Question 1

What languages does LCVB offer?

Accepted Answer

We can basically offer a solution for every language project.

We currently have about 75 translators and about 40 for the most common language pairs, such as French, German, Spanish and English. We've also translated projects from Romanian and into Polish so feel free to contact us for any language pair.

LCVB only works with highly-skilled and motivated translators, such as ourselves. However, should you ever notice something that you do not quite agree with in one of our translations, then please inform us as soon as possible. We are happy to explain our translation choices or to make changes if needed.

Question 2

How (not) to deliver my documents

Accepted Answer

Professional documents are usually created in editable files, such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Specialised technical software often uses files with extensions such as .pid, .xliff or .dwg - we can help you with this as well.

You will receive your translated files in the same format as you provided them (unless agreed otherwise).

Individuals or companies who wish to have an official document translated are also allowed to forward a clear and complete picutre of the document via WhatsApp. You will then receive your translation in a Word of pdf file. Be sure not to forget the back.

What information do we need from you upon delivery of the texts: what is the target audience of the translation (who will read it), when do you need this translation and who is the point of contact in case we have questions or if something isn't clear. Sometimes, we need more context or source texts aren't transparent enough for us to translate them accurately.

In case of large technical translations, we prefer visiting the workshop. It is important for us to understand the operation of certain specialised machinery, the varying sensors, parts and components and even the function titles used internally. We are also happy to meet you in person and to make sure we are in agreement about the assignment.

Question 3

How do I calculate the number of words in my text?

Accepted Answer

Quotations for translation work are almost always calculated per word in the source text. If you want to have an indication of the price we are going to offer, you can simply multiply the number of words in your document by our average price € 0.16. But, how do you know how many words are in your document?

For Word documents, this is rather easy to find out. One full page of text contains roughly 500 words. However, if you want to learn the exact amount, take a look at the bottom left of your page, in the grey bar. Next to the number of pages you can see the total number of words of the complete document. To obtain a more elaborate overview, use the top menu, Review, and then Word Count.

It's a little harder for other formats, that don't provide this option. You can always copy and paste the text onto a Word file to get an overall idea of the number of words. Moreover, this simple rule does NOT apply to official documents (certified and/or legalised translations), where rates depend largely on language pairs and official procedures.

To get your definite price, feel free to forward us your document. You will receive a customised quotation within a few hours.

Question 4

How long do I have to wait for my translation to be ready?

Accepted Answer

We always agree upon a delivery term beforehand. This depends on the translator's planning and the urgency of your translation. LCVB is known for respecting tight deadlines and is not a 9-to-5 translation agency. Your urgency is our urgency.

For texts that are highly technical or for legal texts, we use a proofreader, someone who reads and examines the translation, compared to the source text. Naturally, this expert also needs time but don't worry: we will always take this time into consideration. The revision of the proofreader is part of our services and therefore, always included in our total price.

LCVB is guaranteed to always make the deadline.

Question 5

What is an apostille and when do I need one?

Accepted Answer

In short, an apostille is the legalisation of your document, which means that your Belgian documents will become valid internationally and that your foreign document is valid for use in Belgium. The apostille is always issued by the country of origin of the document.

An apostille is a stamp, label or separate page verifying the legal validity of your document.

When do you require a certified translation in the first place? If the language of your document is not Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese, then this document needs to be accompanied by a certified translation before you will receive an apostille. Even more, in order to be legally valid, all documents destined for use in Belgium need to be translated to one of our national languages. For practical reasons, local authorities will sometimes require certified translations from French documents into Dutch, and vice versa. We collaborate closely with the surrounding local authorities.

How to apply? Feel free to ask and we will gladly explain and help you with the legalisation of your document.

You can find a more extensive explanation on apostilles and legalisation here.(https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/legalisation-documents)

Question 6

How can I be sure of the quality of my translation?

