"certified" translation
Marc
I have been requested to provide a Japanese -> English translation of an
academic syllabus for a grad school applicant. The school wants a
"certified" translation. I have looked in vain to figure out what
"certified" means: there does not seem to be any regulatory body that
actually licenses translators worldwide. My cursory check of translation
services that offer "certified" translations doesn't particularly bolster my
confidence that the term means anything: their explanation of "certified"
seems completely circular: our translations are "certified" because we
attest their accuracy and assure you of our thorough review of etc etc
....... In other words "we have great translators who do a great job... and
we double-check everything and therefore bingo now its certified and thank
you. It's the old flim-flam as far as I can tell.
I've done translation work for 20 years now, although it is not my day job,
barely even my evening job. more like my quarter to twelve on a full moon
Friday job. But I am damned good and I feel certified to my very soul.
My question: do I have to provide some kind of certification to qualify my
translation as "certified". Is there a special terminology I need to use
that will cause the magic duck to fall, or is there an agency somewhere in
Strasbourg that will grant me angel wings?
thanks
Marc
Marc
"Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
Should I just bring the damned thing to a Notary Public and swear that is A
REALLY GOOD translation and get it stamped?
Murgi
>
> I have been requested to provide a Japanese -> English translation of an
> academic syllabus for a grad school applicant. The school wants a
> "certified" translation.
Ask back what they exactly mean...
If it is an important legal document, you need the stamp of (e.g.) your
embassy (relatively cheap), a licensed notary (expensive), or a translator
who own such a license granted by a court. A translation company that
belongs to a recognized "translator's union" might also do.
Sigi
Phil Healey
> A question to the cognescenti......
>
> actually licenses translators worldwide.
"Worldwide"? There's the UN exam, but that's UN-specific.
Specifically,
http://www.atanet.org/bin/view.pl/285.html
will be of interest of you and your "damn good" translation.
In Japan, there's
Again, specifically,
There's also
Specifically,
http://www.jta-net.or.jp/jta-10.html
There's probably more.
Murgi
>
Aaaah... I read your text again.
I figure that they would accept a Japanese English professor (specialized in
grammar only) from a famous university with the institution's hanko.
Never mind how literate/illiterate he or she might be or not as long as the
university's name is visible.
A foreign professor might be OK too... if a Japanese chap co-signs!:-)
Ryan Ginstrom
>
> I have been requested to provide a Japanese -> English translation of an
> academic syllabus for a grad school applicant. The school wants a
> "certified" translation. I have looked in vain to figure out what
> "certified" means:
There is no official translator certification in the US or Japan. The ATA
offers "accreditation", probably the JTF is similar.
In these countries, basically you guessed it, you need to attach a document
with some weasel words to the effect that to the best of your knowledge and
ability, this is a true and accurate translation of the original, and
perhaps get that notarized.
Then tell the school that it is a certified translation.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Haluk Skywalker
news:Q8pPb.113150$na.107579@attbi_s04...
That is almost how we do it in Turkey. Only we swear once, before making any
translations. Notary keeps a copy of our official swear in his files. Than,
whenever we need to get our work certified Notary certifies them for us and
charges shit load of money.
AFAIK, translators are accredited by ATA in the US and their translations do
not need to be attested by the Notary Public. This is wiser, because in the
first case Notary Public does not have a clue of what is written in
translation in foreign language.
Phil Healey
> "Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
> news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
>
> offers "accreditation", probably the JTF is similar.
Certification and accreditation are the same thing. The school wants to
see that the translator has some kind of
qualification(/certification/accreditation) to do the translation.
Declan Murphy
To be more exact, a minor clerk at the school wants to cover their arse.
I provide certified translations all the time, probably one a month or
so. All I do is carefully check the translation, then whip up a simple
word document stating something along the lines of "I
<title/mumbojumbo/date> declare this to be a true and accurate
translation" etc, sign it with an exuberant flourish etc and then attach
Yamasa's great big lovely red oh-so-exotic inkan. If its good enuff for
Harvard et al, it should be good enuff for the others.
--
I am not who I think I am
I am not who you think I am
I am who I think you think I am
...or some such shite.
Ryan Ginstrom
"Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
news:eDpPb.1840$f8....@twister.socal.rr.com...
> Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> > "Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
> > news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
> >
> > There is no official translator certification in the US or Japan. The
ATA
> > offers "accreditation", probably the JTF is similar.
>
> Certification and accreditation are the same thing.
For the purposes of some secretary in some school, sure.
Anyway, looks like this year the ATA has started calling it certification,
although they haven't gotten around to updating all their web pages yet.
> The school wants to
> see that the translator has some kind of
> qualification(/certification/accreditation) to do the translation.
I agree. That's why you write your little note, with or without flourishes
and with our without exotic red-ink stamps and with or without notary
publics.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Phil Healey
> "Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
> news:eDpPb.1840$f8....@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
>>Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
>>
>>>"Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
>>>news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
>>>
> and with our without exotic red-ink stamps and with or without notary
> publics.
I wonder if the US gov't has started requiring *actual* certification
for translations of the birth/marriage/etc. certificates and koseki for
green card applications.
I mean, you fucking certify *yourself*. Hello?
Ryan Ginstrom
"Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
> I wonder if the US gov't has started requiring *actual* certification
> for translations of the birth/marriage/etc. certificates and koseki for
> green card applications.
>
> I mean, you fucking certify *yourself*. Hello?
Cool, isn't it?
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
cc
"Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
> My question: do I have to provide some kind of certification to qualify my
> translation as "certified". Is there a special terminology I need to use
> that will cause the magic duck to fall, or is there an agency somewhere in
> Strasbourg that will grant me angel wings?
T'es a Stras' ? Ben, tu peux faire certifier pas un des traducteurs
officiels. Tu trouves la liste et les adresses a la mairie. C'est pas
gratuit, y'a un tarif fixe par type de document. Peut-etre 10 euros pour un
CV.
CC
Marc
"Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
>
> I mean, you fucking certify *yourself*. Hello?
yes, the mind boggles at the possibilities. Why stop at translator?
Marc
"cc" <cpasune...@spam.com> wrote in message
news:bulpha$ooj$1...@bgsv5647.tk.mesh.ad.jp...
J'appreciate beaucoups votre response de ma question. Mais, je ne trouve pas
la liste que tu indicte dans cette response. Ne cremais pas du le joundrais
a vien. Toute a monde par le cinema, par example "Beau Geste" et du vieux
sentiment. Il y a une bonne example, n'est pas?
I hereby certify that the above is an accurate translation.
Marc
"Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:buld9o$geu95$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
> news:eDpPb.1840$f8....@twister.socal.rr.com...
> > Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> > > "Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
> > > news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
> > >
> > > There is no official translator certification in the US or Japan. The
> ATA
> > > offers "accreditation", probably the JTF is similar.
> >
> > Certification and accreditation are the same thing.
>
> For the purposes of some secretary in some school, sure.
>
> Anyway, looks like this year the ATA has started calling it certification,
> although they haven't gotten around to updating all their web pages yet.
ATA certification looks quasi-official. Might be something to consider for
the future, if I wanted a 2nd job.......
It has been about 10 years since I did any translations professionally, and
I never pursued it seriously, although it was decent money for a grad
student. What are the possibilities for making this a real 2nd job? Anyone
have an idea of how much money one can make translating pharmaceutical
documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English. I would set myself up as
an independent, not via an agency, I could probably get my own contacts in
the Japanese and US pharamceutical industry, and it would be part-time.
thanks
Ryan Ginstrom
> It has been about 10 years since I did any translations professionally,
and
> I never pursued it seriously, although it was decent money for a grad
> student. What are the possibilities for making this a real 2nd job?
Quite possible.
It has even been rumored that some people manage to make a living at it!
>Anyone
> have an idea of how much money one can make translating pharmaceutical
> documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English. I would set myself up
as
> an independent, not via an agency, I could probably get my own contacts in
> the Japanese and US pharamceutical industry, and it would be part-time.
You've done it before, so you should have an idea of what it pays. Your
income will be determined by
- what you can get for it
- how much work you do (function of how much you can get and how much you
can/want to actually do)
In general, my experience has been that it seems like a lot of money before
you're making it, then seems somewhat normal as you get used to it.
Naturally, YMMV.
