There are strict deadlines to be met, all sorts of clients whose style and requirements have to be satisfied and various types of content to be dealt with. As if all of this was not enough, a recent trend has made this type of work even more difficult – the use of translation machines or online translation software. Of course, computer – assisted translation (or CAT) can be of great help when used by professional translators and in a controlled manner, but we have all been witnesses to the fact that this is not always the case.
One memorable example of an amusing mistranslation which was shared on the social media has to be “suffering from liver”. Obviously, if this had anything to do with a medical condition it would not be funny at all, but this was written on a sign at a restaurant with the intended meaning of “pâté made from liver”. The automated translation tool simply translated the expression word for word and the result is hilarious. It is not so hilarious if you are a translator and a client gives you a document full of grammatical mistakes, incoherent sentences and poor word choices generated by an online translation tool. This is why 100% Human Translation is the best translation.
Surely, you would not want anything like this to happen when something much more important is at stake, for example your application for citizenship or any kind of medical document. Document translation, especially legal document translation is probably one of the riskiest for a translator. Once you get to know the forms and the terminology of, let’s say Birth Certificates or Marriage Certificates then certainly it becomes easier and more routine like, but that is not the case with all legal documents.
When it comes to legal contracts or court rulings, for instance, the importance of accurate and precise translation is crucial. Context is the key tool for any good translator. You must be able to understand the context and interpret the underlying meaning in order to deliver an error – free, meaningful and readable material.
Depending on the language and the context it is being used, the same word or phrase can be interpreted in many different ways. Even within the same language there are different varieties, i.e. British, American, Australian English which have their own nuances and not knowing these subtleties in the use and meaning of some words can lead to devastating results.
More importantly, for a translator to do a good job of translating legal documents, one must have in – depth knowledge of legal systems in various countries and understand how these systems work. The translation, just like the original, is a legally binding document and must therefore be written in compliance with the local laws and regulations if it is intended for use in a different country. The translator must always bear in mind that a single error in translation could lead to the creation of loopholes and inconsistencies which, in the long run could result in lawsuits.
Finally, confidentiality is a big issue in document translation. It goes without saying that while handling such documents as Birth or Marriage Certificates, medical records or financial and business contracts, you deal with sensitive personal information that could easily be compromised and abused. In order to avoid such a scenario, many people prefer to have official documents translated by a certified translator sworn in court to protect privacy and confidential information. Once translated by a certified translator, the translation becomes a legal equivalent of the original document. Whichever the case, translation of official documents should always be done with utmost care and precision.
In conclusion, a translator’s job is not merely to provide a truthful word – by – word translation of a document. There is so much more to it and no machine or computer assisted translation could ever match up to a translator’s experience, education and skill needed to complete such a complex task.
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