English To Thai

[magic]

sorry, this must be one of the most common posts here, but i did search for answers, which i have not found yet..

So, I am trying to translate about 3-4 pages of english, to thai..

I am looking for the cheapest route on this... Maybe there is somebody who is fluent in both languages out there?

I have heard that there are places around sukhumvit that do it too, but who really knows how accurate that is...

What should i do?

(i reall don't want to spend more than 1,000 baht..)

[riga]

Recently one member here tried an online translation service (see the discussion below)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=187038

I don't know how many words compose your text (the cost should be 120 bhat for the first 50 words and then add 1 bhat for each word above 50 > 500 words = 120 + 450 = 570 bhat).

Then you could post the result here to check how accurate the translation is.

Maybe you can find cheaper deal in Bangkok, and if you can get the translation on a media support then it will be easy to post it and the most knowledgeables members here will surely comment on the accuracy of the translation you got.

This is the only suggestion I can give you

[meadish_sweetball]

Translation services are generally no different than other goods and services. If you are trying to always get the very cheapest deal, the product you receive may not meet your needs or expectations, so if you do decide on that route, then be forewarned and prepared that you may have to pay twice to get it done correctly the second time.

Then again, if the translation is of a personal letter from a friend that will not have any significance or impact on your life, then you're probably right to look to pay as little as possible.

But the bottom line is that if you are translating something where a poor or incorrect translation could cause you or somebody else trouble, then think again whether you want to risk it or not.

[jfchandler]

Solution depends on where you are located....

If you're in Thailand, around farang areas, there are a lot of lady staff in Internet shops who do casual Thai-English translation as a sidelight for their computer user customers...often Thai ladies who want to communicate with their farang boyfriends overseas.... Needless to say, the prices for translation are not expensive, but neither is the resulting English exactly precise...

I know two different ladies in Bangkok and Pattaya who do this as a sidelight for their work. You can look on your own, or PM me if you want to pursue it further...

[Tod Daniels]

I concur with Meadish in that the quality of the translation will be in direct proportion to what you pay for it. IF it is anything that may have impact on your life, don't scrimp on the service. Translating English into Thai can be fraught with peril given the ambiguity and multiple meanings words in both languages can have.

The degree of accuracy in your translation will also be affected by the english ability of your translator as well as the degree of complexity in what you are translating. If you are having a manual in medical, telecommunications, or another specialty field translated I would make sure the company you select can meet your needs.

I would be VERY hesitant to use the services of "lady staff in Internet shops who do casual Thai-English translation". You are likely to get very substandard results from that avenue of approach for anything other than insignificant translating.

[freitag1]

As I already mentioned in the other thread I tried their service http://learn-thai-podcast.com/english-thai...lation-service/ and was really happy. I needed a personal letter translated to a friend of mine (English - Thai) and after I filled out their online form and paid via credit card it took just 4 hours to get the translation sent to my email account. No hassle, quick and easy.

Stay away from such casual translations in Internet shops. I tried it once before and the person that received the translated letter didn't understand most of it. That was a bit embarassing

[learnthaipodcast]

Thank you!