In your case, your work contacts should help you get a few off jobs, unless
you've impressed them very unfavorably with your Japanese abilities.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Louise Bremner
> Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
> pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
It's been some time since I managed to convince my clients that I do
_not_ do anything to do with chemistry or medicine, but I got the
impression there's a lot of such patent work around (or, alternatively,
they stopped bugging me about doing it because the work has dried up, of
course).
Pay depends on many factors, though.
> I would set myself up as an independent, not via an agency
Note that patent translation is a pretty weird field (translating a
strange dialect of Japanese into an equally strange dialect of English),
so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
________________________________________________________________________
Louise Bremner (log at gol dot com)
If you want a reply by e-mail, don't write to my Yahoo address!
Ross Klatte
>Date: 2004-01-21 18:08 Eastern Standard Time
>so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
What a graceful definition of plagiarism.
On a lighter note, Vancouver has begun its journey to the cellar.
Go Caps!
Ross
Roebuck, South Carolina
http://community.webshots.com/user/ross_klatte
http://www.geocities.com/sparklecitysue/
http://www.savethescv.org/NC%20Division.htm
Phil Healey
> "Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:buld9o$geu95$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
>>"Phil Healey" <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote in message
>>news:eDpPb.1840$f8....@twister.socal.rr.com...
>>
>>>Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:O5pPb.111368$8H.258631@attbi_s03...
> have an idea of how much money one can make translating pharmaceutical
> documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
Louise Bremner
> >From: dame_...@yahoo.com (Louise Bremner)
> >Date: 2004-01-21 18:08 Eastern Standard Time
>
> >so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
>
> What a graceful definition of plagiarism.
Plagiarism? No--just that it's more effective learning these weird
dialects in a place where you can ask plenty of questions, rather than
relying on guessing later.
>
> On a lighter note, Vancouver has begun its journey to the cellar.
> Go Caps!
*yawn*
cc
"Marc" <box5...@spamtrap.net> wrote in message
> J'appreciate beaucoups votre response de ma question. Mais, je ne trouve
pas
> la liste que tu indicte dans cette response. Ne cremais pas du le
joundrais
> a vien. Toute a monde par le cinema, par example "Beau Geste" et du vieux
> sentiment. Il y a une bonne example, n'est pas?
Quesako ? That's not French, that's not Alsacian....that's babelish ?
Well, I meant there is a list of translators (for every language of the
world) that are registered with French administration (they passed tests and
swore they'd be honest). They have an official stamp to certify
trancriptions, translations or even copies of documents in foreign language.
The list of the translators living in your area is available at the city
hall (Mairie or Hotel de Ville) and if they are too dumb to find it at the
Prefecture.
That "certification" is valid anywhere in France. Outside, that depends. US
administration accept it, but not Japanese Immigration (they want to see the
original docs and retranslate themselves).
CC
Louise Bremner
> > Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
> > pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
>
> You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the stories
that go around....
Paul Blay
> Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>
> > > Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
> > > pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
> >
> > You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
>
> Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the stories
> that go around....
Why not just ask to see his Ferrari ?
Dan Rempel
>>From: dame_...@yahoo.com (Louise Bremner)
>>Date: 2004-01-21 18:08 Eastern Standard Time
>
>
>>so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
>
>
> What a graceful definition of plagiarism.
>
> On a lighter note, Vancouver has begun its journey to the cellar.
> Go Caps!
It is to laugh.
Dan
Duke of URL
Louise Bremner <dame_...@yahoo.com> radiated into the
WorldWideWait:
> Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>
>>> Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
>>> pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
>>
>> You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
>
> Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the
> stories that go around....
Well, complete 10,000 jobs at $10 each...
Phil Healey
> Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>
>
>>>Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
>>>pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
>>
>>You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
>
>
> Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the stories
> that go around....
http://www.lise.jp/honyaku/index.html
I also knew one guy in Japan who did technical translation for the Kyoto
City government who generally pulled in that much.
(Hell, I'm not that far away from it, either, and I don't do that much
technical stuff.)
Phil Healey
Unless you live in a third-world country, I don't think $100,000/yr is
going to buy you a Ferrari.
Louise Bremner
> Louise Bremner wrote:
>
> > Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>>Anyone have an idea of how much money one can make translating
> >>>pharmaceutical documents, patents, etc. from Japanese to English.
> >>
> >>You can make upwards of $100,000/yr doing that kind of work.
