QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSLATIONS
FAQ
You can check our FAQ section if you have any questions about our services, how we work and translation in general. If you can’t find an answer there, please contact us for assistance.
Commissioning us
How do you submit your document?
You can send it to us via email, preferably in an editable form, or as a PDF file. Please do not submit photos, as they can be of poor quality and sometimes do not display the content properly. You can also visit our office in Salamanca and deliver your document in person, we will be pleased to help. Moreover, the form can be used to upload the document and request a quote.
How do you confirm your translation commission?
The commission is confirmed as soon as you have paid us the price in full.
Delivery deadline
How long does it take to translate a document?
We can tell you this once we have read the document, know what the language combination is, and our translator has had a look at it. How long it will take depends largely on how specialised the text is, the language combination, the number of pages, and numerous other factors. This is why we always need to see the document first, so we can calculate its delivery deadline. You can send us a scanned copy of it, or bring it to our office and we will scan it for you.
Translation price
How much does it cost to have a document translated?
We can´t tell you this before seeing the document and passing it on to our translator. Translation price is calculated based on the number of words in the document, the language combination, format, and also whether it is a sworn translation or not.
Payment method
What are the payment methods?
You can pay by bank transfer, sending us a proof of payment via email, or by cash in our office in Salamanca.
Receiving your translation
How will you receive your translation?
You can come and collect it from the ITS office in Salamanca, or we can send it via courier to the address you specify. We can also send it to you via email, with digital signature.
Authentication
Do you need to have a sworn translation authenticated?
UA translation done by a Ministry-accredited sworn translator requires no further authentication before being presented to any public authority in Spain. However, sworn translations done in Spain sometimes require authentication of the sworn translator's signature if they are going to be presented to public authorities in other countries. You needn't worry about this; at ITSalamanca we take care of the translation authentication paperwork for you.
Translation
How does our translation service work?
Do you need to publish an advertising leaflet in German, your restaurant menu in Spanish, or write a complaint in Chinese? No problem. Just bring us your ideas in English, and an ITSalamanca translator will put them into the language you need.
Have you inherited something, but all of the documentation is in French? No problem, our French translator will explain it all to you. Or maybe you've received an official letter that you don't quite understand?
You need to submit your tax return, and have income generated in a foreign country but the documentation is in Italian, Arabic or Russian. We will make it all entirely understandable to you in English.
Send us a copy of the document via email and we will send you a quote free of charge. We confirm the delivery date of the translation and on that date, we contact you so you can come and collect it, or we send it to your address. The entire process is straightforward, quick and not at all expensive.
Why is a sworn translation more expensive than ordinary translation?
A sworn translation is normally more expensive because the sworn translator certifies that the translation faithfully conveys all of the information in the original document, and accepts any civil or criminal liability. It is therefore an official document valid for submission to any organism, body or institution that requires it.
Why should you contract a professional translator?
Professional translators do not only have extensive knowledge and a perfect grasp of the languages they work with, they also take into consideration the target language, its culture and its people. They thus ensure that the message of the original text is correctly understood by the recipient, does not sound "odd" to them, and does not offend them in any way.
Why not simply use machine translation?
The output from machine translation is just that, a translation done by software that offers none of the quality guaranteed by a professional human translator, because it translates literally. Sometimes machine translation produces texts that do not make sense, and simply getting one word wrong can change the entire meaning of a sentence. This is very dangerous, can cause errors and in some cases has serious consequences. Sometimes, appearances are deceptive.
Interpreting
Simultaneous or consecutive interpreting?
Simultaneous interpreting is used at conferences, conventions, symposia and meetings with ten or more attendees. Sound equipment is required: booths for the interpreters, receivers and headphones for the people attending, and microphones for the speakers. In many venues this equipment is already installed, but if it is not, ITS takes care of it. We do consecutive interpreting for short interventions with a single language being spoken at a time: the interpreter listens to what is being said for a few minutes and then interprets it. It flows more naturally than simultaneous interpreting, because the interpreter has time to take notes and find the most appropriate way of reformulating what has been said.
What kind of interpreting service do you need?
"Professional interpreters make a lot of money". "Interpreters are expensive". "I can't afford an interpreter, so I'll just take my niece along with me, she's a German teacher". We sometimes hear comments like these. Are they actually true? Is a professional interpreter that expensive? It depends. Just bear in mind that ultimately, you only get what you pay for.
You're going to a trade fair in Spain, you've booked your flights, accommodation in a hotel near the exhibition centre, and you've carefully prepared your samples, leaflets and banners. Your stand is going to look highly professional and respectable, and present an image that does your company proud. But have you given any thought to what is most important of all - communication? Even though you've got all the details under control, you won't achieve anything if you can't understand the visitors to your stand, and if you can't skilfully explain to them the properties of your products, what sets your company apart from others, and why you value your customers so highly. But an interpreter can convey everything that you want to get across, because they speak Spanish as fluently as you speak English, because they know the host country, its people and their customs, and because they have the training required to convey your message in full just like you, with the same accuracy, enthusiasm and commitment. Types of interpreting can be simultaneous, consecutive or accompanying.
Communication is fundamental if people are to understand each other, in whatever language it is. Always contract professionals, otherwise you'll end up getting only what you pay for.
Request a quote for your translation online and with no strings attached
You can request a no-strings-attached quote by filling in the form, or by calling us during business hours.