What translation language pairs do you offer?

We are based in Hamburg, Germany, where demand is highest for translations where German is the source text. We therefore primarily offer German to English (British, American or any other variation) translations. Nevertheless, we also have translators who are experts in a wide variety of other language pairs. Please contact us to find out whether we can currently offer your target language.

How experienced are Austin Languages translators?

All of the translators in the Austin Languages network have extensive translation experience and expertise at their disposal as well as translation qualifications. Each translator is a native speaker of the languages they are translating into and they have been specifically chosen because of their proven knowledge of source and target languages. The group consists of specialists of various translation fields, such as legal or technical experts, to ensure that even complex texts are delivered with the utmost competence and professionalism.

What kind of pricing policy does Austin Languages use for translations?

Our offers are typically based on calculations per word or line from the source text. Then the language pair, specialism, deadline and other requirements such as layouting and editing expectations are taken into consideration. We offer fair rates which represent the high quality we deliver and the experience and expertise of our translators.

What kind of quality assurance do you offer?

All of the translation work carried out by Austin Languages is thoroughly reviewed before delivery. The translation memory software we use also features proofreading tools which help to ensure terminology consistency and it also serves as an additional error checker. We also offer a dual control principle, where a second translator proofreads and comments on the translation after it is finished but before it is delivered. These processes allow us to guarantee exceptionally high quality at all times. Every translator in the Austin Languages network has to sign a non-disclosure agreement before working with us to ensure the utmost confidentiality and protection of your data. In addition, we would be glad to provide customer references for you, on request. The positive feedback we have received to date from our customers about our work is a good indication of both the high quality we consistently offer and the reliability of our services. Your satisfaction as a customer is extremely important to us. In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with our services, we will do everything possible to rectify the situation.

How can I communicate with my translator?

We are always available to answer any questions or queries you may have about your documents or the translation process and procedure. Simply fill in the contact form and we will promprtly respond to you. If you are based in or around Hamburg, Germany we can also meet you in person, if you wish. You can gladly contact us in English, French, German, Russian or Spanish.

Do you use automatic (machine) translation?

No. Texts produced by automatic or machine translation software do not correspond to the high quality we offer at Austin Languages. Our translations are produced by experienced, qualified translators who only translate into their native languages. The consistently high standards we set ourselves cannot be echoed by machine translation programs. We deliver professional, publish-ready translations which are always fit for purpose. In contrast, we do use translation memory tools, as they enable us to ensure consistency when it comes to terminology and to perform additional quality checks, for instance. These programs do not replace translators and no target text segments are generated without human interaction.

Which formats do you deliver translations in?

We can always deliver in any Microsoft Office program format or PDF. It is also usually possible to deliver translations in other standard desktop publishing formats. Please contact us for further details.

How does the translation process work?

In the vast majority of cases, you send us a text you wish to have translated and indicate the target language(s), proposed deadline and any specific preferences you may have, such as the use of glossaries, particular language variations or delivery formats. We then assess this information and send you a corresponding offer, along with our General Terms and Conditions. If you accept our offer, we send you confirmation of your order and the translation process can begin. Once the translation is ready, we will send it to you in the agreed format then give you time to review the work. If you have any queries about the text, we will gladly assist you. After you are completely satisfied with the translation you have received, we will send you an invoice by e-mail, which is to be settled within 14 days of receipt.

What teaching material do you use?

The material we use is tailored towards the client's specific requirements and is prepared on a case-by-case basis. We do not sell ready-made, standard courses, as we do not feel they represent the needs of the individual learner. All of the sources we select are state-of-the-art and industry-specific and we place emphasis on ensuring that all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) are promoted in the learning process. Clients are encouraged to incorporate their own material into the courses.

How much does a business English lesson cost?

As Austin Languages has such a customer-oriented focus, the cost of our language skills courses varies considerably. For instance, we offer different types of workshops and seminars of varying length, level and group size. Please contact us so that we can discuss your needs individually. We will do our utmost to find you a suitable language learning program.

What happens if I have to make changes to my source text after the translation process has started?

We know that, despite all of your best organisational efforts, it is sometimes unavoidable for source text content to be changed after the material has been sent out for translation.

If this happens, original offers are no longer valid as the amended text is usually a different length and pre-translated content has to be carefully adjusted.

We would therefore analyse the amended source text and promptly make you a new offer.