CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
One of the questions I hear most often is if I am a sworn translator. This question is not surprising when we consider that I translate into Polish and Poland, just like Germany or France has a system of sworn translators and the much coveted status of a sworn translator is a pinnacle of the career many translators aspire to and practically only feasible confirmation of one’s qualifications.
I have two potentials answers to this question. The first one, which I use most often is: “No”.
Sometimes I make an effort of expanding my answer to: “No, but…” when I try to explain the complexity of this issue and dive more deeply into the details.
I hope that after writing this post I will have a third one: “No, but you can read everything about it on my blog”
Majority of the European countries have official systems of sworn translators, who play crucial role in providing translation services for legal and official purposes. The name is derived from a taken oath to translate faithfully and dutifully. Hence the names in other languages like “geschworen” (derived from schwören – swear), the Polish name is “tłumacz przysięgły” (where przysięga means literally „an oath”.
In a way on a Continent sworn translators play among linguists similar role to that of notaries among lawyers.
But while Great Britain has adopted public notaries who mainly facilitate international transactions, neither the UK nor the Republic of Ireland have institution of sworn translator. However it doesn’t mean that clients who require translation for legal or official purposes are condemned to inferior services.
The government website https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document contains a very concise instructions:
If you need to certify a translation of a document that’s not written in English or Welsh, ask the translator to confirm in writing on the translation:
- that it’s a ‘true and accurate translation of the original document’
- the date of the translation
- their full name and contact details
Additional helpful information are available for instance on the CIOL’s website: If the client want’s to remain on the safe side they may do so by using a translator or translation company with a clear affiliation to a recognised professional body or association such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
For more than a decade I have been associated with CIOL, currently I am both full member (MCIL) and Chartered Linguist (CL) of this organization and I mention this on every certificate I issue. To the best of my knowledge, my translations were used not only in the UK and Republic of Ireland, but also in the USA, Australia, Canada. Some clients have used them also in Poland, but I always advise them to consult the institution to which they are going to submit translated documents with accompanying certificate before they commission the translation.
If you would like to learn more about certified translation and check on the best practices in this area, UK’s leading language industry associations, the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) have endorsed a document outlining such best practices. This document is available at: https://www.ciol.org.uk/sites/default/files/CIOL-ACT-ITI-Certified-Translation-Guildlines.pdf
It is worth noting that more and more of British institutions and authorities accept certified translations in digital form, also the certificates issued by the members of the CIOL have an option of online verification of qualifications and membership status.
If you need a translation for legal or official purposes please get in touch, just don’t ask me if I am a sworn translator 🙂