4 Steps to Find a Translator Online

This is the most important question, not just for privacy concerns, but also for quality considerations. Too many translators are simply intermediaries for translation, that is, they just collect documents and send to other translation providers. This is not to say that all outsourced translations are low quality, but in most cases they are completed in bulk and have very little if any quality control. Simple answer: in order to find a good translator, make sure your translation will be completed by the translation company you called, and if possible, translated in the local office near you.

Some translators are skilled, trained, professional translators, while others just speak two languages, if not more. Translation is a learned skill that takes time to develop. There is not a national or government-issued translation certification in the United States, but any good translator will have an advanced degree in translation or a similar field from reputable college or university, the translator should hold a certification from various accreditation institutions in the United States, and good quality translators will always have a list of professional references available when requested. Summary: not all translators will have similar credentials, but at least several of the aforementioned are necessary.

This is a simple question, but many agencies will never let you speak directly to the translators since most translation is outsourced. Nonetheless, the general rule is that if you’re not able to speak to the translator, you should find another provider. Contact with the actual translator is essential just in case there are issues or disagreements with the translated material. Many translations are very subjective in nature and may require review and updates upon completion. If you document is outsourced, you probably will never get an update or adjustment if and when needed. Short answer: talking directly to a translator will make you feel better about the process and quality of work to be performed.

The general rule is that the translator should be a native speaker of the target language, not the source language. What that means is that if you are translating a birth certificate from Spanish to English, the translator should be a native speaker of English, not Spanish. Think of of this way, in linguistics there is a theory that suggests that we will only have full command or language expertise in our native language, even after years and years of study of a second language, it will never be the same as the native language. This is not to say that excellent, high-quality translators do not exist who are able to translate into a second language, but years of experience and review of others’ work suggest that it is always best to find a native speaker of the target language. Simple answer: the translator should be a native speaker of the target language.

This is an important question for larger projects as some agencies will divide documents among several translators in order to get them done quickly; however, this method lacks uniformity. It is best if only one translator or one team of two works on a project. Another common and acceptable method is to have one translator complete the first stage of the document translation, and then a second translator edits or proofreads the translation. Summary: one translator is common, although a team of two is best.

In many cases, translation agencies provide services in many languages, although none of the translators are employees or even contractors of the company. Most large translation companies sub out more than 90%, if not all, of their work to international translation service providers who can charge are little as $0.01/word. In this case, you really get what you pay for as theses translators work with a high volume of documents and there is very little if any accountability for a good quality translation. Quick summary: translators who work for the company you called will provide much higher-quality translation as opposed to outsourced translations.

Not all translations need to be certified. For example, documents for human resources or marketing materials just need to be translation. On the other hand, documents for immigration or for use in court must be certified. A certified translation, in the United States, is when an official translator stamps and signs each page with a certification stamp and includes a sworn affidavit, translator’s certification, or translator’s affidavit. This certification must be printed on company letterhead, provide the recommended credentials and contact information and use government required wording. Do you need a certificated translation? The answer depends on what you are doing with the translation. The general rule is to ask the requesting party if the translation needs to be certified.

Very few translators in the United States carry professional liability insurance or errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance), although it is very important. In reality, there is a very, very small chance of ever needing insurance in translation, yet translators who have it are typically more serious about translation and work for a reputable business. Insurance for translators is very expensive, so typically only well-established and successful translators carry it. Summary: it is always a good idea to find an insured translator.

Most translators belong to one or more professional organizations, which provide networking, best practices and other benefits. Simply belonging to the ATA or a state/regional association does not make one a better translator; nonetheless, it does provide an extra layer of credibility and allows the customer to verify that the translator’s credentials and other details. Many organizations list how many years the translator has been a member, which is important as many inexperienced translators come and go. Finding a translator who has maintained a professional membership for years is helpful. Quick summary: professional association are not essential but can provide additional insight into the quality of a translator.

This may not seem important, but many customers find that they need additional copies of already translated documents months or years later. Will the document need to be translated again at full price? Some translators will charge full price, others will reprint and mail at a discounted rate, and sadly, others will not be in business several years later. Summary: it is not a deal breaker, but it is good to know how much additional copies will cost in the future, if needed.

This is a question that should always be asked. So many translators will provide a translation and then never respond to the customer again. Worst of all, is when a translation is provided and not accepted for one of many reasons, and then the translator tells the customer that they have a no refund policy. This is by far the worst. The purpose of a translation is for it to be used by a requesting party, and if it is not accepted, it is useless. Simple answer: ask what happens if the translation is not accepted. If a money-back guarantee of acceptance is not available, keep shopping around.