FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Free Translation?

2. What is a Certified Translation?

3. Which one to choose: free or certified translation?

4. What is a Lauda?

5. How much does the translation service cost?

6. Which are the deadlines for delivery of the translation?

7. How to send and receive my translation?

8. Which languages does ADM Translation work with?

9. Which are the services provided by ADM Translations?

10. Is there any guarantee of quality for the translation?

11. Does ADM Translations use any machine translation software?

12. In case of technical manuals or texts with images, will I receive my translation fully formatted?

13. Does ADM Translation provide interpretation services?

1. What is a Free Translation?
Free Translation is the one done for non-official purposes. It cannot be used at public agencies and does produce effects against third parties in legal processes. It can be done by a public certified translator or not, however, it is presented in common paper or by electronic means [computer files].

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2. What is a Certified Translation?
The Certified Translation is considered a legal public-faith document. This means that such translation has the same value as the original document [in foreign language] and produces effects at public agencies around all the national territory, and can be used even for legal purposes. This is the translation exclusively done by a Public Certified Translator [a.k.a. Sworn Translator], who was qualified by the Registry of Commerce of the corresponding State, and delivered in official paper with his/her stamp and signature.

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3. Which one to choose: fee or certified translation?
As regards quality, both free translation and certified translation are equivalent and, at ADM Translations, are many times made by the same translator. However, only certified translations are valid for official purposes. This is similar to what happens with photocopies [xerox]: Conventional and certified copies are identical, however only the latter are valid for official purposes, since they are provided with public faith.

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4. What is a Lauda?
This is the most common unit for calculation of the volume of text for translation. In some companies, you can find laudas of 1250 or 1100 characters including blank spaces. At ADM Translations, the works are calculated based on a lauda of 1000 characters not including blank spaces or 180 words. However, ADM Translations may provide your estimate based on other parameters in order to make it easier to compare.

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5. How much does the translation service cost?
Certified translations have the rates fixed by Registry of Commerce of the State. Certified Translators who do not observe the required rates may be penalized, even losing the office. For these translations, ADM assures best quality and presentation at that rates. For free translations and other services, we have different pricing policies according to volume. At ADM, you get the best value for your money. Count on us, we will do as much as possible to make your project feasible.

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6. Which are the deadlines for delivery of the translation?
We make every effort for the translation to be delivered within a term that is appropriate to our clients' needs. We are capable of producing an average of up to 100 laudas per day, depending on the pair of languages and area of translation. If, for your, deadlines is of the essence, then you came to the right place. Call us!

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7. How to send and receive my translation?
You an send and receive your documents by fax, e-mail, post offices or courier. In case of certified translations [for which the original document must be stamped by the translator], we can start the translation based on copies sent by fax or e-mail. When taking the translation, you bring the originals to be checked and stamped, then, you have to come to our offices only once. Talk to us and we will be happy to find the best you to save time and money with transportation of documents for translation.

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8. Which languages does ADM Translation work with?
ADM Translations count on a staff of carefully selected professionals who have been working with us for years in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French. For other languages, ADM has partnerships with the best professionals in the market and can save your precious time, offering a one-stop solution to your translation needs. ADM takes responsibility for all its free translation or certified translation services.

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9. Which are the services provided by ADM Translations?
Free translation and certified translation and review of translation in any combination between Portuguese, English, Spanish and French [Other languanges, please check] Formatting and editting of graphs and pictures in the main formats [MS-Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PageMaker, FrameMaker, Corel, html, PDF]. We can even manually transform your PDF in an editable file, keeping it as close as possible to the original, in any of the formats above. Consult us! Text review. We check for spell, grammar and style texts in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French. Interpretation Services. We have interpreters for meetings, dinners, fairs, events, celebrations and technical visits.

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10. Is there any guarantee of quality for the translation?
For confidentiality reasons, we do not disclose our clients' works. However, if you still do not know the quality of our work, please contact us, we will be pleased to present a sample of our quality work. You send us a small texts of your area of action, and we provide the translation, review or DTP FREE OF CHARGE. It is the competence of our professionals and our continuous search for improvement in our processes and client service that assure the quality of our work.

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11. Does ADM Translations use any machine translation software?
No, it does not. ADM Translations does not use computer programs to make translations. Our translations are done by translators that have studied many years and are still studying to improve their techniques and their skills. No computer program will ever replace for the talent and decision-making capacity of humans. The IT resources used by ADM Translation aim only at assuring as much correction as possible in areas in which there is a chance, even small, of human failure, p.ex. spelling, research, terminology and style consistency, proof reading, that are fundamental items for our works, in particular, for certified translations.

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12. In case of technical manuals or texts with images, will I receive my translation fully formatted?
Yes. You are going to receive your translation with all graphs and pictures translated in the same format as the original file. ADM Translations has professionals with years of experience in DTP/formatting of texts in the most different software applications. Here at ADM Translations, you are not going to have the work or cost of re-formatting the translated text.

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13. Does ADM Translation provide interpretation services?
Yes. We have experienced professionals available to act in social, corporate events, dinners, fairs and meetings. We serve the entire metropolitan area of São Paulo, with interpreters in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French language.

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