What is a Certified Translation Services
Certified translators are linguists that have passed a certification exam that assesses their ability to accurately translate a language into another. Often given be a professional organization such as the American Translation Association (ATA) or a government body. In this article, we will discuss about certified translation services and what does it really mean to engage in such services.
Certified translations are required when you are submitting official documents or documents that need a translation agency to determine the readings are an accurate representation of the document.
Often required when submitting legal documents when the language isn’t the official language of Singapore including:
- Official Certificates such as Death Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Certificates, Birth Certificates, Driving Licenses, and any type of Identification Card.
- Legal Documents such as written statements, will, affidavit, and bank statements
- Regulatory Documents
- Patents
Certified translations require a qualified translator that certifies the exact translation of the original document. An official stamp and a signed certificate will be included in the completed translation to show proof to government officials.
Common Certifications Needed For Translators to engage in Certified Translation Services
Banner of certified translation illustration
Certificate Programs
If you’re new to the translation industry are looking to see if this career is right for you, looking into a certificate program is perfect for you.
Most of these programs take one or two years to complete and focused on helping you prepare and get ready, translating professionally.
Without a college or university degree, you cannot be a professional translator in Singapore.
However, as there are no schools that offer official certificate programs in Singapore, here are programs in the United States that ALTA Language Services recommends you to enroll.
Bellevue College
Located in Bellevue, Washington, Bellevue College’s Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program provides a framework for individuals to start their career in translation.
Covering general theory and practical skills needed to be successful in the translation world. These skills include being familiar with Computer-Aided Translation Tools (CAT), setting up their own business, and current industry business practices (negotiation, contracts, licenses, equipment, and fees)
Purdue University
Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Purdue University’s program offers graduate certificates in the languages French, Spanish, and German.
The certificate requires the applicants to hold a Bachelors’s degree in their second language, English, or a subject related to their intended field.
The program begins with an introductory course about the history and theory of translation, which is followed by industry-focused translations, including business, legal, medical, governmental, scientific, and technical.
To graduate, the student will need an internship of the student’s intended field of interest and a final translation project.
University of Maryland
Located in College Park, Maryland, University of Maryland’s Graduate Studies in Interpreting and Translation focuses on using Computer-Assisted Translation Tools (CAT), working knowledge of industries and topics in the public and private sectors, and a sound understanding of the developments and practices of institutions that need or provide translation services.
Wake Forest University
Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University’s Translation and Interpreting program offers two certificates. The Graduate Certificate in Translation Studies and the Graduate Certificate in Interpreting Studies.
They also offer a non-language certificate in Intercultural Services in Healthcare. Their certificates focus on subjects including localization and technology, cross-cultural communication in medical and legal sectors, and discourse organization.
Certifications the path to Certified Translation Services
As Singapore doesn’t have a certificate program, most translators obtain a certification with a respected association such as the American Translator Association and take a translator certification test in order to provide certified translation services.
The American Translator Association is the largest professional association of translators in the United States, with over 10,000 members in more than 100 countries.
ATA’s primary goal is to support and foster the professional development of translators and help them excel in their professions.
Helping these individuals with a variety of programs and services including one-day workshops, webinars, and yearly annual conferences that features translation education in diverse languages and specialties
Currently, they hold translator certification programs in the following language pairs [1]:
Into English from Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.
From English into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.
After you’ve passed the American Translator Association’s exams, translators in Singapore are required to complete a certain amount of “continuing education” points to keep their certifications.
If you’re looking to be a professional legal translator or medical translator, then getting a certification for a translator from the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (CMI) or National Association of Judiciary Interpreters (NAJIT) is crucial.
Having certifications from these prestigious associations is crucial for beginning that first step to becoming an accredited translator.
Importance of Using Certified Translation Services in Your Industry
Illustration of certified translators at work
Industry Specific
Certified Translators are often skilled in translations in specialized industries. Knowing an expert level of subject knowledge and mastery of the relevant jargon, terminology, and writing conventions in their given fields.
When purchasing from a foreign supplier, most businesses have mandatory requirements to document all their internal processes for compliance.
Relying on professional certified translation services is essential every time your company is doing business with international partners to ensure you understand the contract correctly.
Your business must be able to provide complete documentation for your customer’s local language as well if you sell products and services outside of your country. This can improve customer relationships and trust, making them more likely to purchase from you.
Cultural Understanding
Language is only meaningful with the cultural context, and being able to accurately portray the words within its context is why translators get paid well.
