Language Services (English–German)
When AI falls short …
… and you need the expertise and intelligence of a human for your localization projects, you’ve come to the right place. My services include translations from English to German, editing and proofreading, fact checking and language quality assurance as well as other types of linguistic assistance as needed. Your text will be in good hands if it’s related to computers, commerce or communication – whether it’s a 1-page press release or a 400-page non-fiction book.
Of course, I use modern tools such as terminology databases or CAT software whenever it makes sense and helps lower your costs. But just waving through low-quality “AI” translations? That’s not my thing. You can get those for free from ChatGPT & Co.
Interested to learn more? Then send me a message and let’s talk!
Main Services
My primary services fall into three categories: translations (from English to German), editing (style and content), and improving machine-generated texts. If needed, I also support you with copywriting services (in German) for your websites or brochures, with the creation of style guides or glossaries, and with captioning or subtitling for your audiovisual projects.
Translation (EN–DE)
You need a hassle-free translation from English to German? Whether it’s a short info flyer, a long business report or a crisp script for your YouTube channel – good translations accurately capture the tone and content of the source material.
Editing and QA
We all make mistakes and two heads are better than one. Therefore, I review your texts with a critical eye to make sure those cunning gremlins trying to sneak in typos and factual errors won’t stand a chance!
Improving MT
Today’s tools and technologies make it possible to use machine-generated texts and translations in certain scenarios. However, without a qualified human in charge, expected cost savings can quickly turn into higher follow-up costs.
“Simone has quickly become one of our most highly regarded linguists for EN>DE Software/IT/Market Research content. We have greatly enjoyed working together and look forward to collaborating frequently in the future.”
– LSP, Medford, MA (USA)
Get to know me
My passion for languages in general and for the Anglosphere in particular emerged as early as in elementary school. Hence, picking American Studies as my major at university was a no-brainer. In addition, minoring in Computer Science and Communications allowed me to deepen my knowledge about IT and the media. And for more than 15 years now, these have been the focus areas of my language services. If you’d like to learn a bit more about me and find out why I was once called an “intelligence slob,” click through to my profile page.
Portfolio
Over the years, a wide variety of projects have landed on my desk: textbooks, product descriptions, data privacy statements, manuals, white papers, promo videos, e-learning content, and much more. And that’s just how I like it. This kind of variety makes my job more fun, and new challenges keep my gray matter alive!
Feel free to browse a more detailed listing of my previous projects before sending me your own request.
Did you know ...?
For a language pair such as English–German, the average throughput for translations is about 500 to 600 words per hour. This ballpark figure applies to continuous text of decent quality and standard difficulty that doesn’t come with any special requirements. The hourly throughput decreases for more demanding source material and whenever custom rules or preferences need to be integrated (such as a client’s style guide or a strict character limit for social media posts). Very simple texts may result in shorter processing times. Please, don’t underestimate the necessary effort and try not to send your projects at the last minute.
Most Frequent Questions
I get certain questions very often, so let me provide you with some answers below. Additional typical questions and answers are found on my FAQ page. If you don’t see an answer to your question or would like to discuss a specific project with me, just get in touch via my contact form. Thank you!
How much do translation services cost?
Just like with many other products and services, there is not just one fixed price for all kinds of translations. Costs depend on various factors, such as type, scope and subject matter of the text, desired delivery date, file format, required software, style or glossary guidelines, and so on. My translation page has more details about these factors and my rates to help with your budget planning.
Can't we just use “AI” now for our translation projects?
Well, the question is not whether we can but whether we should. When people talk about AI these days, they usually mean Large Language Models (LLMs), which have been trained with massive amounts of data and calculate plausibly sounding responses based on probabilities.
But “plausibly sounding” doesn’t necessarily mean correct or suitable for the target audience. These systems do not understand your texts and don’t have any sense for sentence patterns, humor or puns. Therefore, LLMs may be able to provide you with acceptable translations for simple texts or somewhat standardized wording (because the training data comprised enough generic content), but when it comes to more sophisticated texts with carefully crafted phrases, these systems fall short. Their translations are often too literal, stiff, and erroneous – the kind of cookie-cutter output you get with a probability-based approach.
Think about what you’re hoping to achieve and whom you’re trying to reach with your translations, and ask yourself whether human expertise might not be the better choice after all. (Please, also see my AI policy.)
What about translations from German to English?
Usually, I only translate from English to German because it’s just easier and faster to write in your native language (German for me). At the end of the day, this also benefits your bottom line. While this mother-tongue principle is not always a hard rule, there are plenty of qualified native speakers for this language combination who can adequately translate your German texts with all their nuances into English. If needed, I’ll gladly forward your project request to some of my English colleagues.