As students, we’ve needed a transcript at some point in our lives. And maybe this is the reason why the first thing that comes to mind when talking about transcripts is an academic transcript. However, in the translation world, there is another kind of transcript that sometimes can be a real headache for translators.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a transcript can either be:

• an official document of a student’s academic records, or
• a written copy of dictated or recorded material

In this post, we will be talking about the latter transcript.

There are many instances in which one could need a transcript, for example:

• Legal - A lawyer may need a court activity transcript to review a case, or counsel may need the transcript of a potential client’s interview performed at a police station to build a case.
• Marketing - A marketing agency may need a transcript of a focus group’s conversations or interviews in order to take their suggestions and create a successful product or campaign.
• Academic – Subject interviews are the main source of study for linguists, using them to determine different linguistic phenomena.

Transcripts are treated basically as legal documents in the sense that they have to be a verbatim copy of the original and should not be modified, unless otherwise specified by the client. One of the most important things to know is that, given the oral nature of these documents, you have to make sure that the person performing the transcription can identify the speech of the speaker(s); if not, you will end up with an unsuccessful transcription.

In an upcoming post, we will discuss what to take into consideration when pricing a transcript.

One of the main concerns clients have when asking for professional translation services is the cost. There are many aspects that are taken into consideration that can affect the final price of a professional translation, such as:

• Language pair
• Extension or length of the project
• Format or presentation of the document
• Subject matter
• Complexity
• Turnaround time

Price vs. Quality

Although money is very important, also keep in mind that most of the time there is a very close relation between price and quality. What if you have a very strict time frame and when you get the translation back it is a mess? Names misspelled; dates are not in the correct format, etc. Maybe with a 5 page-long translation is not the end of the world, but what about with a 300 page-long translation project?

Time = Money

You thought you were getting a bargain but, what about the time you will now spend correcting the translation? That will cost you time and, therefore, money. Professional translation agencies and professional translators will offer you the most competitive prices in the market for a job well done. They use a different translator to review your translation, a translator with a new set of eyes and a different thinking.

Always Know With Whom You Are Dealing

Before hiring someone to do your translation project, you want to make sure that you are dealing with a serious translation agency. That is why JR Language Website includes the option of getting free quotes and also offers advice from experienced project managers for your translation requirements. You will be able to get estimates on the cost and delivery time without obligation. Remember: the more you share about your translation project the more exact the estimate will be.

Also, be sure to read testimonials from previous clients that would give you peace of mind about JR Language Translation Services’ performance.

The sole purpose of professional translators is to communicate your message just as you intended and the purpose of experienced translation agencies is to provide you with the best services available. Always put quality first!