Certified Translators know how to preserve the context, intent, emotion, and tone of the original sentences.
Duplicating the original message thoughtfully and seamlessly without realizing there was a translation, giving the audience an identical emotional experience as the original source message
Translating without any cultural awareness or understanding of slang is like using a free online translator tool. The literal translation may be correct, but it would not make sense in the societal context.
Accuracy and Efficiency
Certified translators have become proficient in their language and communication skills in both source and target language. Being able to provide an accurate representation of the intended message or meaning behind a document.
By blending in CAT Tools and other translation software with their human touch, they can often get your translated text within days, at most weeks, depending on the size of the translation.
Proof Reading
Certified Translators are always available to check for errors and spot for inaccuracies that you may find. As they may make mistakes, they’re able to revise and ensure the intended message is correctly translated to the target audience.
This is crucial for businesses and brands that want to authentically reach new markets in a meaningful and cultural way that achieves a greater brand recognition and engagement.
Certified Translation Services: Certified Translator Agency Vetting Process
Illustration of Certified Translation Agency process
Reputable translation agencies and providers all go through an in-depth vetting process to ensure that you get the best translation service in Singapore.
Here is our vetting process:
Education: Going to a school for translation or receive a translated-related degree ensures that they have a framework and understanding of how the translation process works. Not compulsory in Singapore as there are limited programs, but we take this into consideration.
Certifications: Being certified for a specific language pair is crucial as it shows that they are proficient. Independent organizations, including the American Translators Association are an organization that we trust, however, they only have a limited amount of language pair examination, so it’s not possible for all our translators to possess this as TranslatedRight has translator teams that know over 50+ different languages.
Language Proficiency Test: With over 5000+ professional and experienced translators, we’ve filtered out the best translator using our stringent and detailed interviewing process and testing, ensuring that you can hire only the best-qualified person for your specific translation document. This has allowed us to simplify the whole entire technical translation process, resulting in a smooth application process and providing certified translation services.
Work History/Experience: Understanding the technical aspects of being a translator and the specific industry is crucial for your translation success. TranslatedRight conducts background checks, asks for references, and past translation projects to ensure the quality and experience match our standards.
Why You Can’t Rely On Translation Tools
Can’t Replicate Human Translation
Translation tools are limited to the amount of data it has learned. When data is limited on one or both of the languages, the accuracy of the translation suffers, leaving you with a guess.
Often words are translated in their literal translations where they substitute one word or group words for the translated word, instead of gaining the exact context of the sentence.
This is seen through Google Translate’s disclaimer:
“Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.”
Unable To Do Transcreation
Transcreation is blending translation and creation, where it preserves the context, intent, emotion, and tone of the original sentences. The goal is to duplicate the original message thoughtfully and seamlessly without realizing there was a translation, giving the audience an identical emotional experience as the original source message.
Transcreation provides an effective way for businesses and brands to authentically reach new markets in a meaningful and cultural way that achieves a greater brand recognition and engagement.
This process comes from understanding the cultural aspect that needs to be curated to make your target audience buy your products and services.
Confidentiality
Free translation tools rely on available data to help perform its translation, meaning your confidential data can be found online if it’s been used to translate on these translators.
As they don’t sign NDA contracts, sensitive data including medical documents, client personal information, and financial reports, can be searched and taken.
This is seen in Google’s Term of Services:
“When you upload, submit, store, send or receive content to or through our Services, you give Google … a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content.”
No Proofreading
Free translation tools can only provide you with the translation. They don’t check for errors, and there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to spot inaccuracies.
Having a proofreading service for business purposes is crucial to make sure the intended message is correctly translated to the target audience.
Why Choose TranslateRight For Technical Document Translation Services
Translated Right is a certified professional technical translation agency that provides technical translations online in 50+ languages. Our translation services languages include English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Japanese, French, and more. Providing fast, accurate, and reliable, professional translation services for all types of documents, formats, and lengths.
With over 5000+ professional and experienced translators, we’ve filtered out the best translator using our stringent and detailed interviewing process, ensuring that you can hire only the best-qualified person for your specific translation document.
This has allowed us to simplify the whole entire technical translation process, resulting in a smooth application process.
This is seen by our 1000+ of satisfied customers from our competitive prices, friendly and efficient translation services.
If you’re looking for a translation service near me that can translate from a source language to the desired target language that conforms to the requirements of the technical side of your industry, Translated Right can help you today.
Providing a streamlined and hassle-free process, get your document translated by a professional service today.
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