The price of an MTPE post-editing project does not depend solely on the number of words. Other factors that impact the outcome include the language combination, the level of post-editing, the file format, the deadlines, and the linguistic resources involved in the project.
That’s why two projects with a similar volume do not necessarily have the same budget.
How does word volume impact the price?
The number of words is one of the first pieces of information taken into account, but it is worth analyzing what is actually inside that volume.
A catalog with hundreds of product listings, for example, may contain repeated segments or texts that already have previous translations in a translation memory.
What is the purpose of identifying this? To know more precisely what content needs to be worked on.
In certain projects, repetitions and available memories can help optimize the process and, in some cases, the budget as well.
Do languages change the price?
Yes. The combination of the source language and the target language is another factor involved in the calculation.
Not all language combinations have the same rates. What’s more, a project may require multiple languages, which also changes how it is organized.
So, to calculate a translation quote with MTPE (machine translation with human post-editing), we need to know all the languages that are part of the project from the beginning.
Why does the level of post-editing matter?
Because not all post-editing involves the same amount of work.
At blarlo, we offer light post-editing and full post-editing. The first seeks to make the content understandable and useful, especially in internal or low-exposure contexts.
Full post-editing involves a more in-depth review for texts that need a higher degree of polishing.
As such, the price also varies according to the level of intervention required for the content.
Do the format and deadlines also matter?
Yes.
Working on a simple document is not the same thing as working with numerous files, different formats, or multiple submissions in different languages.
The deadline is also part of the project organization. When there are large volumes, multiple deliveries, or tight deadlines, it is important to coordinate the work to maintain continuity across all content.
What role do glossaries and translation memories play?
Some projects already have glossaries, translation memories, product names, approved terminology, or style guidelines.
These resources help maintain the same linguistic decisions across different files and updates. They are especially useful when a company works with frequently changing content or large-volume multilingual projects.
Depending on the project, controls and checks can also be incorporated for aspects such as terminology, consistency, figures, proper names or format.
So, how is the price of an MTPE post-editing project calculated?
There is no single variable. To calculate a quote, the following aspects are taken into account, among others:
- the actual volume of content;
- the repeated segments and available memories;
- the source and target languages;
- the level of post-editing;
- the file format;
- the deadlines;
- the linguistic resources and necessary controls.
Therefore, to find the price of an MTPE post-editing project, it must be valued as a whole and not simply by multiplying the number of words by a rate.
Frequently asked questions
No. The quote may vary depending on the volume, languages, level of post-editing, format, deadlines, and project characteristics.
No. Full post-editing involves a more in-depth review than light post-editing, so the professional work required is also different.
At blarlo, we offer a post-editing service for content that needs to be processed quickly without sacrificing human checks, adapted to the characteristics of each project. Request an MTPE quote.
