Actually, the requirement was only for certification of the Japanese-to-English translation done by another company.
Let’s back up here a moment.
Certified translations are generally required for (personal) legal documents issued in foreign languages, such as a Japanese birth certificate, that are submitted to immigration services, embassies, courts and other official organizations. So exactly what kind of translation are we talking about? Certified, also known as official and sworn, translation means translation that is certified as accurate by the translating company with a Statement of Certification.
No certification, no certified translation – It’s that important and as simple that!
...winning translation methodology & your research
This article is about professional Japanese human translation.
In this article series, you get to develop a translation methodology, especially one that suits your work style, which will enable you to translate more efficiently and accurately. And, if you happen to glean any pointers that’ll up your game, all strength to you!
(Regardless of whether you’re a Japanese translator or a client of Japanese translation services, there is something for you in this article to take home.)
Read the original document
Research the translation
Now do the work
Ask the right questions
Compare with the original
Edit (proof) the translation
Sleep on it!
Research the translation
Research -specifically research on the author (where possible & feasible) and the subject matter - is one of the most important tool a translator has in his or her translation toolbox. Invest the time in this task upfront to reap rewards untold down the road.
Not enough can be said about research -- Good research, that is. Less than 60 minutes of research on the translation subject really does make all the difference to the finished product.
Use the Internet extensively. You can quite literally find anything on the Internet, and it doesn't require a great amount of skill, either. Research free dictionaries, encyclopedias, informational sites, case studies and white papers. Look for recent articles on the subject you'll be translating. Another great resource that should not be over looked is that of academic resources.
The added bonus of doing your homework at this initial stage is that you’ll have the opportunity to resolve any issues you discovered in the source text while doing your research.
Of course, I would be remiss in my duties as a professional if I did not provide the obligatory warning:
The Internet is the greatest resource since the invention of the library the world has ever known, with one fatal flaw. Anyone can publish anything without due process (authentication) that goes into traditional publishing. Therefore, you need to use the Internet wisely! Corroborate your research with multiple, trusted sources.
Do the research and you'll be a good translator. But, you want to be in a class all by yourself, right?
Research the author
Researching the subject will definitely go a long way to improving your style. However, researching the author will provide added luster to your translation style. Search for the author by name, research biographies or autobiographies, and research other works that have already been published by the author. Knowing your author will provide in-depth knowledge about his or her own private and personal feelings, reflections and experiences.
Sound like a lot of work? Yes, but trust me, it's well worth it! And, there may be a silver lining in all this for you: Many authors build on previous works, which, if you were to find a translated copy of, could make for easy going.
True Story
Researching the author of a super computer translation project turned up 17 pages (total of 49 pages) of already translated material that only required minor modifications. Easiest Japanese-to-English translation anybody ever did!
Then, there was the dense legal translation. A long-standing client asked me to translate Japanese legal code for his head office in Denmark. After about an hour’s worth of research, I discovered the English translation on the Japanese Ministry of Justice’s website. The client agreed to pay a consulting fee of US$300, which was about 10% of his budget for the project…A win-win situation for everybody.
Moral of the stories:
It can’t be said enough -- Research the author.
Authoritative knowledge
Authoritative knowledge is the technical, or subject matter, expertise one possesses in a specific field. Specializing in specific fields in which you're genuinely an expert, in both languages, adds weight to your style.
Think about it for a moment. Have you ever tried to write about a topic you had little or no knowledge of in your native language? Although you no doubt had no problem with the language, it wasn't easy, right? And, the finished product probably lacked the natural flow and conviction that comes with knowledge and experience. This is the power of authoritative knowledge.
Establish an authoritative translation style -- Limit yourself to your natural area of technical expertise, and beef up on those fields where you want to be an expert.
Conclusion
Use the advice here to polish your translation style. Most of the advice is simply about making minor changes to your existing style; but, given consideration, will lead to improved results as seen from repeat requests for your Japanese translation services
(p.s. Bookmark this page and keep checking back for new articles in the series.)
