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I've used, with plenty of success (ending around 5 years ago), both welocalize.com and lionbridge. We sent them .JS files, XML files, PDFs, and Word Documents.

I've used, with plenty of success (ending around 5 years ago), both welocalize.com and lionbridge. We sent them .JS files, XML files, PDFs, and Word Documents. Some things to look for: Across multiple transactions with these [edit: localization] companies, they end up building a database of phrases, of which some companies might try to claim ownership over. Watch out for that when negotiating. You're also most likely going to pay per word, so if you can figure out a good way to not send them sentences you've already had translated you can save some money. Its also good to spot check some of the translations. These companies will basically post out the requirements and get freelance translators to do the job (in other words, they're managing all the UpWork work for you so you don't have to). We once caught a translator (NOT of the above-mentioned companies) located somewhere in Europe inserting some choice political statements about a specific biotech/GMO company we had as a client. (editted for clarity - below the first Paragraph is general knowledge of the industry, not specific to the two aforementioned vendors)

ai_ja_nai 9y ago
>You're also most likely going to pay per word, so if you can figure out a good way to not send them sentences you've already had translated you can save some money. That's why they build those databases of phrases you were referring to, since they apply discounts on matches against those DBs and on repetitions in your document. Instead, ask explicitly for a Translation Memory file at the end of the job, so that you can retain your personal piece of database of phrases that was produced during the localization of your file (it's your right to have it and serious companies will hand it without fuss).
- mholmes680 9y ago
  "Translation Memory". Thank you I could not for the life of me remember that. 5 years was so long ago !
eric_bullington 9y ago
> You're also most likely going to pay per word, so if you can figure out a good way to not send them sentences you've already had translated you can save some money The typical process would be to send them the translated sentences in Trados or tmx format (translation memory) and ask for a discount for 100% matches (you may even be able to discounts for "fuzzy", or <100%, matches). These discounts are often referred to as "Trados" discounts. That said, not all agencies/translators offer such discounts. > We once caught a translator (NOT of the above-mentioned companies) located somewhere in Europe inserting some choice political statements about a specific biotech/GMO company we had as a client. What happened then? This stunt would be a grave offense for a professional translator. A certified/sworn translator would probably lose their certification for it. I'm guessing your translator was a cut-rate freelancer doing this work on the side with little connection to the professional translator community, which generally prides itself on its professionalism. Also, no reputable translation agency that I know of gets their translators for UpWork. They either find them through word of mouth, translator associations, or sometimes translator communities like proz.com. They don't typically "post" jobs, rather they have a list of vetted translators who have signed their confidentiality and other contracts, and whom they then email individually to ask if they're interested in job X (usually attaching the job). And the more reputable ones have their own certification process or else only work with translators certified by a reputable body (ATA, ITI, etc.). Most reputable translation agencies will also have a second translator edit or proofread the document once it's been translated.

ai_ja_nai 9y ago

>You're also most likely going to pay per word, so if you can figure out a good way to not send them sentences you've already had translated you can save some money. That's why they build those databases of phrases you were referring to, since they apply discounts on matches against those DBs and on repetitions in your document. Instead, ask explicitly for a Translation Memory file at the end of the job, so that you can retain your personal piece of database of phrases that was produced during the localization of your file (it's your right to have it and serious companies will hand it without fuss).

mholmes680 9y ago
"Translation Memory". Thank you I could not for the life of me remember that. 5 years was so long ago !

eric_bullington 9y ago

> You're also most likely going to pay per word, so if you can figure out a good way to not send them sentences you've already had translated you can save some money The typical process would be to send them the translated sentences in Trados or tmx format (translation memory) and ask for a discount for 100% matches (you may even be able to discounts for "fuzzy", or <100%, matches). These discounts are often referred to as "Trados" discounts. That said, not all agencies/translators offer such discounts. > We once caught a translator (NOT of the above-mentioned companies) located somewhere in Europe inserting some choice political statements about a specific biotech/GMO company we had as a client. What happened then? This stunt would be a grave offense for a professional translator. A certified/sworn translator would probably lose their certification for it. I'm guessing your translator was a cut-rate freelancer doing this work on the side with little connection to the professional translator community, which generally prides itself on its professionalism. Also, no reputable translation agency that I know of gets their translators for UpWork. They either find them through word of mouth, translator associations, or sometimes translator communities like proz.com. They don't typically "post" jobs, rather they have a list of vetted translators who have signed their confidentiality and other contracts, and whom they then email individually to ask if they're interested in job X (usually attaching the job). And the more reputable ones have their own certification process or else only work with translators certified by a reputable body (ATA, ITI, etc.). Most reputable translation agencies will also have a second translator edit or proofread the document once it's been translated.