What you always wanted to know about technical translation but were afraid to ask

Question: How do you charge for your services?

Answer: In Germany, most translations are charged by the number of characters in the translated text. In other countries, translators charge by the number of words in the source text. We charge the way you want us to. Our quotes are based on a standard rate of
€1.40 per 50 characters or €0.17 per word of the target text. This price includes the following services: Translation (60 %), Copy-editing (30 %) and Proofreading (10 %). The effective rate applied to the final project price will generally be lower than the standard rate due to repetitions and economies of scale, so don't hesitate and ask us for your personal quotation.

Question: How do you become a translator? Do you have to attend a university?

Answer: There are many ways to become a qualified translator. In Germany, the universities of Heidelberg, Hildesheim, Saarbrücken, Mainz-Germersheim, Flensburg, Cologne and Magdeburg offer degrees in translation (Diplom-Übersetzer or Fachübersetzer). But there are also many other private and state institutes offering relevant courses. The web sites of the translators' associations offer more information as well as links to the universities. One of them is the German National Translators' association, www.bdue.de.

The title of translator is not protected as opposed to the university degrees mentioned above. You can do business as a translator even when you have no relevant degree. Still, any translator learns most on the job. However, academic training does provide would-be translators with essential skills, and it's also true that while you do not have to know everything, you should be able to find out who does know. Successful translators combine linguistic talent with technical know-how and research skills.