Imagine reading a legal document in your own native language — you can read it but might not understand what it means. Just think if that legal document was in a totally foreign language. You will need a translator for sure! That’s when you need document translation services.
If you’re looking for a translator for your important documents, it is key to hire a competent translator who is experienced in working with the documents you need help with.
Important documents can include:
- Legal contracts
- Business contracts
- Property agreements
- Subpoenas
- Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA)
- Financial statement
- Work-for-hire agreement
- Application for work
- And more
In this article, we’ll be sharing with you two key factors to look out for when engaging in document translation services.
Key Factors To Consider When Hiring A Translator
- Type of document that needs translation
- Having the right qualification
Type of document that needs translation
As mentioned above, there is a long list of documents where translation can come in helpful. When looking for a translator, it is advised for you to first understand what sort of document translation services it is that you need.
Is it a legal document? Perhaps it is an urgent medical document that you need translation help with. Or do you simply need help in filling up a job application in Singapore?
On top of that, you’ll need to know what is your target and source language. The source language refers to the one that you want to translate from. Whereas the target language is the one that you need the document to be translated to.
Once you can describe what you need specifically, you will have an easier time finding the right person for your needs.
Having the right qualifications
Following the first key factor, you’ll need to assess if the translator has the right qualifications for the job. Below we share some industries and what qualifications you should look out for.
Legal Document Translation Qualifications
Only court interpreters and qualified persons are allowed to do the translation of legal documents.
Court Interpreters
You can hire court interpreters by making a request for translation at the Supreme Court Translation office in person. You’ll need to give yourself ample time of at least four weeks. Also, do note that your request can be rejected for any reason(s) the office may list.
In addition, in Singapore, court interpreters can only work with four languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.
So what if you require language outside of these options? Read on below.
Translated Right Private Translators for Document Translation Services
Alternatively, you can hire a private translator from our agency where you can be sure that the person handling your documents is qualified, experienced, and skilled.
On top of not needing to wait four weeks just to realise your request got rejected, we also provide translation service for a wide range of languages.
When hiring a private legal translator, you’ll need an affidavit made by the qualified translator to verify the original document (this is the case where you are sending a file or form to the court). The affidavit has to also be submitted together with both the original and translated documents.
Medical Document Translation Qualifications
Similar to the qualifications for legal document translation, its medical counterpart also requires the translator to have good knowledge and understanding of the terminologies used. Also, accuracy and timeliness are factors that you should look out for as well.
A good translator for medical documents should:
Have a medical background and able to comprehend terminologies in the medical field.
Be able to restructure the original language and expressed concisely in the target language for you to understand
Follow the principle in medical translation that faithfulness prevails to avoid any ambiguity
Why is it important to consider these?
We specifically used the legal and medical industry and expounded on them because these documents and make or break someone’s life.
It sounds like a heavy burden to choose the right translator who is meticulous and has the right skills to do the job correctly with no mistakes. That’s where we come in to help!
Here at Translated Right, you can be 100% sure that your translated documents are accurate and professionally-done. Reach out to our friendly translation services staff today and get your important documents translated right by our trusted translators!
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