| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: What is the largest number of words you have ever translated in one day? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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David Wright 
Austria
Local time: 18:15
German to English
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| haven't the faintest idra | Apr 29, 2012 |
Never even thought about it (and as I don't count words but lines instead, I still wouldn'tbe abel to asnwer even if I did notice).
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When I take on occasional transcription projects, I generally translate about one hour of audio per day, which amounts to a good 8000 words. The context is usually market research with a conversational register, so there is not too much research involved, but it's still quite draining!
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:15
Portuguese to English
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| 'Translated' or 'translated, edited and proofread'? | Apr 29, 2012 |
I have quite often translated 5,000 words in a day but this would be a draft translation and certainly wouldn't be what I would submit to a client.
[Edited at 2012-04-29 20:25 GMT]
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I didn't proofread it. That was about 18 years ago. Two years ago I did 30,000 in 5 days.
I remember, when I was younger I could easily hammer out 1,000 words an hour on the typewriter. Of course, the text was pretty straightforward.
Now I try not to go over 3,000. It takes a toll on my health.
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Sonia Hill
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:15
Italian to English
In my early days as a translator I once translated 9000 words in a day. It was a very long day and the agency was well aware of the kind of quality I would be likely to produce, but they begged me to do it anyway.
To be honest I would never accept a job like that now. At the time I had no children and could stay up late into the night if I needed to, but these days I have other priorities.
Nowadays I might translate up to 5000 a day, depending on the text (often it's m... See more In my early days as a translator I once translated 9000 words in a day. It was a very long day and the agency was well aware of the kind of quality I would be likely to produce, but they begged me to do it anyway.
To be honest I would never accept a job like that now. At the time I had no children and could stay up late into the night if I needed to, but these days I have other priorities.
Nowadays I might translate up to 5000 a day, depending on the text (often it's much less), but then much of this still needs thorough proofreading on another day. ▲ Collapse
| | | | simon tanner
Italy
Local time: 18:15
Italian to English
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| how long is a piece of string? | Apr 30, 2012 |
as others point out, it depends. I have done 7000 words a day or more on numerous occasions, and regularly do 6000. Having said that, I use Dragon (how anyone could do without it is a mystery to me), and CAT tools (not that the latter always speeds things up with the kind of texts I do).
However, these are first draft counts. About 5000 a day is my limit for polished, client-ready work. It's not that 5000 words even takes me that long - probably about 6 or 7 hours from start to fin... See more as others point out, it depends. I have done 7000 words a day or more on numerous occasions, and regularly do 6000. Having said that, I use Dragon (how anyone could do without it is a mystery to me), and CAT tools (not that the latter always speeds things up with the kind of texts I do).
However, these are first draft counts. About 5000 a day is my limit for polished, client-ready work. It's not that 5000 words even takes me that long - probably about 6 or 7 hours from start to finished, proofread job. The problem is that after about 6 or 7 hours translating/reviewing my brain turns off! If I'm only doing a first draft, then I can do a bit more, but review takes greater concentration, and if I have to factor that in too, as I said, I reckon about 5000 is where my comfort zone ends.
If I have to type everything with speech recognition, then my maximum output falls again, probably to about 3500-4000 words ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 18:15
French to English
| mulling-over time | Apr 30, 2012 |
I also find that my brain needs some time to mull things over, usually a good night's sleep will do wonders to a text when I have been short on inspiration the day before.
So I practically always factor that in when giving deadlines. Clients sometimes wonder why I need as much time to translate 500 words as 3000, I tell them that translation is like bread, the yeast needs time to rise.
| | | | Dave Bindon
Greece
Local time: 19:15
Greek to English
In memoriam | 3-5000 was my answer | Apr 30, 2012 |
I did 9000 words in 8 hours once, but that was extremely un-polished and unformatted (the client needed it urgently and asked me to do the best I could within the deadline, even if it was just a 'gist' translation). I haven't counted this for the poll because I believe that a professional translation should be a polished product.
I set 2000 words as my daily target for legal texts. I can usually achieve that in 6 hours (I don't like to work long hours!), so 3000 is not out of the qu... See more I did 9000 words in 8 hours once, but that was extremely un-polished and unformatted (the client needed it urgently and asked me to do the best I could within the deadline, even if it was just a 'gist' translation). I haven't counted this for the poll because I believe that a professional translation should be a polished product.
I set 2000 words as my daily target for legal texts. I can usually achieve that in 6 hours (I don't like to work long hours!), so 3000 is not out of the question if I put in a couple of extra hours.
About 4000 words was my top output for a polished translation (relatively easy subject and a few repeated chunks which could be copied).
These figures all refer to translations without feline assistance. ▲ Collapse
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