Quality Takes Time: Decoding the 40,000-Word Translation Challenge!

How Long Does It Take to Translate 40,000 Words?

In our industry, clients often ask how long a translation project of 40,000 words will take. Recently, a client was surprised to learn that such a project could require up to a month. This timeline accounts for the translation itself, a thorough review by a second linguist, and necessary buffer time—especially given that quotes often take several days to be approved in larger organizations.

Key Factors Influencing the Timeline

• Translation Speed: A professional translator typically manages about 10,000 words per week.
• Quality Control: Industry standards recommend the Four Eyes Principle, meaning every translation is reviewed by a second linguist. For 40,000 words, this review process can take up to a week.
• Workload: Translators often handle multiple projects simultaneously, which can affect immediate availability.
• Approval Process: Quotes can take over a week to be approved, impacting overall deadlines.

Translation is as much about precision as it is about speed. The process requires not only the conversion of words from one language to another but also careful research and a deep understanding of the subject matter. After hours of focused work, even the best translators need breaks to maintain quality, making the process demanding and time-consuming.

Tips to Ensure Timely Delivery

• Early Approval: Secure quote approval as soon as possible to avoid delays.
• Plan Ahead: Incorporate translation requirements early in your project planning to prevent last-minute rushes.
• Clear Communication: Specify exact deadlines to ensure all parties understand the urgency and requirements.
• Project Segmentation: Consider breaking up larger projects so that urgent sections can be prioritized and delivered first.

The Role of AI in Translation

While AI can generate translations almost instantly, the quality does not yet match that of human translators. Relying on AI, even with post-editing, does not necessarily shorten the overall timeline for complex projects—editing 40,000 machine-translated words still requires considerable time and effort. Research confirms that post-editing can sometimes take longer than translating from scratch.

Conclusion

The best approach is to plan ahead and communicate clearly about deadlines and requirements. A well-prepared project schedule allows for the quality and accuracy that only skilled human translators can provide. In the end, the process of translating 30,000 words is comparable to the time it takes to write the original content, making strategic planning and early action essential for success.

At MidLocalize, we emphasize proactive communication and meticulous planning to ensure our clients receive high-quality, culturally nuanced translations on time.