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The Japanese Connection : Serving since 1985

  General questions

 1.    What is special about The Japanese Connection)?

    For more than 25 years, The Japanese Connection has been providing high quality Translation, Interpreting, business consulting and technical project support. Our sensitivity to the needs of our customers and our reliability has earned us a loyal customer base and an excellent international reputation. We have a team of experienced and qualified translators and interpreters. If you require technical specialists we can accommodate your requirements. Our services are extensive - from conferences, business negotiations, and litigation, arbitration or tribunal court cases to onsite technical or engineering support, consulting, marketing and research assistance for Government Institutions. Both translators and Interpreters are bilingual and experts on different cultures and etiquette. We have now covered other languages as we have been frequently requested to provide other language speakers for interpreting and translation services.

 

2.       What are differences between an Interpreter and translator?

 

Translators work with documents, Interpreters work with the spoken word. Translators use computer software tools and web design tools whereas interpreters work alongside you and your clients.

 

3.       Translator or Interpreter?

 

Translating and interpreting are two very different skills. Although some people offer both services, it is important not to confuse the two when commissioning work. Translators work with written documents and Interpreters work with spoken word.

 

4.       Can we ask both Translation and Interpreting support?

 

From our long term multilingual language support, we have come across with many customers who request combined language assistance. This is often seen as a cost-effective method if you are to succeed your businesses with customers.

 

5.       Do you travel to Europe, Japan, Europe or globally?

 

Yes, we do. We cover most major European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Americas. We are happy to travel to any corner of the world if you need us to. We have previously traveled for numerous business meetings, conferences, international court-cases, factory visits, Interviews, Research work assistance, attendance/interpreting assistance for senior executives, artists or top political figures traveling in Europe or in Asia, extension of visits after the UK visits, Industrial conferences, seminars, emergency medical and legal interpreting assistance with short notices.

 

6.       What software do you use?

 

Over the past two decades we have seen a rapid development of technology to the point now where standards are almost universal. Translations are most often submitted in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, unformatted text or web-based format. We are happy to accept almost any form as long as we are able to access it electronically. This includes Mac and PC.

 

7.       What translation software do you use?

 

 We use SDLX. This is widely accepted in being one of the best memory database tools around. It has been proved to be effective in many different specialised language areas.

 

8.       What are the benefits of using the memory database tools?

 

The main advantages are speed and efficiency. For repetitive translations, e.g. large project localisation, manuals, HTML translation etc, the software becomes more efficient after necessary data has been entered. This takes much of the work away from the translator, thus enabling the speed to be increased as well as maintaining.

 

9.       Can we keep the documents?

 

Files complied using The Translation Memories will be delivered to a client who can also be used by a different translator in future.

 

10.   Can you meet our deadline?

 

We have a longstanding commitment to putting your deadlines first. Our primary objective is to get your translations back to you on or before submission date. If we think that we may not meet your deadline then we will contact you before we start. We are committed to putting the time in so you will know your targets will be met.

 

11.   What other areas and fields do you cover?

1.       Japan, China, Korea and many more countries-UK Business consulting

2.       Short-Long term project technical support

3.       Research work

4.       Information gathering

5.       New Business set-up assistance

6.       Full package services

7.       UK educational adviser and services, Oxford & surrounding areas tour guiding & Research

8.       Website Localisations

9.       Database translation


 

12.   Do I have to pay Value Added Tax (VAT)?

 

If you are located in the UK, VAT will be added. If assigned jobs are undertaken in Europe, the VAT is not necessary. Please contact us for individual cases for further information.

 

 

 

Translation & Interpreting Questions 

1.       What are differences between professional translators/interpreters and those who are inexperienced?
 

At an enquiry stage, some customers request less experienced translators/interpreters for cost-cutting purposes. They do not often realize that there is no guarantee in inexperienced translators/interpreters work as they may not have fully grasped cultural subtleness in expressions and linkages or hidden messages between lines. In addition to these, many people are not used to double negative questions in English (they often say Yes when they mean No. Also when they say Yes, it does not necessary means YES I AGREE WITH YOU but often implies Yes I understand what you are saying. This does not, therefore, guarantee Yes which you wish to hear). This kind of situation would cause a lot of misunderstanding and distrust and end up with time and money wasted.

It is important to take these points into consideration when you request translation/interpreting services for your important meetings/conferences etc. We offer those who are qualified and sufficient period of experience and familiar with required situations. Our technical translators and professional interpreters are competent, efficient, reliable and often spot typos or cultural misunderstanding and/or recommend their suggestions if source documents do not make sense or if they are request to express their views after interpreting meetings. For more details, please click here for our Translation services and Interpreting services.

 

2.       How do you price Translation services?

 

We calculate our quotation based on the source (your original) documents. Prices are quoted in UK Pounds per 1000 words/characters in the source document.

We base our quotations on the following points:

1.       Number of words in English or source document language characters

2.       Nature of the document

3.       Type of Fromat and the target document layout

4.       Deadline

Please contact us for further pricing explanation

3.       How do you price Interpreting services?

Our charging structure is based upon:

1.       the duration

2.       the location

3.       the nature of services

4.       the complexity of services

Surcharges may be incurred for weekend or evening interpreting, or for interpreters requested to undertake extra work. VAT is applicable to the net charge.