Afrikaans to English translation is often perceived as the simple transfer of words from one language to another. In fact, it is a complex discipline requiring a diverse set of skills. Certified Afrikaans/English translators play a central role within this discipline, since they facilitate the official acceptance of documents in jurisdictions that speak different languages.
Whether they are court judgements, business contracts or official degrees, legal and administrative Afrikaans documents sometimes require an accurate, certified English translation to be accepted by a court or administrative body. This is where certified translators come in. They specialise in official Afrikaans/English translations and can sign and stamp them to certify their accuracy.
Such translation requires considerable expertise in the essential skills that ensure high-quality work, which can only be gained through learning and hands-on experience. Let’s take a look at the five essential skills that every certified Afrikaans/English translator needs.
Definition of certified translations
Certified translations are often necessary in legal, administrative and business contexts. Certified translations are official translations of legal documents that are certified to be accurate representations of the source text, which are provided by sworn translators.
The translator provides this certification by signing and stamping the translated document, thereby giving it legal weight. But how are they authorised to do this? They are authorised simply by being designated by a High Court in South Africa and swearing an oath there.
5 Top Traits of a Certified Afrikaans/English Translator
In-Depth Knowledge of the Language Pairs
Being a native speaker of either English or Afrikaans is absolutely essential. While language skills are important, native fluency comes with an in-depth understanding of cultural norms. The ability to contextualise a piece of content, as well as translate it, is what makes you an exceptional translator.
The mastery of these languages enables the translator to grasp the wider context of the source language and to understand its linguistic subtleties. This skill therefore guarantees quality.
Excellent Writing Skills
Spelling and grammar police are very important in the world of translation. A certified Afrikaans/English translator must have an extensive vocabulary and an excellent understanding of grammar for the Afrikaans and English languages to ensure the accuracy of the translation.
Writing skills are therefore a prerequisite for Afrikaans/English certified translators.
A skilled certified translator won’t just translate word for word – they will read and understand the entire context of a written piece and translate it so that it flows and reads as though it was originally written in that language.
Sound Research and verification Skills
In the field of certified Afrikaans/English translations, research and verification are undoubtedly essential skills. Certified translators are always researching things such as terminology, wording and meanings, as well as subject-specific information.
Certified translators must be able to research and verify precise information, particularly legal terminology. They must also be able to research and verify reliable legal sources to ensure the accuracy of a translation.
It is important to note that developing sound research and information processing skills requires practice, as it involves learning how to find useful, relevant and reliable information online. If necessary, they also consult experts in the subject matter and previous related translations.
Good computer and keyboarding skills
This is one of the essential skills for a translator. As well as having advanced knowledge of word processing software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, translators are also familiar with various online tools and linguistic resources that support their writing.
Most translators these days work with computer-aided translation tools (CAT tools) and need to understand how computers and different software programs work and be able to use new document conversion tools easily.
Respect for ethical norms
Finally, sworn translators must adhere to strict ethical norms. This means respecting confidentiality, remaining impartial, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Similarly, they must always strive to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their translations, guaranteeing that they are true and correct reflections of the original document.
Respecting these ethical norms is essential for maintaining confidence and credibility in certified translation.
Fast turnaround with affordable pricing in Johannesburg
AT is a leading provider of professional Afrikaans/English translation services. We provide certified translations that are word-for-word accurate, preserve the original layout and include a signed certificate of accuracy. Each translation costs R500.00 per page, is delivered within 24 hours and includes unlimited revisions. If you have a photo or scan of your document that needs translation, send it to us and request an instant quote to get started.
Cell: 081 347 6060
Tel: 012 348 3134
E-mail: info@afrikaanstranslation.co.za
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