Trados: Rates for new/repetition/fuzzy Thread poster: Orsolya Bugar-Buday
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Dear colleagues,
I was contacted by a translation agency that wants to know my rates in Trados, as follows: new, repetition, fuzzy match. How much difference should there be (percentage-wise), if any? Can you offer me some guidance on this?
Thank you in advance for your reply,
Orsolya
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 16:29
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Tell them its negotiable | Mar 12, 2013 |
BBOrsolya wrote:
I was contacted by a translation agency that wants to know my rates in Trados...
I often get this question, but the fact is that I don't have a set set of Trados rates. I let the client offer me a rate for each job, and then I calculate whether I find the total amount acceptable, based on the number of words in the various fuzzy match categories, and on the type of text. So I just tell agencies that I don't have my own Trados rates and that they're welcome to tell me their Trados rates.
| | | | | Hope this helps | Mar 12, 2013 |
Hi Orsolya,
Percentages can vary, but here is an example:
Repetitions -> 20% of the rate
100% -> 20% of the rate
95-99% -> 35% of the rate
75-94% -> 50% of the rate
No match (< 74%) 100% of the rate
Cheers,
Ilaria
| | | | LEXpert
United States
Local time: 09:29
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
+ ...
| Your mileage will vary... | Mar 12, 2013 |
If you think about it - typical agency practice notwithstanding - new words and repetitions are the only thing it really makes sense to specify in advance. The value (in terms of time savings) of 100% and fuzzy matches will vary wildly, depending on whose TM you are using (even 100% matches can be incorrectly translated junk, or not applicable because the context, specialty or register is different) and the quirks of the software itself (how it treats tags, formatting, etc.)
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| From the Wiki | Mar 12, 2013 |
http://wiki.proz.com/wiki/index.php/Determining_your_rates_and_fees_as_a_translator#CAT-based_discounts
CAT-based discounts
Some translators working with CAT tools give discounts for repetitions and 100% matches, and sometimes fuzzy matches, too. Think carefully about whether you want to do this as it can rep... See more http://wiki.proz.com/wiki/index.php/Determining_your_rates_and_fees_as_a_translator#CAT-based_discounts
CAT-based discounts
Some translators working with CAT tools give discounts for repetitions and 100% matches, and sometimes fuzzy matches, too. Think carefully about whether you want to do this as it can represent a significant reduction in income and to a large extent negates the benefit of investing in a CAT tool. Furthermore, it also means that work you do now is likely to be recycled by translation agencies and any similar work you do in the future will be heavily discounted.
CAT tool analysis provide the basis for repetition discounts:
Words in new segments have no discount and provide the basic rate
Words in fuzzy matches (for instance 99% to 75%) get a moderate discount
Words in repeated or 100% segments get a big discount.
Bear in mind that the only way discounts make sense if working with the given CAT tool actually increases your productivity. In other words, if you can process more volume by using the tool, then you can think about offering some discount. The amount of discount should be proportional to the productivity gains, and that depends on the languages involved, the type of text and some other factors. For example, if the target language uses conjugations, inflections while the source uses prefixes, a small change in the source may require a more extensive change in the target. In other words, a source sentence that is a 95% match may be only a 50% or lower match in target terms. Sometimes the surrounding sentences need to be modified as well, even though the source is the same. Based on experience, translators can estimate the time savings/productivity increases that can be achieved by using a certain tool for a certain type of job, and may be able to offer some discounts after taking into consideration the cost of acquiring and maintaining the CAT tool in question.
Another large factor is the quality of the TM (Translation Memory) that is to be used for the job. Having to use a low quality TM may actually result in more work than working without it, so translators should be careful about agreeing to use a TM of unknown quality. It is highly recommended to check the quality of the TM before accepting any CAT-based work. Some translators agree to discounts only if the TM is something they created earlier, and therefore can trust its contents.
So, again, giving discounts based on the use of a CAT tool may make sense in some cases, but this is not a requirement, and not something to be taken for granted. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No Trados discounts! | Mar 12, 2013 |
I use Trados to ensure consistency and correct terminology in my translations. It does not save me time in most cases, but for some types of job it gives the customer a higher level of quality. I paid a lot of money for the software. I see no reason at all to reduce my rates because I am offering a more consistent and higher quality product!
Just say "No" is my advice.
Best wishes,
Steve K.
| | | | Ildiko Santana
United States
Local time: 07:29
Member (2002)
Hungarian to English
+ ...
MODERATOR | This my approach, | Mar 12, 2013 |
word for word:
Steve Kerry wrote:
I use Trados to ensure consistency and correct terminology in my translations. It does not save me time in most cases, but for some types of job it gives the customer a higher level of quality. I paid a lot of money for the software. I see no reason at all to reduce my rates because I am offering a more consistent and higher quality product!
Just say "No" is my advice.
| | | | | Blackmail and exploitation | Mar 13, 2013 |
All these Trados matches are humbug. Just another tactic of agencies to deprive the translator of fair wages. In practice, I have found that the software brings out a lot of absurd matches for which one has to pay a discount. Further, when the TM contains a large number of errors, stuff that had been badly translated earlier, it becomes a big hassle. Does the agency pass on the Trados discounts to its customer?
Vishwa
French to English
Dehradun
India
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LEXpert
United States
Local time: 09:29
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
+ ...
| Good question | Mar 13, 2013 |
Shankaran Viswanathan wrote:
Does the agency pass on the Trados discounts to its customer?
I've always wondered about that. I suspect that it might offer something for a very high rep % (if asked) and possibly on 100% matches for repeat customers.
Fuzzy matches, occasional reps, and one-off jobs, almost certainly not.
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Thank you for all the valuable replies. I decided to go with my gutt feeling and didn't offer any discount. It's a new customer and a potential job, so I said that my rates were negotiable depending on the workload.
All the best to you,
Orsolya
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