linguists and language service providers

I refer here to the linguists who render the services listed on our website.

(If you render such services, let me know whether you have experienced any of the problems presented here.)

I am tired of translation agencies (TAs) and want true language service providers (LSPs). Many TAs behave as described below.

Roles

1. TAs don't understand that the linguists are mainly the service providers, the agencies are mainly the sellers, the paying companies are the clients and the clients of these companies are the customers.

True LSPs understand.

2. TAs look down on linguists, as if these were slaves.

True LSPs respect these specialists.

Market

3. TAs ignore that they have tens of thousands of competitors and that good linguists can go over to these competitors at any moment.

True LSPs are partners that linguists want to have.

Value

4. TAs don't select linguists carefully, and often change them and create conflicts between linguists.

True LSPs apply complex and powerful selection procedures and make sure that it is easy for them to hire suitable linguists for the clients' various types of content.

5. TAs ask that a linguist translate more and more every week.

True LSPs know how much content a human can process within a week on a reasonable working schedule and communicate this to the people who need the work done fast.

6. TAs give linguists quite a small share of what clients pay.

True LSPs follow the global trend of sharing as much as possible with those who do most of the work.

7. Since 2003, TAs have pushed in many cases translator fees from USD 15 to USD 5 per 100 words.

True LSPs recommend prices that entitle linguists to a life as decent as valuable their work is to clients and customers across all borders and industries.

On our website, we indicate most prices charged around the globe. We recommend clients to pay linguists as well as they can.

8. TAs can pay linguists as late as 90 days after they have delivered the content.

True LSPs negotiate prompt payments with the clients.

In many other cases, one pays (almost) immediately for what they demand and the provider has some security. According to our information, much less linguists than clients have defaulted. While we can compensate quickly for a linguist's improbable default, we find it in everybody's interest that clients should place an order with us when they can pay for the service.

Communication

9. TAs don't reply to some of the linguists' e-mails.

True LSPs reply to all the linguists' e-mails. One reason is that specialists want to help you, not to bug you.

10. TAs make communication difficult in linguist teams.

True LSPs use the best tools available to support excellent communication in linguist teams.

11. TAs make communication difficult between linguists and clients.

True LSPs foster this communication.

12. TAs do not tell clients which software is appropriate for processing their content.

True LSPs do.

13. TAs do not ask clients what goals they want to achieve by processing the content.

True LSPs do and help clients achieve these goals.

Work

14. TAs either don't conclude agreements with linguists or conclude agreements with unspecific provisions.

True LSPs conclude with linguists agreements that stipulate clearly how the interests of all stakeholders are represented in the workflow.

15. TAs either don't issue orders to linguists or issue incomplete orders.

True LSPs issue to linguists orders which state accurately all the client's specifications.

16. TAs push linguists to take an order immediately. So they provide clients with poor services as a rule.

True LSPs wait for the linguist to analyze the project and to decide whether they take the order. True linguists communicate honestly whether they can meet the client's requirements.

How do I know this? I have been an interpreter, translator and editor and know many translation agencies and linguists.

Am I going to improve this situation? Yes.

Bopp set out to be one of the best language service providers.