How to budget for paid translators

Although we encourage the volunteer model there are projects that are funded
and there are projects that receive funds from time to time to do a specific
translation.  This give a rough outline of how to cost such a translation.

Calculation

Words = untranslated msgid words + fuzzy msgid words
Cost = Words to translate * Rate per word
Days = Words to translate / Words per days

Rule of thumb
Weeks = Strings to translate / 2000
Days = Srings to translate / 400 or 500
	( Use 400 for large project 500 for a small project. This then evens out
      lost days or slow progress due to complicated section.)

Strings = Words / 3.5
  (This varies but is helpful)

Calculating Cost

Translators will quote based on the number of source words:

  R400 / 1000
  R40 / 100

  which calculates to R0.40 per words

Note: these are just for illustration purposes

Using pocount determine the number of source words.  So this is the number of
words in untranslated strings plus the number of words in fuzzy strings.

  Words = untranslated + fuzzy
  Words = 40 000 + 5 000

Note: make sure you count the msgid or source words not the translations.

You final costing would then be:
  
  Cost = 45 000 * 0.4
       = R18 000

Calculating time

Assuming that you need to translate 45 000 words do the following.  Either, 

1) Find out how many words the translator can translate per day

  1300 words per day
  
  Days = 45 000 / 1300
       = 35 days
       = 7 weeks

2) Convert to the rule of thumb guides above

  Strings = 45 000 / 3.5
          = 12 857 
         +- 13 000

  Days = 13 000 / 400
       = 33

  Weeks = 13 000 / 2000
        = 6.5 weeks