FAQ & Pricing

You can reach out to me here, or you can schedule a free consultation call with me to discuss your needs. I send you a free, tailor-made quote, together with the terms and conditions of the service you would like me to provide. Once I have received the signed quote, we will then agree on all relevant deadlines (if applicable), and I will start working on your project. If necessary, I can provide my own NDA, but I am open to signing an NDA provided by you as well.

At the bottom of this page, you will find my email address and phone number, or you can fill out the contact request form via this page. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible — no later than 24 hours (during working days). Alternatively, you can book a free 45-minute consultation call with me here, and then we’ll take it from there.

No, because as a flat-rate scheme I am exempt from VAT.

First of all, my all-round experience and professionalism: whether it’s about my interpreting output or a translation, I strive for value. Quality is a given. In addition to being a member of the Italian Association of Translators and Interpreters (AITI), whose code of ethics I comply with, I abide by a scrupulous code of work ethics of my own. I have never missed a deadline, and my quote always includes a feedback session after delivering your project, so that you are always happy with the end result.

Generally, one should be wary of those who ask too little for a highly specialized service, as is the case of translation and interpreting. If it feels too cheap, it probably is. My quote does not just reflect the cost of the service I provide per se. It also encompasses the preparation and research time I put in when translating a document or preparing for an interpreting assignment. Often, a low or even very low-cost translation is the result of subcontracting work to non-specialized translators — sometimes even to unspecialized bilinguals with no specific training.

The same goes for interpreting. Someone who is bilingual or who ‘speaks the language’ cannot handle a simultaneous interpreting assignment. It takes years to master interpreting techniques that allow interpreters to provide excellent quality output. That’s just not the way things work for me.

First of all, this is my business — there’s my name and my skin in the game. When I get ready for an interpreting assignment, I put in several hours of studying and compile a specific glossary to provide a high-quality service. When it comes to translation, I do detailed research and really split hairs until I find the right word. In addition, I have invested in specific education and continue to train constantly in my areas of specialization.

Normally, I issue an invoice at the end of a translation project/event, with a 30-day payment term, within which the agreed-upon fee must be paid. For bulky or long translation projects, on the other hand, a deposit of at least 20% of the total budget is required. You can also pay in installments: get in touch to discuss this option.

In addition to my encrypted hard disk on password protected laptop with a fingerprint sensor, I store a copy of my files and information about my projects on Google Drive via GSuite, which is GDPR compliant..

Usually, when I am asked for a quote for a written translation, these are the main factors I consider: number of words in the document, type of text (technical, creative, general), requested delivery date, text format (.pdf, .doc, .ppt, html) and any additional services requested.

To speed up the process, please make sure to add the following information: what is the aim of the text, the translation’s target audience, and whether the translation will be published (and if so, where).

Depending on the complexity of the text and the amount of research needed, my average daily output ranges from 2000 to 2500 words. After the translation is done, as part of my Quality Assurance process, I take another half day or full day to review the text, depending on its deadline and length.

Absolutely. I use a CAT tool, i.e. a computer aided translation tool, which takes care of preserving the formatting and layout of the documents I translate, while ensuring both formal and content control, as well as terminological consistency.

Yes, depending on the length of the document and its complexity, I offer an urgent delivery service, within 24 or 48 hours. The service is available at an additional cost.

A CAT tool, or computer aided translation software, is a software that facilitates the translation process. It helps in preserving the original layout and formatting of a document, and it can leverage specific translation memories and glossaries to ensure accuracy and the terminological consistency of a text. CAT tools are extremely useful for translating heavily formatted documents. However, the translation is always done 100% by me, as it is not a machine translation or machine translation program. I personally use Trados Studio 2019.

No, I never use Google Translate, as well as other machine translation and/or CAT tools that can be found free of charge on the web. Once you enter your text or upload your document onto one of those, the information contained in them automatically becomes the property of Google/the owner of the site. Since confidentiality and protecting the privacy of my clients are paramount to me, I refrain from using those tools.

Transcreation, from translation + creation, is a form of creative translation that involves the linguistic-cultural adaptation of promotional and marketing material from one language and culture to another. It is mainly used for ads campaigns, sales letters, newsletters, website texts and the like.

Localization is the modification of a product, site or content for a specific audience that speaks a specific language and dialect, and that is located in a designated geographical area. This process requires a thorough and in-depth knowledge of the target language and culture, and is much more complex than translation.

For example, if you want to have your site translated into Italian, you will first need to decide whether you want the Italian or Swiss Italian variant. If you are looking to attract the audience from a specific Italian region, you may want to look for a translator who was born/has lived in that area.

No, simultaneous interpreting can be done both in the booth — which is the optimal environment for an interpreter — and with a bidule or portable interpreting system.

The second option consists of a set of portable transmitters much like those of a tour guide. The interpreter works in the very room the event takes place in. This option is much cheaper, but the interpreter is not acoustically isolated, nor is their output. As this is still a form of simultaneous interpreting, the same manning strength is required.

Finally, you can also opt for remote simultaneous interpreting, using specialized platforms or alternative solutions or over-the-phone interpreting (OPI). If you are organizing an event and you need an interpreter, get in touch now! I can help you figure out the best solution for you, and can also assist with the technical service, thanks to my network of trusted partners.

Except in very rare cases (for assignments not exceeding 50/60 minutes), interpreters always work in pairs because simultaneous interpreting requires an enormous cognitive effort. In fact, after about half an hour you need to switch with your booth mate, in order to ensure a high-quality and optimal output.

When I submit a quote for an interpreting assignment, I take into account the hours of study I will need to put in to provide a high-quality service, so that my output is accurate and faithful to the original. I always undertake an in-depth study on the subject matter of the event, as well as of any materials provided by the event organizer, such as slides, presentations, set lists and anything else.

A real professional doesn’t just show up, turn on the microphone and translate. There is a long and meticulous preparation work behind my performance, which encompasses both the encyclopedic and terminological aspects of my output.

Normally, an interpreter’s day lasts around 7 working hours, with regular breaks and a 60-minute lunch break in between. If you expect the event to exceed this time frame, you should contact a third interpreter for each language combination as well.

Yes and no. The more information we get before an assignment, the better things will go for everyone. Always consider that if the confidential information is mentioned during the event, the interpreter will still learn about it. Why not just send out an anonymized document or a non-disclosure agreement?