Welsh Translation Service

The University has adopted the principle in its Welsh Language Scheme that in the conduct of public business in Wales, Welsh and English will be treated on an equal basis. The Translation Service aims to effectively promote the use of Welsh as a medium of administration, teaching and study, and to provide our customers here in Wales with a service in their chosen language, be that in Welsh or English.

The Translation Service is administered by Gwen Rice, Mary Leyshon and Janice Addecott. All queries should be referred to the Translations desk:

Tel: (029) 208 79379 e-mail: translation@cardiff.ac.uk

What we provide

The Translation Service provides:

• Written translation – for example, administrative documents, correspondence, handbooks, web pages, adverts, forms, exam papers* and so on.
• Simultaneous and sequential translation - some formal meetings e.g. Court, Public Meetings; some interviews/hearings involving staff or students.

* Please note that any examination work requiring translation should be referred to Registry in the first instance.

The vast majority of translation work is undertaken by private external translators. Very short translations, such as university titles, names of departments and so on, will be done within the Department with the minimum of delay.

For short translations, you may wish to contact the Welsh Language Board’s Link Line service, which translates up to 30 words and edits up to 75 words for free.

Requesting a translation

Work for translation should be e-mailed to translation@cardiff.ac.uk as an attached Word document wherever possible. When submitting your request, please indicate:

• Your department
• Your email address from outside the University (i.e. "...@cardiff.ac.uk")
• The word count of the document
• The deadline you require.

For ease of identification, please give your document a descriptive name rather than just “Translation”. We can also accept work for translation in hard copy, but please allow additional time for the work to be completed.

We aim to respond within one working day, either to return your translation directly, or to tell you when the document will be translated and give you a reference code, or to obtain further information or response from you.

Timescales

The table below gives a rough guide to the time you should allow when requesting translations submitted by email:

However, this will vary depending on the nature of the work involved, and on the translators’ workloads at the time. In some cases, it may be necessary to allow time to arrange payment in advance of translation.

Consideration of bilingualism at an early stage in the preparation of your original text can save you valuable time and money. Good planning will mean that we will have more time to arrange your translation and thus lead to a minimum cost. Last minute translations cannot always be accommodated but where they can, they may cost double the usual amount.

Cost

Written translations undertaken will be charged to relevant departments or budget centres. When payment is required, we charge an administrative fee of 10%. One of the main advantages of the centralised service is a high quality and speedy service from qualified and approved translators, at competitive rates.

The simultaneous translation service is provided as and when necessary, and is normally without charge to departments and budget centres.

No charge is levied for the translation of examination papers.

All translation requests from Academic Schools, Information Services and Residences & Catering should be paid for by TRF. This TRF should be sent to: Welsh Language Services, 4th Floor McKenzie House, Newport Road.

As a general guide, the fee for translations varies from between £70 - £100 per 1,000 words translated (rates at time of writing). This will increase for texts that are specialised in nature or for urgent work required.

Gwen Rice, the Language Scheme Facilitator for Academic Schools and Mary Leyshon the Language Scheme Facilitator for Administrative Divisions would be happy to discuss any translation needs, particularly with a view to preparing an appropriate budget.

Help and Advice

Should you have any queries or require further information about the Translation Service, please do not hesitate to get in contact.