Getting a document translated is a vital task that many of us will have to tackle at some point, but some translation jobs are more important than others. When getting important documents translated, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or witness statement, there may be a requirement to make sure the translation is a certified translation.
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation means that the person who translates the document swears that it is an accurate and true translation of the original document. This means that the translated document can be trusted by anyone who reads it. There are lots of official uses for documents where it is required that the translation is certified. This is because important matters such as immigration, marriage or divorce, and legal issues all need to be guaranteed to be done with accurate and true information. For example, if immigration forms are later found out to have used inaccurate information, it could mean that someone’s immigration opportunity is considered invalid and gets revoked.
Who can do a certified translation?
This brings us back to the question of who can provide a certified translation? The rules vary greatly from country to country, but a lot of countries will only accept certified translations from professional translation experts. The translator may also have to be part of a governing body or professional group in order to be able to certify a translation.
What about family and friends?
Many people turn to friends or family when they want a translation done, but these people often cannot provide a certified translation. While getting a translation from someone you know may be a cheap and appealing option, it is not always the right way to go. Unless you use someone who is a professional translator, they likely cannot offer certified translations. This means that the translated document cannot be presented for official purposes. This is because not everyone who speaks two or more languages will be fluent enough to be a certified translator. Even if your friend or family is a translation professional, you also cannot usually use a friend, relative, or housemate as an independent body who can certify a document. This is to help prevent fraud or to prevent people from lying on official forms. This means you will need to go to a professional who you do not have any relationship with, someone you do not know personally, in order to get a certified translation.
What about computer translation?
Translation software is getting more advanced every day, but there are still downsides to it. A document translated using a computer can be full of errors and inaccuracies. This is because computers only translate individual words or short phrases following a very sophisticated algorithm. They cannot understand the context of a piece of text and can easily translate things in a very jarring, stilted way. Because of the problems with computer translation, you cannot use a computer translation program to get a certified translation. You may be able to find professional translators who use a computer in their translation, but you cannot rely solely on a computer for these important documents.
Why is a certified translation so important?
If all of this has made you wonder whether or not you need a certified translation, it is first important to know why certified translations are needed. Any document with legal or financial ramifications could need a certified translation. Basically, if you have to present the translated document to any official or governing body, they can request that the translation be certified. This is to make sure that the translation is accurate and that they have been given the right information to use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while you may be able to get some translations done by amateurs, it is vitally important to check whether or not your document has to be translated by a certified translator. If so, you need to find a professional translation individual or agency that can offer certified translations. As many of the documents that need certified translations are used for official purposes, it is not worth risking having a bad or inaccurate translation – you need to be sure of accuracy when you get certificates, immigration forms, or legal paperwork translated.