Accepted Answer

This is a very good and important question. Every translation at LCVB is revised and if needed proofread and revised by another native speaker. This is not always an option because for some less common language pairs, there aren't as many professional translators or proofreaders around (e.g., Swahili, Russian or Hungarian). Therefore, we only work with translators who first and foremost perform their own quality assurance before sending their translations back to headquarters. From the moment there are doubts about certain terminology or structures, we commission an additional proofreader. Naturally, this cost is never added to the client's rate. This is our responsibility.

LCVB will never deliver texts that haven't been throroughly inspected.

Should you ever discover an interpretation error in your translation, please notify us as soon as possible. We are happy to explain certain translation choices or make changes if needed. Revision and translation are personal skills that are almost always subject to personal interpretation. We strive to translate respecting your requirements and instructions, maintaining the original author's style and with the correct target audience in mind. This means that the same document will be translated differently for your internal technical staff, then for the private end user.

Question 7

What are the rates?

Accepted Answer

• Professional translation without certification or legalisation
This is the most common form of translation and can easily be calculated because they are usually provided in a Word file. This isn't always the case for technical projects; upon receipt of your texts, our software will calculate the number of repetitions or untranslatable terms (such as names, digits or fixed terms) and we prepare a quotation based on this analysis.

Attention: we do NOT use translation software, we do use our own, individually created databases to warrant a uniform terminology (for your company exclusively or per industry) and we rely on our supporting CAT tools. Our translators are academic craftsmen who steer away from translation robots. We realise that this is rather rare in our industry these days. Therefore, at LCVB, you can be sure that your text has been read and interpreted by a human eye and that a professional person with the right expertise has converted it.

The average rate for professional translations of common language pairs is € 0.16/word in the source language. This includes proofreading and excludes VAT. You can read how to calculate the number of words in your document here.

Common languages are Dutch, English, French and German. For other languages and depending on the type of document, this rate may vary slightly.

You will always receive your quotation before we start translating. We strive to offer short deadlines and competitive prices always.

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 • Certified and legalised texts
Certain documents, such as a birth certificate, proof of residence, marriage certificate or court documentation can only be translated by certified translators. To offer specialised translations for all your language combinations, we work with a number of experienced, certified translators who will be able to deliver your document in a fair timespan and at a reasonable price. All our translators will certify your documents with a digital signature, issued to them by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This digital certification offers you a guarantee of our quality and the legal validity of our work.

The price depends on the size of the document, the source language and the target language.

Feel free to send us your document for a free quotation. You can do this in a couple of ways:

• Forward a (high-resolution) scan or a(n editable) file via email to info@lcvb.be.(mailto:info@lcvb.be)
 • If you send us a picture via Business WhatsApp, be sure that everything is clearly legible; even the fine-print. Don’t forget the back of the document! Take a look at Question 2 in the FAQ: ‘How (not) to deliver documents’.
 • Our preferred way: you can also deliver your documents at our office in As. Give us a little heads-up if you want to stop by (by sending a message or making an appointment), this way, we know you are coming.

You will always receive your quotation before we start translating. We strive to offer short deadlines and competitive prices always.

Question 8

Do I have to pay in advance?

Accepted Answer

There is a two-fold answer to this question.
Private persons, who often need certified and/or legalised translations, will receive an invoice before the delivery of their translated documents. Upon payment of this invoice (or proof of payment) we will deliver the translation digitally, via post or personally in your letterbox as soon as possible.

Companies pay within 30 days after receiving their invoice in compliance with valid payment terms. For large projects, new clients are sometimes asked to pay part of the total project price in advance. Our accounting department will usually forward the invoice at the end of the month, with a 30-day payment term.

Question 9

Are there grants for translations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are. For companies registered in the Flemish region, please consult this link (https://www.vlaio.be/nl/subsidies-financiering/subsidiedatabank/digitale-internationale-commerciele-bedrijfscommunicatie-subsidie-van-fit)(Dutch only, we're afraid). Contact us for more information.

Practical Information (FAQ)