> >
> >
> > Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the stories
> > that go around....
>
> http://www.lise.jp/honyaku/index.html
Uh.... Yes....
> I also knew one guy in Japan who did technical translation for the Kyoto
> City government who generally pulled in that much.
>
> (Hell, I'm not that far away from it, either, and I don't do that much
> technical stuff.)
What sort of stuff do you do, then?
Phil Healey
> Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>
>
>>Louise Bremner wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>>I also knew one guy in Japan who did technical translation for the Kyoto
>>City government who generally pulled in that much.
>>
>>(Hell, I'm not that far away from it, either, and I don't do that much
>>technical stuff.)
>
>
> What sort of stuff do you do, then?
Come to think of it, mostly technical stuff. But what I meant to say is
I don't do much patent translation.
Sean Holland
Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/22/04 8:20 AM:
Notice how he's given up on the Cane Toads.
--
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/seanhollandmusic.htm
pantssea...@telus.pants.net Remove pants to email me.
Sean Holland
com.hotmail@psa_healey wrote on 1/22/04 3:15 PM:
In that total are you counting the fees for your performances in live-sex
shows in Kabukicho? Those don't count as translations, despite the fact that
you might be a cunning linguist.
Murgi
> > stories that go around....
>
> Well, complete 10,000 jobs at $10 each...
>
>
I can verify that I know several translators who have been making this
amount for years...
Why do I know that? I run a translation agency and some of these guys are
working free-lance for the agency.
You can achieve this with less demanding work like the translation of simple
service manuals, but then you can do easily 500,000 text bytes/month. Of
course, you need to be a veteran translator with ample experience and work
for clients who have always work available.
Sigi
Louise Bremner
> > > Um.... Do you know that for a fact, or are you listening to the
> > > stories that go around....
> >
> > Well, complete 10,000 jobs at $10 each...
I'd prefer 10 jobs at $10,000 each....
> >
> I can verify that I know several translators who have been making this
> amount for years...
Ah, but are they still doing so now?
> Why do I know that? I run a translation agency and some of these guys are
> working free-lance for the agency.
> You can achieve this with less demanding work like the translation of simple
> service manuals, but then you can do easily 500,000 text bytes/month.
Is that sort of work still available in Japan? I thought it had gone
offshore, to places where reasonable facsimiles of native-English
speakers would work for far lower rates. I know it did used to be
possible to achieve huge turnovers with repetitive translations (by
taking advantage of all the marvelous ways in which computers can help
automate such tasks), so that even low word rates could still produce
large total incomes, but haven't clients got wise to that nowadays?
> Of course, you need to be a veteran translator with ample experience and
> work for clients who have always work available.
Yes, that needs to be said too, considering the original post.
Murgi
> > I can verify that I know several translators who have been making this
> > amount for years...
>
> Ah, but are they still doing so now?
>
Mabe 20% of them, but those who translate for the automotive industry or
into major European languages have still more work that they can handle.
> > Why do I know that? I run a translation agency and some of these guys
are
> > working free-lance for the agency.
> > You can achieve this with less demanding work like the translation of
simple
> > service manuals, but then you can do easily 500,000 text bytes/month.
>
> Is that sort of work still available in Japan? I thought it had gone
> offshore, to places where reasonable facsimiles of native-English
> speakers would work for far lower rates. I know it did used to be
> possible to achieve huge turnovers with repetitive translations (by
> taking advantage of all the marvelous ways in which computers can help
> automate such tasks), so that even low word rates could still produce
> large total incomes, but haven't clients got wise to that nowadays?
>
Several BIG projects have gone by now (car service manuals for instance),
but so have a number of translators.
Those who went back and still work for their old companies, get the same
amount they received here.
There isn't that much repetitive work anymore, except when it gets very busy
and the client has no time to cancel repetitive test parts.
And there are still old fashioned companies that haven't reached this degree
of cleverness. I love them...:-)
Sigi
Phil Healey
> in article UPYPb.5776$z03...@twister.socal.rr.com, Phil Healey at
> com.hotmail@psa_healey wrote on 1/22/04 3:15 PM:
>
>
>>Louise Bremner wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Louise Bremner wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Phil Healey <com.hotmail@psa_healey> wrote:
>>>>
>
> In that total are you counting the fees for your performances in live-sex
> shows in Kabukicho? Those don't count as translations, despite the fact that
> you might be a cunning linguist.
