Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of a translation depends on how many words need to be translated. We usually charge per word. However, we have to take a few variables into account such as the language combination, your deadline and any extra requirements such as proofreading or DTP.

This depends on your exact requirement. For example, a translation of 100 words won’t take as long as a translation of 100,000 words. The turnaround time can depend on a number of factors including word count, complexity of language and the file format. Feel free to send us your request and we’ll give you a quote with a turnaround time!

Generally, we do not apply any extra charges. In the rare case our translator requests a surcharge, we would seek your approval in advance.

We can translate a variety of documents ranging from marriage certificates to technical manuals. We can translate to and from many languages as well, so don’t worry if your brochure is in Arabic – we can translate it for you!

Intonation has been going for over 35 years and is one of the UK’s leading LSPs, with a reputation for delivering quality translations. We’re an award-winning company whose translators have a minimum of five years’ professional experience in a particular subject field, so you can be sure that your work will be handled and dealt with by an expert with the right level of experience.

We’re ISO 9001:2015 certified, an accreditation that we are proud to have retained since 1994. All our translation and interpreting projects are ISO 9001:2015 compliant, assuring you of a service at the very highest level.

Intonation is also a member of the Association of Translation Companies, a Corporate Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and the UK member of Eulogia, the European Alliance of Translation Agencies. We’re proud to be a member of these organisations – it represents our commitment and professionalism. As a result, you can be sure that the agency adheres to the codes of practice and operates ethically, knowing that your work will always be handled by experienced professionals who genuinely care about the service you receive.

Our company works with over 2,000 translation professionals and we only use qualified and competent freelance translators. Our translators must have a minimum of five years’ professional experience in a particular subject field. We have translators to cover many different language combinations and our translators only translate into their mother tongue, so an Italian-speaking native would only translate into Italian, for example!

If you’re interested in obtaining a quote from us, we would need you to send us the files via our quoting form or via email. Don’t worry if you only have a hard copy of your marriage certificate, for example – just send us a scanned copy of it or a clear picture, and we’ll handle the rest.

If you have any additional information that would be useful for us to know, such as a deadline, where the document will be used or whether certain parts need to be translated, let us know!

Payment can either be made over the phone with a debit or credit card or via bank transfer.

Yes. We offer four levels of certification:

1. Company certificate. Often known as a certified translation. The certificate states that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original.
2. Sworn translation. This involves attaching the translation to an affidavit and taking it to a solicitor to be sworn. 
3. Notarised translation. This involves attaching the translation to an affidavit and taking it to a notary public to be notarised. 
4. Notarisation and Apostille. This involves getting the translation notarised with a notary public first, before it’s then forwarded to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for the apostille. 

Please note that we are unable to advise which level of certification you need. You must check this with the person requesting the translation and certification.

Yes! We can transcribe most digital audio formats. Our team of transcribers are equipped to transcribe a variety of materials, either in clean or true verbatim format. From police interviews to business meetings and telephone conversations. No transcription is too big or too small.

To quote accurately for transcription, we often need to hear the recorded version, or an extract of it, to ensure we are able to accurately ascertain the quality of recording, speed and clarity of the speech and the number of people involved in the conversation.

For more confidential projects, we are happy to sign an NDA before receiving your material. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more.

We’re GDPR compliant and happy to sign an NDA. All our linguists work in accordance with our Supplier Contract also.