Hire Freelancers Freelance Translator 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When hiring a freelance translator, what does 'CAT tool proficiency' refer to?
- Experience with computer-assisted translation software (Correct answer)
- Ability to translate animal-related content
- Certification in Advanced Translation techniques
- Knowledge of catalog translation formats
Correct answer: Experience with computer-assisted translation software
CAT tools (like SDL Trados, MemoQ) are software that help translators maintain consistency and manage translation memory.
Question 2: A client needs a document translated for legal proceedings in the US. What type of translator should they seek?
- A certified or sworn translator (Correct answer)
- Any bilingual professional
- A literary translator
- A machine translation editor
Correct answer: A certified or sworn translator
Legal proceedings typically require certified or sworn translators whose work is officially recognized by courts and government bodies.
Question 3: What is a 'translation memory' (TM) and why is it valuable when hiring a freelancer?
- A database of previously translated segments that reduces cost on repeated content (Correct answer)
- A translator's personal vocabulary list
- A memory test given to translators during hiring
- Software that memorizes source documents
Correct answer: A database of previously translated segments that reduces cost on repeated content
Translation memory stores past translations so repeated phrases are reused, reducing time and cost for ongoing projects.
Question 4: Which pricing model is most common for freelance translation services?
- Per word (source or target) (Correct answer)
- Per page flat fee only
- Hourly rate regardless of volume
- Monthly retainer always
Correct answer: Per word (source or target)
Per-word pricing is the industry standard, giving both client and translator a transparent, scalable rate based on content volume.
Question 5: What is 'localization' in contrast to basic translation?
- Adapting content culturally and contextually for a specific target market (Correct answer)
- Translating only local news content
- Converting documents to local file formats
- Hiring translators who live locally
Correct answer: Adapting content culturally and contextually for a specific target market
Localization goes beyond word-for-word translation to adapt idioms, currencies, date formats, and cultural references for the target audience.
Question 6: When should a client request a 'back translation' from a freelance translator?
- To verify accuracy by translating the translated text back to the original language (Correct answer)
- When the original document is lost
- To create a second language version of a bilingual document
- When the translator works in reverse order
Correct answer: To verify accuracy by translating the translated text back to the original language
Back translation is used in quality assurance, especially for medical or clinical trials, to verify that the translated meaning matches the original.
Question 7: Which factor most significantly affects the per-word rate a freelance translator charges?
- The technical complexity and specialization of the subject matter (Correct answer)
- The color of the source document
- Whether the client is a small or large company
- The time of year the project is submitted
Correct answer: The technical complexity and specialization of the subject matter
Specialized fields like medical, legal, or technical content command higher rates due to the expertise and terminology knowledge required.
Hire Freelancers Freelance Translator 2
When hiring a freelance translator, what does 'CAT tool proficiency' refer to?