Translation

Our Translation Journey

Translation is the cornerstone of what we do. In 2015 we started out as a bespoke language services company, offering translation from English to French and from French to English, and copy editing in both languages. From there our client base and global footprint saw steady, organic growth thanks to word of mouth and referrals. We received our first request for Portuguese translation in 2016. By 2017, most of our translation clients were international.

By 2022, we were offering translation in a number of new language pairs. By this stage we had assembled a remote team of expert translators, handling projects on an ad hoc basis. Our pool of experts is unique in that all our translators live in their target language country, bringing a level of cultural awareness and understanding that is indispensable to achieve maximum translation accuracy. We also ensure the translators assigned to specific projects are subject matter experts.

Today, we continue to operate on an agile model. Thanks to this flexibility, we are able to respond to client requests quickly and manage our resources effectively. Once we receive a request we assign the job to the most suitable freelancer. Your first point of contact is the company owner and director, who manages the project from start to finish. Every translation project follows a rigorous quality assurance process. This allows us to consistently deliver work of a high standard and ensure that nothing is lost in translation, living up to our reputation as a trusted partner and an outstanding language service provider.

Types of Translation

No job is too big or small, and we cover a wide range of fields:

  • Legal translation
  • Medical translation
  • General translation
  • Technical translation
  • Literary translation
  • Business translation
  • Financial translation
  • Official (sworn) translation

Industries and Sectors

Our work is content-driven as opposed to industry-driven. By implication, we work with a range of industries and the deciding factor as to whether we can assist with your language needs is based on the source material and client specifications, rather than on the industries our clients represent.

Below is a list of the sectors we serve:

  • Private sector (corporate companies, SMEs, individuals)
  • Public sector (national and local government, SOEs)
  • Civil society (NGOs and civil society organisations)
  • International organisations (UN offices and agencies)

Pricing and Process

We will always quote you per source word, for maximum transparency. We’ll also give you an estimated turnaround time based on the word count and the level of complexity of the project. This way, you know upfront exactly what a job will cost you and you can budget accordingly. In the unlikely event we run into delays, we will communicate with you immediately. No hidden costs. No mixed messages or unkept promises. Total transparency.

We also follow a rigorous quality control process for all written content. For reverts, we use the Track Changes function in Word, Google Docs and PowerPoint so you can see exactly what we’ve changed and what fixes we’ve suggested and why, allowing you to maintain control over your product at every step of the process.

Every job comes standard with two reverts. If you are not satisfied after two rounds of review or would like to make changes to the text after the review phase, we will charge you for extra work. Again, the fee will be communicated with you upfront.

Pricing Structure

We offer several different pricing structures, depending on your needs and the scope and nature of your project:

  • Per word for ad hoc translations, based on the word count of the source text for maximum transparency
  • Monthly retainers for ongoing, long-term work where the volume of translations is relatively consistent from month to month
  • Daily rates for contractual, consultancy-based projects.

Language Pairs

We constantly strive to expand our offering to meet the diverse needs of our clients around the world. Currently, we offer translation in 24 language pairs in the following target languages:

  • French translation
  • English translation
  • Portuguese translation
  • Spanish translation
  • Dutch translation
  • German translation
  • Italian translation
  • Afrikaans translation
  • Russian translation
  • Czech translation
  • Latvian translation
  • Lithuanian translation
  • Slovak translation
  • Swedish translation

CAT Tools

We are tech-savvy and stay up to date with the latest advancements in computer-assisted translation (CAT) by using CAT tools such as SDL Trados and MemoQ. This allows us to guarantee consistency and uniformity in terminology, through translation memories that we create from the very first document you send us. This streamlines the translation process and, more importantly, ensures that every translated text you receive from us uses the same terminology and industry jargon. The result is that every project or assignment handled by The Savvy Linguist on behalf of your company forms part of a coherent whole.