| If a person or company wants a technical report | | | | time limitations, a summary could be proposed as |
| of some 500 pages translated in two days for | | | | an alternative. This could have the additional |
| use in an important international meeting, the | | | | advantage in that key points raised for discussion |
| translator or the translation agency has to | | | | in the international meeting could be more easily |
| discuss this and offer suggestions on what is | | | | accessible, following a series of bullet points in |
| really required, since it probably will not be possible | | | | the summary. |
| to make a full translation within the time available. | | | | If the final translation meets the instructions from |
| The price for the translation might also be | | | | the person or company requiring the translation, |
| discussed, since work at night could also be | | | | then it is found to be fit for purpose. |
| necessary | | | | One of the ways in which an experienced |
| If the translator cannot produce the best possible | | | | translator may produce a long translation in a |
| full translation in the time available, then an | | | | short space of time is by dictating the translation |
| “optimal” solution should be agreed on. | | | | into a digital recorder and then sending the |
| Such translations may fall into one of the following | | | | translation to one or more typists who in turn |
| categories: | | | | type out the translation and send it back to the |
| - “as good as possible in view of the time | | | | originating translator for correction before delivery |
| available" | | | | to the customer. Using this technique, a translator |
| - “one of the best translations possible in the | | | | can produce upwards of 10,000 words per day. |
| circumstances” | | | | A similar technique uses one of the computer |
| - “a translation that provides what is | | | | speech recognition programs, which have been |
| necessary for the stated purpose” | | | | greatly improved over the last few years. With |
| - “as good as possible in view of the | | | | this system, the translator can dictate the |
| customer’s requirements”. | | | | translation into a small microphone and at the |
| In the case of the 500 page technical report | | | | same time his or her computer types the |
| mentioned above, the “ideal” translation | | | | translation directly onto the computer screen. It is |
| might consist of faithful adherence to the source | | | | then corrected, proof-read and sent to the |
| text, which would involve reproduction of the | | | | customer. We can all speak more quickly than we |
| detailed report. However, because of the obvious | | | | can type. |