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| Translation Services We are a translation agency that works with independent translators and translation teams from across the United States. We match your project’s needs with a skilled translation team comprised of native speakers. Our Translation Project Managers take care of your translation details from start to finish, so that your mind can be at ease.
Please see below for details. Translation Services
How to Request an Estimate
Contact Us
FAQs
Employment | | | | Why a Translation Agency and Project Manager? | Communication - As Project Managers, we are in direct contact with you and with our translators, editors, and desktop publishing specialists. We assist the translators with their research, assemble client-specific glossaries, and facilitate communication between translators, proofreaders, and editors so that the translators can focus all of their attention on the text.
Specialization - Translators specialize in different areas: legal, medical, technical, scientific, corporate, etc. Because we have an extensive database of translators, we are able to choose the translators and editors who are most qualified to meet your needs.
Continuity - As we work with you, we become familiar with your requirements and style. We make our translators aware of any preferred terminology and existing glossaries related to each project. We also make sure to use the same translators on projects of a similar nature to ensure consistent terminology.
Quality Control - Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality translation possible. We arrange for editing and proofing of each translation, as well as in-house reviews for quality control. Whenever possible, we use translators that are affiliated with or accredited by the American Translators Association. Dedication to quality is our number one priority, and we will not compromise quality and client satisfaction for the sake of cost, deadline restrictions, or convenience.
The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute is proud to be a member of the American Translators Association, the Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators, the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
| Our clients include: TN Department of Human Services TN Department of Treasury Metro Nashville Public Schools Vanderbilt University Medical Center Maury Regional Medical Center Renal Advantage Rose Immigration Law Firm Haas & Devine Immigration Law TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Taylor Farms Big Time Toys International Scholarship and Tuition Services | | Translation Services | All of our translation projects are handled by a translation project manager and translated, edited and proofread by a team of professional translators.
Written translation is charged in two ways: per word (commercial, technical, medical or legal texts) or per page (official documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, etc.). The rate is determined by the availability of translators for that language, degree of technicality of the material, formatting and time requirements, and desktop publishing needs.
Notarized Certificates of Accurate Translation are available for all document translations.
Please note that while we translate all kinds of educational documents, we do not offer evaluation services.
| | | | How to Request an Estimate | 1). E-mail, fax or bring in a copy of the document(s) you wish to have translated. Please include a cover letter with your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address, if applicable, and be sure to specify your project’s language. Let us know if you are facing any time constraints. (Additional fees may apply to rush projects.)
2). After reviewing the submitted material, we will contact you and provide you with a written estimate detailing the expected cost and turnaround time. You may accept or decline the bid.
For more information, please download our Guidelines for Requesting Translation Services. The American Translators Association has also created an educational booklet for those looking for quality translations: Translation: Getting it Right. A Guide to Buying Translations. Download it here. | | | | Contact Us | Please contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate!
Email: its@foreignlanguages.org
Telephone: 615.741.7579
Fax: 615.253.5488
Mailing address:
Tennessee Foreign Language Institute
Attn.: Translation Services
227 French Landing Drive, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37228
Office Location:
227 French Landing Drive, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37228 Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9:00 am to 7:30 pm Friday: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
How to find us:
Our offices are located in Metro Center.
Head north on I-65 and take the Rosa Parks Blvd. exit (exit 85).
At the exit ramp, make a left onto Rosa Parks Blvd. (formerly Metro Center Boulevard).
Head straight through the traffic light on the highway overpass and make a right onto Dominican Drive.
Make an immediate left onto French Landing Drive.
Stay straight through the traffic light at Vantage Way. 227 French Landing Drive will be the second building on your right (the Heritage Place building). Park anywhere around the building and enter the lobby from either side. We are on the ground floor in Suite 100. There are signs directing you to the office.
| | | Frequently Asked Questions | What is a translator?
A translator is someone who converts written material from a source language into a target language. The source language is the language the material first appears in. The target language is the language the material must be translated into. The skills and experience needed for translation include the ability to write well in the target language, the ability to read and understand the source language material thoroughly, and the ability to work with the latest word-processing and communications software. A good translator is able to make the translated language seem as though it was originally written in the target language.
What is bilingualism?
Both translators and interpreters are by definition bilingual. People who are born bilinguals often have a greater appreciation of the subtleties and nuances of both their languages than someone who learns their second language later on in life. However, not everyone who is bilingual is also a great or even good translator. There are many others skills a translator needs to have.
How do you become a translator?
Translators come from all different walks of life. Some have advanced degrees and specializations, while others have a general degree in a variety of fields. Although a specialized or an advanced degree is not a necessity, it is useful to have, but the ability to translate accurately and work well under pressure is far more important.
Most translators are well versed in their language and can write well. Professional translators generally have a college background in the language and/or translation fields and have lived extensively in the countries where their languages are spoken.
Translators tend to specialize in certain types of translations, such as medical, commercial, legal, technical or financial translations.
What are proofreading and editing?
Proofreading is the review and revision of a translated text with the goal of correcting stylistic and grammatical errors. In the editing process, proofread translations are compared to the original text with particular attention to translation and formatting accuracy.
What is abstracting?
Abstracting is a way to obtain a general summary of a document’s content without providing a word-by-word translation. The summary provides the client with the purpose, scope and conclusion of the document.
Do you offer multilingual transcription?
TFLI offers professional transcription services to our clients. Transcription and translation services are generally charged by the hour; charges depend on the language and quality of the audio media provided.
What are some common translation myths?
Anyone can translate who has two years of a high school language, who has lived in another country for three years during early childhood, or who can type in a foreign language.
No. Most translators have extensive language backgrounds and translation experience. Not everyone who has lived overseas for extended periods of time has the language or writing skills necessary for translation work.
Translators can translate both ways just as easily.
This is not always the case. Most translators specialize in certain types of translation and will only translate or edit into their native language.
A good translator doesn’t need any reference literature.
False. A good translator always relies on reference literature and resources. These materials include dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses, internet websites relating to translation and terminology, translation forums, magazines, journals, etc.
A good translator gets it right the first time without any editing or proofreading.
False. Translating takes a lot of practice and a good translator is constantly reviewing his work and checking for grammatical and context errors. Just as you need a team of people to create a correct and legible original document, you also need a team of people to translate that document into a foreign language.
Translators will soon be replaced by computers.
False. Computerized translation fails to take the overall tone, context and structure of the material into consideration. Machine translation is also limited to the words and languages in its database and does not provide the extensive array of knowledge and experience professional translators have to offer.
A 100-page technical manual that took four months and three persons to write can be translated by one translator in two days.
False. A technical manual or any other material that has taken a long time to write, format and edit will also take a long time to translate. It takes time for a translator to translate technical material and to ensure the quality of the final product.
Translating is just replacing each word in the source language with the same word in the target language.
False. Replacing each word in the source language with the same word in the target language will not produce a grammatically correct and quality driven translation. The completed document should accurately reflect the intent, tone and subject matter of the original text and should read as though it was written in the source language in the first place.
Spanish is Spanish – all around the world.
False. There are vast differences in dialect, terminology, accents, vocabulary and culture that are reflected in a language. Thus the Spanish spoken is Spain is very different from the Spanish spoken in Latin America. The same is true for Continental (or European) Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, or, to a lesser degree, for Canadian and European French. | | | | Employment | | Are you a professional translator who would like to be added to our database? Please e-mail us your resume detailing your education, translation experience, areas of specialization, computer and desktop publishing capabilities and services provided at its@tfli.org | |
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