TRANSLATION SERVICE
Barbara Rhoton, MA
* Quick response, quick turnaround, reasonable prices, friendly service *
* No muss, no fuss, just the right translation at the right price
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- Specialized in German to U.S. English translations
Globalization surely has brought a lot of standardization, for better or worse, but British and American English can differ in more than just "humour" and "humor." Punctuation differs to a certain extent and then there are such things as "being scozzafavad" and "car bonnets" - each a term unique to its country of origin. And I am not even considering other varieties such as Indian English or South African English. I can deliver a standard text in either U.S. or U.K. English but when it comes to specialized texts such as an ad campaign or highly technical materials, I prefer and have specialized in U.S. English
- Reasonable prices
What is reasonable? Just as so many other things, "reasonable" is in the eye of the beholder. My average price is 8 pennies per word or 7 Euro cent per word for a standard text in Word format; in light of what a carton of milk goes for these days, this is a bargain, or so I believe at least. Still, some translators charge more, some charge less, the field is really wide open and it is up to the consumer to decide what is a good value and what is not.
More complex texts or formats I have to convert can be slightly more expensive but a letter to grandma is going to cost less than the standard text. Send me a sample and I will return a free estimate!
I count words, usually the source text unless that is not possible, because I believe that to be fairer than counting lines or pages. A word is a word regardless of formatting or font. I frequently round down my word counts, it seems small-minded to insist on payment for 12769 words, for example, 12700 will do just fine.
- Free sample translations
Why free samples translations (one paragraph or approx. 150 words)? I can give you a list of people I have worked for, I can cite long lists of previous assignments but your text is unique and special and you should be able to evaluate my skill with your text and not with a text submitted by someone else.
- Quick turnaround
I will take care of your assignment as soon as possible and return it as soon as possible. I do not "space' myself or stick to predefined schedules or "sit" on your finished text. I work weekends and holidays if necessary without extra charge. Of course, turnaround times depend on a variety of factors. Any cost estimate also includes a time estimate.
- Skilled, qualified translations
I have a Bachelors in German Literature and a Masters in English, more than 17 years working experience as a freelance translator - none of which is really indicative of the quality of my work. I used to be a member of three professional associations but that does not mean anything either (I paid my dues and got my name on a long list of other names but not much else and then decided to save that money and instead offer lower prices). I would be happy to send you a list of references or excerpts from previous assignments. I still believe that a sample translation will serve best to evaluate the quality of my work. And since it is free, you have nothing to lose.
- No minimum fee, no prepayment, or down payment
I do not charge minimum fees, somehow that does not seem fair, and prepayment is also not necessary. I have had very few bad experiences with this policy. Very rarely do I charge any extra for a rush job - if I have the time it is hardly a rush job.
- Easy payment terms
You can pay with PayPal, money order, personal check, or direct transfer to my accounts. Pay in U.S. dollars or euros. Returning customers can receive invoices once a month or every three months, whatever is more convenient.
- Your email is answered within 24 hrs
I am a compulsive "email checker." Even after so many years on the Internet, I still get excited at the thought of what my next assignment might be. And let's face it, you want service and you want it now, not several days down the line. I do sleep and eat, so if you are emailing me from a time zone other than one of the many in the U.S., our schedules might not match 100%.
- All data, texts, contents, company info, etc. are considered strictly confidential!
Your information stays with me. I do not subcontract any of my Ger > Eng work and do not employ a secretary, bookkeeper, or anyone else. Privacy is important today and you have the right to expect confidentiality in all matters concerning you as a client, your data, assignments, etc.
Thank you for visiting my page!
Barbara Rhoton, MA - PO Box 129 - Creston, WA 99117 - barb.rhoton@gmail.com
TRANSLATION SERVICE