It is essential for a translator to know the public for which the document is intended; whether it is a matter of technical instructions, the minutes of a meeting or a sales brochure, it is vital to use the right words and the appropriate turn of phrase. The language of the readers to which the document is addressed is also an important parameter. Should a British English translator be used or a translator from America? Are the terms “a skeleton in the cupboard” or “a skeleton in the closet” used.

You don't sell a kilobyte of words like you do a kilo of tomatoes: in terms of translation, all kilos do not have the same value. So, we assess the price of a translation taking account of different criteria: the target language (and any regional variant), the type of document (technical instructions, website, legal document, sales brochure...), the area dealt with (medical, legal, telecommunications...) and the writing style to be adopted according to the target public. The same text therefore can be translated in more than one way. Which one do you need? Prepare a precise specification and you will obtain a precise quotation.