This is an era of globalization which lead to the rise of immigrants and expatriates. These immigrants and expatriates wants legal documents to be translated from one language to another. Beside these immigrants and expatriates legal documentation is required in various aspects of life. Translating legal document is very cumbersome task. Minor error in translation will result in lawsuit and legal case which will put away a lot of money and time. So for legal document translation it is necessary not to take any risk. If you want your legal document to be translated precisely and accurately than you need to hire a translation company which is experienced in legal translations. The legal translators should have legal academic background and they should be subject matter experts of legalese. Many people think that legal documents are only used in courts but this is not the case. Legal documents involves translation of following documents like documents of immigrants and expatriates, contracts, patents, articles of incorporation contracts, litigation documents, wills, tenders and many more. While doing legal translation from one language to another the meaning of the target language should be intact.
Things to consider while selecting the right legal document translation service provider
- Expertise in Legalese
Having a translator who is expert in native language of your document and the language in which you want your legal documents to be translated is not the requirement. Legal document translator should have legal expertise to accurately translate your document and should know the legal terminologies of both the languages. He should translate in such a way that the meaning and intention of the original content is not changed. Error in legal translation is not affordable. It will have havoc impact on your business and reputation.
- legal Translation Experience
Translation of legal documents require certain competencies, not just a eloquence in other language. For example, Translators need to clarify meaning and redraft content to verify this, word to word translation is not required. Furthermore legal documents must abide to their own cultures and legal systems. Alteration to translated documents is required so that they resonate with other legal systems.
- No direct equivalent for the source language
English legal documents are usually in passive form and sentences used in legal documents are very complex and long. When translating into the language which uses active voice will create confusion. A competent legal translator should solve this issue and make it evident that the original essence of legal document remains the same to those who read it in the other language. It is also significant part of legal translation that it keeps its original dialect. For example if high priority legal notice comes but not translated accurately in the target language, The reader will not able to understand its urgency and will not act accordingly.
- Accept limited time Frame
Many a times legal documents are required to be translated in quick turnaround time, so it is necessary to have such capable translator who can undertake complex projects and translate them quickly but accurately.
- Different legal procedures
The law is not static it is always changing. Common law is not written in ordinances. In common legal systems, for example In England and Wales, a legal case determines a new regulation which is called precedent. Precedents are used for interpretations. These interpretations are than used to handle similar cases. A good legal translator should keep himself updated with all new legal developments.
- Good Structure and Good word selection
To add a coma or to miss full stop in the sentence will change all its meaning. The complication of these mistakes in legal document translation is still there. Furthermore translating documents from one language to another will increase the ability for mistakes as punctuation rules for different languages are different. It is pivotal for legal translators to know the punctuations in both languages and know about their impact on the meaning of the sentence.
- Maintaining Privacy
Legal documents require privacy. If important information is leaked and got into illegal hands, your business transactions will suffer a lot so it is very essential to hire such translation company who is reliable and trustworthy.
Wrap Up Legal Document Translation
Surely these seven points must have persuaded you to hire a professional legal translator. Although not legal documents are produced equally. To determine that your documents are not getting lost in translation you will
Have to
- Your translator must be a native speaker of the target language, not the language of the document.
- Your translator must have a professional certification
- Your translation company have expertise in your specific industry.
- You must be aware of current rate for legal translation project by internet search.
It may seems like a lengthy process but if this process is followed it will save you from havoc results of an inaccurate legal translation.
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