non-routine formatting and DTP work for a reasonable additional fee. If possible, please let us know your special formatting needs up front.

There’s a bilingual person in my office. Why shouldn’t I just use him or her?

Just being bilingual does not automatically make you a professional translator. After all, is everyone with two feet a professional ballroom dancer? You should always use a trained language service provider for your needs. Contact us – we’d be happy to give you a free estimate! 

What languages do you translate?

Chances are, if you can name it, we can translate it. The bulk of our work is comprised of translations into and out of French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese, though we also work in common languages such as Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Hindi, for example. Some of the more unusual projects we've done lately were into and out of Georgian, Quechua, Malagasy, and Zulu! 

How much does a translation cost?

Price is normally calculated using the word count of the source (original) text or the target (translated) text, depending on which of the two texts can be counted by electronic means. In addition, language combinations vary in price. Email or call us with your needs and we can provide you with a non-binding quote.

How long does it take to get a translation back?

Turnaround depends on the length of the text, its subject matter, and any special formatting required.  Chances are we can meet or beat your deadline, with the quality you demand.

Can I make changes to the finished translation?

You will have the chance to review the completed translation to ensure it meets your needs. Any stylistic changes to the translation or modifications to the original text can be discussed at that time. If you have specific style or terminology requirements, please let us know before we get started.