Frequently asked questions about linguistic services

Choosing our services means choosing to work with professional translators. We use state-of-the-art translation tools and rigorous work methods to guarantee you:

• High-quality translations: Our translations are precise, consistent, and clear.
• Cultural adaptation: We consider your target audience so you can deliver a memorable message.
• Deadlines met: We will meet your deadline without sacrificing quality.
• Close cooperation: We work closely with you to understand your needs and provide you with personalized service.

Some projects can be handled free of charge, depending on the workload and availability of our internal resources.

We use computer-assisted translation tools, such as DeepL, for greater efficiency on certain types of texts. These tools support the translation process and in no way replace human expertise. . For more information, please read the opinions of OTTIAQ and the Translation Bureau on this topic.

Our professional translators translate an average of 1,000 to 1,500 words per day. Deadlines can vary depending on the complexity of a text and our workload. Our revisors can process around 1,000 words per hour, depending on the quality of the text. However, sometimes unforeseen situations can arise, so it is always a good idea to plan extra time so you are prepared should this occur.

Even the most experienced translator needs enough time to do the job well and fully revise their work to ensure accuracy and consistency. We will always strive to give you the best turnaround time possible, without sacrificing quality.

It is standard practice in the translation industry to charge per word. If, however, your project requires the translator to carry out tasks that go above and beyond translation, they may decide to charge by the hour. This may occur if you ask the translator to:

• Conduct a significant amount of term research for a technical text
• Work on a different version after they have already started your project (update)
• Replace screen shots in the translation document
• Convert documents into a format suitable for translation
• Revise the document layout
• Adapt the text for a particular audience
• Translate ads or slogans

The translator could charge the entire project at an hourly rate or charge per word and hourly for additional work.

Yes. All words are counted because every word in a sentence has a function.

Formatting and translation are two separate tasks. While translators do try to preserve the original formatting, if the translator has to work around graphic modifications, such as in a document converted to Word from PDF, they may charge additional fees. Certain suppliers may even refuse documents that have major formatting issues.

Want to know how much your translation project will cost? No problem! When you submit your request, simply state your needs (e.g., languages and desired deadline) and we will give you a personalized quote, taking into account the document complexity, our availability, and if we are able to use previously translated materials.

Even for short texts, the translator spends time preparing the project, doing term research, revising their work, and doing administrative tasks (e.g., communication and billing).

A slogan condenses meaning and emotion into just a few words. Translating a slogan requires creativity and deep understanding of cultural nuances. The translator needs to do some digging, test out different options, and make sure that the original message is faithfully conveyed. This research and creative work are why you may be charged by the hour for such translations.

Urgent projects often require translators to change their work schedule, prioritize specific tasks, or potentially interrupt other ongoing projects.

Revision is a crucial step that helps the translation team understand your preferences and apply your preferred terminology going forward. Whoever revises the document should identify the changes made to the text and share them with our team so we can ensure consistency and quality in future translations. It is important to return the final version to us so we can keep our databases updated.

The School maintains a term bank that anyone can access on the website. This is a collaborative tool (HR, Communications, and Linguistic Services) that stores a host of job titles, service names, and program names that are specific to HEC Montréal, as well as some terms relating to academia. The term records are bilingual (French-English). We continuously update and improve the term bank. Please let us know if you have anything to add or correct (traduction [at] hec.ca (traduction[at]hec[dot]ca)).

Access the HEC Montréal Terminology Guide

We work closely with the entire HEC Montréal community to keep the Terminology Guide updated. Each request for a new term or definition helps improve the guide. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to add, change, or update any job titles, service names, or other terms specific to the School.