Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions below are based on the Rules of the Association of Bulgarian Translators and Interpreters, the Bulgarian State Standards, and generally accepted international practices.

1. Why is it better to place an order with an agency than contact directly an interpreter or translator?

Everybody knows good translators and interpreters, but no one can be equally good in all subject areas.

Therefore, placing an order with an interpreting and translation agency and trusting its managerial experience, you will be offered something more than a good interpreter or translator – an expert in the field. When necessary, the translation is made in cooperation with a consulting expert, and/ or stylistic editing is provided

2. What is normal, fast and expert translation?

Normal is the translation of up to five pages per day, fast translation means 5 to 10 pages per day, and express is the translation of more than 10 pages per day.

If the material is much larger in volume and an express translation is required, the translation is made by a coordinated team of translators and then proof-read by an editor, yet the client should bear in mind that this affects the quality of the translation.

3. How is the volume of the translation calculated?

The volume of the translation is calculated on the basis of a standard page of 1 800 characters (including spaces) using the Characters with Spaces option of the Word Count tool.
3 slides in Power point are equal to one standard page.

4. Have you got experts in the subject area?

Good interpreters and translators are not always philologists. Our interpreters and translators get specialized in different fields. Where the subject-matter is very specific, the translation is made by an expert in the field with subsequent style editing, or by a professional translator in cooperation with a consulting expert in the field.

Interpreting

5. What is consecutive and what is simultaneous interpreting?

Consecutive means successive. In other words, the speaker makes pauses in his speech to give time to the interpreter to interpret what he has said. This type of interpreting is suitable for short speeches and bilateral meetings with a small number of participants.

Simultaneous means synchronized. In other words, the interpreter is interpreting while the speaker is talking without breaks and the interpreting is done from a booth with special simultaneous interpreting equipment. The participants hear the interpretation via infrared receivers with headphones. Unlike consecutive interpreting, this type of interpreting does not extend the duration of the event.

6. What do interpreters need to be well prepared for simultaneous interpreting?

Simultaneous interpreting is provided by a team of two or more interpreters. To be well prepared on the subject-matter of the conference, the interpreters need to have materials in advance – general on the theme or concerning the particular event. The written materials should be requested in advance from the speakers and should be provided to the interpreters in the booth.

7. Who covers the travel and accommodation expenses of interpreters and sound technicians when the event is outside Sofia?

Such expenses are charged to the client.

8. What equipment is required for simultaneous interpreting and what is its price?

The interpreting equipment depends on the arrangement of the hall: a class-room or a round table.

A class-room arrangement requires microphones for the rostrum and the presidium plus two to four microphones in the hall for questions.

In both cases each participant is provided with a receiver and headset.

A round table arrangement requires one microphone for every two or three participants, connected in a "discussion system".

Loud speakers are also provided depending on the capacity of the hall.

One booth with interpreters panel stand is required for each foreign language. There are two types of booths – soundproof and screen-type.

The price of the interpreting equipment depends on the required number of microphones, receivers and booths as well as on the duration of the event.