Of course I'm not counting the sex shows.
バカだねぇ～、ションさんも。
Dan Rempel
> in article fc72f7a6c29418a2...@grapevine.islandnet.com, Dan
> Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/22/04 8:20 AM:
>
>
>>Ross Klatte wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>From: dame_...@yahoo.com (Louise Bremner)
>>>>Date: 2004-01-21 18:08 Eastern Standard Time
>>>
>>>
>>>>so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
>>>
>>>
>>>What a graceful definition of plagiarism.
>>>
>>>On a lighter note, Vancouver has begun its journey to the cellar.
>>>Go Caps!
>>
>>It is to laugh.
>>
>
>
> Notice how he's given up on the Cane Toads.
Keh?
Dan
Louise Bremner
> There isn't that much repetitive work anymore, except when it gets very busy
> and the client has no time to cancel repetitive test parts.
Yup---I'm now receiving a lot of patents with the Summary section
crossed out (it's usually a copy of the Claims, but re-formatted and
maybe with a little extra description, so it used to be a nicely easy
bit to do), and repetitive claims get deleted too.
Keeps me honest, I suppose.
> And there are still old fashioned companies that haven't reached this degree
> of cleverness. I love them...:-)
They tend not to last very long....
Sean Holland
Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/23/04 8:34 AM:
Remember a couple of years ago when the Hurricanes had their brief moment as
a flash in the pan? Klatte was crowing and thumping his chest. Now he has to
look north for a team to cheer. Odd, since the Caps are at the very bottom
of their division. Actually, it is true that Vancouver has slipped lately.
They are now fifth in the league, compared to 29th for the Caps. Hmm, it
seems that Carolina is ahead of Washington. Why is Klatte not urging them
on? It is 不思議.
Dan Rempel
> in article f935f3672140b055...@grapevine.islandnet.com, Dan
> Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/23/04 8:34 AM:
>
>
>>Sean Holland wrote:
>>
>>>in article fc72f7a6c29418a2...@grapevine.islandnet.com, Dan
>>>Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/22/04 8:20 AM:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Ross Klatte wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>From: dame_...@yahoo.com (Louise Bremner)
>>>>>>Date: 2004-01-21 18:08 Eastern Standard Time
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>so it's best to learn it in-house for a while.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>What a graceful definition of plagiarism.
>>>>>
>>>>>On a lighter note, Vancouver has begun its journey to the cellar.
>>>>>Go Caps!
>>>>
>>>>It is to laugh.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Notice how he's given up on the Cane Toads.
>>
>>Keh?
>>
>>Dan
>
>
> Remember a couple of years ago when the Hurricanes had their brief moment as
> a flash in the pan? Klatte was crowing and thumping his chest. Now he has to
> look north for a team to cheer. Odd, since the Caps are at the very bottom
> of their division. Actually, it is true that Vancouver has slipped lately.
> They are now fifth in the league, compared to 29th for the Caps. Hmm, it
> seems that Carolina is ahead of Washington. Why is Klatte not urging them
> on? It is 不思議.
I'd forgotten about Russ's flirtation with Carolina, and feel sorry for
anyone who has adopted the Caps. As for Vancouver, they definitely
relaxed a bit too much after that road trip, but I'm not getting too
excited until the real season starts sometime in April.
Dan
Sean Holland
Rempel at hurty@flurty wrote on 1/24/04 9:12 AM:
同感
Murgi
> crossed out (it's usually a copy of the Claims, but re-formatted and
> maybe with a little extra description, so it used to be a nicely easy
> bit to do), and repetitive claims get deleted too.
>
Deleted by the printing company or the translation agency, not the original
client (in some cases).
On the other hand, all they want is to keep us honest.... und themselves
happy.:-)
Anyway, we can't really complain since many of us have earned our money
"while sleeping" in the past. Those were the times when we had to translate
the first manual of some gadget from scratch, and the next 10 models
afterward contained small omissions or additions, a different model number,
etc., and 90% of the base model could be used over and over. I was even
praised to be the fastest translator in the world since the client thought I
was typing page by page on an electric typewriter.
By now, all these saurians have been extinct! Sigh...:-)
Sigi