Methodology

I may use Trados Studio machine translation to facilitate the translation process. The advantage of analyzing your document electronically is that words and phrases that are repeated throughout your document will be translated equally in all instances guaranteeing consistency. The program cannot translate the entire document, it offers suggestions as to a suitable translation, and the translator has to make a decision as to whether to accept the suggestion or not. The translator’s role is still extremely important. The software just expedites the translation process. In some cases your document will be translated manually in the traditional way, it depends on the document;

All translations are thoroughly checked before being sent to the client. I have a meticulous quality control program whereby the final document is proofread at least three times to guarantee there are no mistakes.

All certified translations are stamped with my seal and signed by myself. The certified documents can be scanned and sent by email or can be sent by post if required.

Guarantee

I guarantee that your document will be delivered on time, and am prepared to work at night, at weekends and even holidays to ensure your document is ready on time.

When you request a quote I will calculate how much time it will take to carry out the translation. Don’t forget that this period starts from the moment you give the ok to start the translation, not from when you requested the quote. Obviously if you make changes to the document once the translation has commenced then this will change the time-frame.

Normally I over calculate the time it will take, so don’t be surprised if your document is ready before I said it would be. Remember, this does not mean there was a reduction in the quality of the translation.

If your translation is urgent then an extra fee may be charged. A list of the extra fees can be found on the “Prices” page.

Format

Documents are accepted in all formats. In the case of electronic documents the SDL Trados software can convert most documents to a translatable format. However, I would prefer that you send a Word document if possible. Firstly, it makes it a lot easier to count the number of words in order to give a reliable quote. Secondly, it makes it a lot easier to translate the document so it looks the same as the original.

If you send a document that cannot be edited then the entire document will need to be recreated manually and this will be taken into account when calculating the final price. If you want to save money and time then it is recommended to convert the document into an editable format before sending it to me. This means I can focus on the real job at hand, doing a professional translation, without having to worry about recreating documents.

Areas of expertise

I have expertise in the following areas:

• Legal contacts and agreements;
• Personal documents such as birth and marriage certificates, university certificates;
• Police reports and criminal record reports;
• Medical exam results;
• Academic papers and journal articles;
• Corporate accounts;
• Business presentations;
• Market research surveys;
• Aviation manuals and procedures;
• Product packaging;
• Curriculum Vitae and letters of recommendation and presentation;
• Transcription of video interviews;
• Localization of websites.

What is the difference between a certified translation and a sworn translation?

A certified translation is carried out by a translator who is a member of a professional body of translators and will include a statement stating that the content has been accurately translated by a certified professional. The translation will be signed and will include contact information for the translator and details of the certifying body. I am a certified member of the Institute of Translation and Interpresting in the UK, as well as a member of the Proz.com Certified PRO Network.

A sworn translation is carried out by a translator who has passed a government exam and has been officially appointed by that country. The translation will include a statement stating that the content has been accurately translated by a sworn translator. The translation will be signed and will include contact information for the translator and their seal. If you need a sworn translation then contact me and we I can indicate a Brazilian sworn translator to carry out your translation.

How do I know if I need a certified translation or a sworn translation?

You need to ask the person who requested the document which type of translation is required.

In Brazil certified translations are not accepted, if a sworn translation is required then it must be carried out by a sworn translator in Brazil, sworn translations from other countries are not accepted.

In the majority of foreign countries, including the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, there is no difference between certified translations and sworn translations and they will accept translations done in other countries. However, there is a list of countries that do require sworn translations to be done by sworn translators in those countries. You can check the list here.

Until now I have not had any problems with translations I have certified for use in other countries, but it is always best to check first.