Most translators are generalist translators. These are knowledgeable translation professionals who, even if they don’t have specialised knowledge in one particular field, are knowledgeable in a wide variety of fields. They must have the skills and abilities needed to research different topics in order to ensure a high-quality translation.

If you are unsure of what a general translation is, just think about the skills required to understand the document. Does it use highly technical words? is it difficult to understand? Generally speaking, things such as: books, pamphlets, menus, memos, articles, journals, e-mails, letters, guides and many other documents; fall within the “general translation” category. These are documents which, while they may require certain knowledge and skills, are not technical enough for a translator to need expert knowledge on the subject, or for the translator to have to carry out extensive research into the subject.

Due to the fact that general translations don’t require specialised knowledge, they tend to be cheaper and quicker to finish than specialised translations. This is because specialised translations either require the translator to have some specialised knowledge beforehand or require the translator to conduct in-depth research of the topic in question to obtain said knowledge. This can take up a lot of time. With general translations, this generally doesn’t occur. The translator is more than capable of translating a variety of texts without needing to carry out in-depth research into the subject in question.