Research Translation Services
Translation FAQ
Understanding Our Translation Services
Since 1987, Landmark has provided professional translation services tailored to academic research. Our experienced native-speaking translators specialize in research materials — from interview transcripts and consent forms to survey instruments and academic papers. We also offer proofing of existing translations, whether AI-generated or human.
What languages do you support?
Landmark specializes in Spanish–English translation for academic research, with all translations performed by experienced native-speaking translators. We also offer:
- Direct transcription into your target language (e.g., Spanish audio → English transcript) — saves time and cost vs. transcribe-then-translate
- Back translation for validation (recommended for IRB submissions)
- Proofing of existing translations — whether AI-generated or human
Need a different language pair? Contact us to discuss your project.
What types of documents do you translate?
We translate research-specific materials including:
- Interview transcripts and focus group recordings
- Survey instruments and questionnaires (Qualtrics, REDCap)
- Consent forms and IRB protocols
- Research papers and academic articles
- Recruitment materials and educational resources (PowerPoints, presentations)
- Translations suitable for official and IRB use
How do you ensure translation accuracy?
Landmark maintains a 99%+ accuracy guarantee by assigning two professional translators to every file: one performs the initial translation, and a second independently reviews and verifies it. Our approach includes:
- Experienced native-speaking translators with subject matter expertise
- Cultural and contextual adaptation — not just word-for-word translation. The English idiom “sweet tooth” becomes “gusto por lo dulce” in Spanish, not the literal “diente dulce”
- Proofing services for existing translations to catch errors
Do you perform back translation on every file?
No, back translation is an optional service available upon request and comes at an additional cost. It is a specialized quality-control process where a translation is re-translated back into the original language by a different translator to identify and correct any discrepancies.
It is recommended for high-stakes materials such as IRB submissions where absolute accuracy is critical.
Can you proof or correct an existing translation?
Yes. Landmark offers proofing services for existing translations, whether they were produced by AI tools, another vendor, or in-house translators. Our experienced translators review the translation for accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and consistency with your research terminology.
This is especially useful for researchers who use AI translation as a first pass and want a human expert to verify the output before IRB submission.