What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

A translator conveys written messages from one language into another.


An interpreter conveys a spoken or signed messages from one language into another.


Sometimes the word “translator” is used for both, but be sure that you know the difference, so that we can provide the services you need.

Document & Website Translations

From company handbooks and forms to drivers’ licenses, Midwest Language Services will translate your documents.

Our translation services include, but are not limited to:

  • Forms

  • Handbooks

  • Transcripts

  • Drivers’ licenses

  • Legal documents

  • Video Scripts

Signed statements of accuracy and notarization are available upon request.

Industries we specialize in include:

  • Agriculture

  • Education

  • Non-profit

  • Legal

  • Marketing

  • Medical

Being bilingual does not automatically qualify someone to be a professional translator.

Our translators are carefully selected based on areas of industry-specific expertise, so you can rest assured that the translators who have been assigned to your projects have professional-level skills.

We work with translators who are native speakers of the target language(s) of the final text to work on your projects in order to help ensure impeccable quality.

Need a document translated? Contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.

 

Certified Translations

Organizations such as government offices and educational institutions often required certified translations of documents.

if you need a certified translation, let us know. We’ll include a signed statement of accuracy attesting that the translation has the same meaning as the original document. We can also have it notarized. We’ll deliver your translation through email or US Postal Service.

Please note: These services are at an additional cost.


Website Translations

English may be the world’s lingua franca, but most people prefer to browse the web in their native language. By translating your website, you’ll attract new visitors and even customers from multicultural communities in the U.S. and from around the world.

Ready to translate your website? Contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.

 
 
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What will my translation project manager do?

Your translation project manager will be your main point of contact at Midwest Language Services to see your project through from start to finish.

The project manager will first assess the scope of the project, including languages needed (and whether it needs to be localized to an audience from a specific group e.g., Spanish as written in Spain vs. Spanish as written in Mexico), formatting, your budget, and urgency.

The manager will then coordinate with you, the translator, proofreader, and editor to help ensure quality and meet your specifications and deadlines.

Our translators are carefully selected based on areas of industry-specific expertise. We choose translators who are native speakers of the target languages of the final text to work on your projects in order to help ensure impeccable quality.


How long will it take to translate my project?

  • Our translators can translate between 2000 and 3000 words per day, on average.
    We add additional time for proofreading and editing, usually about half the time for translating, depending on the project. Be sure to send us your translation projects as early as possible, so that we can help meet your deadline.

  • Also, the time that it takes to translate your documents depend on the option you choose. We offer human translation from start to finish with translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) as well as Machine Translation (MT) + human editing and proofreading.

  • The latter is better for large volumes of text for which human translation would be impractical and for when the client wants to save money, but not sacrifice quality. The human input is vital when your translation needs to be perfect. The best translations are the ones that don’t seem like translations at all.

  • Please allow up to one week for basic documents, such as driver’s licenses. We are usually able to have an electronic copy to you within 48 hours, if the documents are sent to us no later than noon on Wednesday. If you submit a document on Thursday or Friday, we may be able to have it back to you the same week, but it may be early the following week. Please allow time for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver hard copies / original paper copies.

  • Please note that by sending your document to us as a Word doc (not a PDF file), you can save precious time and money. There is no simple, one-step process to convert PDF files to Word, short of re-creation, which would be an additional charge to the client.


How much does translation cost?

Consider this: "How much will it cost if I can’t reach my audience, target market, or improve client relations?"

Translation is an investment in building relationships cross-culturally.

  • The cost of a translation depends on the language(s), the length, complexity, and the deadline for the project. Urgent requests cost more as does postage for urgent delivery.

  • Also, be sure that you have already made any changes that you want to the original and that it is ready to be translated.

  • Save time and money. It is less expensive to send us a Word document than other formats as it saves time on our end of the process.


Do you provide certified translations?

A signed statement of accuracy attesting that the translation has the same meaning as the original document may accompany your translation. We can also have this notarized. The translation may be delivered through e-mail and/or US Postal Service. These services are at an additional cost.


What languages do you translate?

We translate a variety of languages into English and from English into a variety of other languages. Do you have an unusual language that you want us to translate? Just ask!


I want you to translate my document. How do I get started?

Contact us at info@midwestlanguageservice.com or call us at (317) 296-7997.