First proof: human eyes and 'Duden Korrektor'-program, still following to Duden¹ recommendation. 10.000 words take around 2 hours (depending on the translator and the errors). This means spelling mistakes are getting correct, making sure the grammar is correct and sentences are logical. There is NO double check of the entire translation word for word. If we notice something illogical, or we think something is missing, we’ll double check it with the original and by case google it or double check with the translator or author.
Depends on the complexity of the story, now it’ll be sent to our Beta-Reader for her proofing. She is a ‘logic and how it sounds better in German’-proofer. She is a pure German reader, since her English is rudimentary, and thus has less of a problem knowing whether a term is now common in German or not. She reads purely on logic errors, which one sometimes overlooks in the zeal of the grammar mania, and on common German language. Advantage is also: She always writes on FB-groups book reviews, so is already once an advertisement for the book inclusive. Her price is 0.002 €/w plus also a print copy of the book. So far, I pay that from my earnings.
With almost all of 'our' translators the system of 'send it chapter by chapter' has proven to be successful. So, the translators always send me parts of the book (chapter by chapter or 50-70 pages at a time) for proofreading when the book is more than 40.000 words. This way there is something to correct continuously, which is quicker than if there is no book for 2 weeks and then a few books are sent at once. It is also easier for the translator if one clarifies a term at the beginning, which then runs through the whole book, instead of having to constantly change this term at the end in the whole book.
Second proof (mostly 48 hours later, or after getting it back a second time from the translator/Beta reader): If it was at the Beta, first is to check all her comments and changes, which takes around 15 minutes for 10.000 words. After that come Office-Word-internal correction, human eyes and Balabolka-reading software. 10.000 words of audio proof take around 2-2,5 hours, depends how often there is a google-research necessary.
Now is also the time when the focus is on the wording of the translation and correctness and sounding of it. Especially if there are technical terms or slang words.
Sentence structure has been checked by our beta, now it's time for fine-tuning. Is the translation of a movie title correct? Has a quote been translated correctly? Have all the measurements been converted correctly?... That added another half an hour to the timeline.
So, 10.000 words take all in all nearly 5,5 hours and another 1,5-2 hours by our Beta.
¹) Excerpt from Wikipedia: ... The Duden is a dictionary of the Standard High German language. ... It is printed as twelve volumes, with each volume covering different aspects of the German language such as loanwords, etymology, pronunciation, synonyms, etc. ...
The first of these volumes, Die deutsche Rechtschreibung (English: The German orthography), has long been the prescriptive source for Standard High German spelling. The Duden has become the preeminent language resource of the Standard High German language, stating the definitive set of rules regarding grammar, spelling and use of Standard High German language.