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We are all aware of the increasing importance of quality in translation. With increasing competition, comes increasing importance, and thus, too, an elevated necessity to produce quality. This has led to the growing importance of fully localized translation services, which not only ensures accuracy, in terms of spelling and grammar, but too, in terms of cultural and linguistic variation.
There is, however, a step on from this and this is where a professional translation agency can truly thrive, ahead of independent experts.
Certified Translation
A certified translation is used when simple accuracy is not adequate. In the US, for example, a certified translation will come with an additional signed statement, or ‘Certificate of Accuracy’, from the translator or translation agency.
Currently in the US, although there is an official state and federal court certification for interpreters, there is not one for translators. It is, however, possible for a translator to register with a variety of associations, including the American Translators Association.
This is where agencies can play a key role, as they can select the most qualified, proven and experienced translator or translators, when it comes to certified translations. As the certificates of association don’t act as proof of accuracy, this allows an individual to have a higher level of trust, regarding how accurate the document is. It is also common for agencies to assign a team of translators to highly important documents, in order to offer further assurance of absolute unfaltering accuracy.
Although, as mentioned, certified translations in the US are not state and federal court officiated, translators do have to sit an exam, in order to obtain the certification and thus it certainly removes the risk of receiving a completely amateur service. Again, agencies can help to certify this certification, and many keep reports on record, regarding prior experience and achievements, to further back this up.
In other countries, certified translation is more formal than this and involves rubber stamping documents. This acts as a seal of competency and professionalism to both the translator and translation, and offers assurance regarding the accuracy and legitimacy of a document.
What Documents Require a Certified Service?
Generally speaking, any document that is required for official use will need to be certified. Such documents can include; birth, marriage, divorce or academic certificates; official transcripts, such as school, work, medical reports; regulatory documents, such as power of attorney, contracts, etc, and household bills.
In addition to these examples, any document used in a court of law will generally have to be certified and also business contracts tend also to be.
Certified translations play an important role, therefore, in a number of processes. Whether it be getting married in a foreign country, establishing international business relationships, or simply applying for a job overseas. Sometimes it can simply be a process of establishing greater assurance, when dealing with money or another transaction, at other times it is an official or legal requirement.
Costly Mistakes
As mentioned above, it is a fundamental necessity to receive certified translations for a number of documents and processes. In addition to this, it can be a crucial way of establishing trust between a client and a translation agency.
According to SDL International, a global information management provider, 80% of companies have been financially hindered by errors in translation. This not only highlights the important role that translation has in business, but too the necessity of acquiring a professional and high quality level of service.
At times, such errors are merely typos, which often, although can seem unprofessional, don’t have dire consequences. Sometimes, however, the costs can be more severe. A Spanish translation error, in 2003, for example, required 4.6 million cans of baby product to be recalled, as following the instructions could have led to renal failure. This shows how sometimes just one tiny mistake could lead to the complete collapse of a company.
In France also, along with a number of other countries, it is stated in law that documentation for any machinery must be written in the country’s tongue. If companies don’t follow this law, then any costly impact or injury is 100 percent their responsibility. A Californian medical company discovered this, to its cost, when a lack of French-language instructions led to the deaths of several purchasers, from overexposure to radiation, through use of one of their products.
Conclusion
When requiring the certified translation of documents, it is crucial to speak to the agency, regarding the processes they take within this service. Also, when it comes to business, legal or medical translations, in particular, it is crucial to ensure that the agency you use has systems in place to ensure the quality and accuracy of the work.
Fundamentally, the additional costs of securing the very best translation services now, could save you an awful lot more in the future.