Introduction
Certified translation plays a vital role in bridging cultures and facilitating official transactions between countries. It is the gateway through which legal, academic, and medical documents become valid and internationally recognized. Given its crucial importance, there are several common mistakes that both clients and translation agencies might make, which could negatively impact the accuracy and acceptance of the translation.
Common Mistakes by Clients When Submitting Documents
Clients often believe their role ends once they hand over the documents, but there are essential steps they can take to avoid errors:
Unclear Original Documents:
This is one of the most prominent challenges. When documents are scanned poorly, blurry, or contain unreadable stamps and signatures, it complicates the translator’s task and can lead to errors in names, dates, or numbers.
Solution: Always provide clear, high-quality copies of the original documents—preferably in searchable PDF format whenever possible.
Lack of Context or Clarification:
Sometimes documents contain abbreviations, organization-specific terminology, or vague references that require explanation. Failing to provide this context can result in inaccurate or incorrect translations.
Solution: Communicate with the translator or agency and provide any additional information that might help with understanding the document. For example, explain any uncommon abbreviations.
Expecting Literal Translation:
Translation is not merely replacing words. Each language has its own structures, expressions, and cultural nuances. Insisting on literal translation may result in unnatural or unclear text in the target language.
Solution: Trust the professional translator who understands the nuances between languages and cultures. Discuss any concerns, but avoid insisting on literal translation that may compromise quality.
Common Mistakes by Translators During the Translation Process
Even professional translators may make mistakes if they’re not careful:
Lack of Understanding of Document Context or Purpose:
A translator may translate word for word without realizing the intended use of the translation (e.g., for university application, court submission, or embassy). This affects word choice and tone.
Solution: Certified translation offices should always ask the client about the purpose of the translation and where the document will be used. In-depth research into the cultural and legal context is crucial.
Over-reliance on Machine Translation Without Human Review:
Despite the advancement of machine translation tools, they still can’t fully grasp language subtleties, idioms, or cultural context. Using them without careful human review results in poor-quality translations.
Solution: Tools like CAT software can assist with efficiency, but certified translations should always be reviewed and proofread by a skilled human translator with linguistic and cultural competence.
Mixing Up Legal or Technical Terminology:
Each field—legal, medical, engineering—has its own precise terminology. Using incorrect terms can alter the entire meaning and lead to serious consequences, especially for certified documents.
Solution: The translator should specialize in the relevant field or at least have solid experience in researching correct terminology and consulting field experts when necessary.
Neglecting to Proofread Numbers, Names, and Dates:
These may seem like small details, but one mistake can render a document invalid or lead to legal issues.
Solution: Implement a thorough proofreading process for all numbers, names, dates, and addresses after translation. Ideally, this should be done by someone other than the original translator.
Not Maintaining the Original Formatting of the Document:
Certified translations often require matching the original format (tables, graphics, stamps, signatures). Failing to do so can make the document look unprofessional or unreliable.
Solution: Translators should pay close attention to visual formatting and use appropriate tools to replicate the original layout as closely as possible.