Summary or 'gist' translation

The purpose of translation is often to enable a reader to get an understanding of the key points of the original document - not for further distribution as a finished document. This is often the case for example in M&A transactions, or litigation discovery, when large volumes of material must be examined for relevance, but if a document is found to be irrelevant, there is no need for full translation.

In these cases, 'summary' or 'gist' translation is usually the most cost-effective approach. The purpose of summary translation is to create a short summary of the key points or messages of the source document in the target language - not to create a full translation of every word of the original. The cost of creating a summarized translation is usually significantly lower than the cost of a full translation, and can be completed much faster.

For more information on summary translation, or to discuss your specific situation and whether summary translation is appropriate, please contact us.