There are many translators of different languages all over the world. Some of them know two or more languages because they learned them at home or studied them at school or because they took language courses at the university or college.
While it is true that it is necessary to know languages to translate, it is also true that it requires preparation and training. Translating is not only repeating word for word in another language but also knowing the culture, knowing the language to be translated, and understanding several grammar and spelling rules.
To reach the professional level of translation, a diploma or certification is required, which can be obtained through a comprehensive examination by an accredited translation entity.
Reliable Certification Entities for Translators
Many entities offer training and certification courses. Not all of them have the proper recognition or accreditation, nor do they have the necessary credentials to certify professionally.
Reliable entities to obtain a professional certification in the field of translation are:
1. The American Translators Association, or ATA for short.
2. Expertrating
3. The Language Certification Institute.
THE PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR
1. Must have a certification or license from a government-accredited entity.
2. Must have at least five years of proven work experience as a translator.
3. Master the source and target languages' vocabulary, style, and grammar.
HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH TRANSLATOR TO HIRE
1. Determine your translation needs
When you need a translation, you should decide whether to hire a freelance translator or a company. You should also consider the degree of difficulty of the document to be translated, the quantity or volume of the document, and the time frame in which you need it completed.
2. Verify the translator's credentials
It is important that before starting a translation job you verify the credentials of the translator who will do the job. There is a notable difference between being bilingual and being a qualified translator. The qualified translator understands the linguistic complexity and cultural differences of the language.
3. Find out about translation rates
When you search translators and prices, you will find that there are translators of all levels. Some translators charge per word or page, others offer quotes per document type or per hour. The price is determined by several factors including the availability of the translator in the desired language, the translator's credentials, the level of difficulty of the project, and the delivery date of the translated document.
BE VERY CAREFUL!
Remember that your documents are very important and a bad translation could cause your plans to fall through. You might want to translate some documents for the incorporation of a business, imagine the impact of a bad translation; or maybe you have an immigration appointment and your birth certificate is with the wrong information, those documents would be rejected and your immigration process would take twice as long as usual.
At Traducy we work with translators who have Expertrating credentials (#3918745) and are members of the American Translators Association (ATA #274578).
Traducy has professional translators in both English and Spanish languages who are culturally aware and have extensive experience.
Call us at 385-977-8713 or email us at contact@traducy.com or visit our website: www.traducy.com if you need help or if you would like to get your free price quote or estimate.