While at first glance a certified translation may seem like any other, the work of a court interpreter is full of specific requirements, rules and challenges that make it unique.

Regular vs. Certified Translation: What’s the Real Difference?

Many people wonder if there’s a difference in quality between a regular translation and one that has a court interpreter’s stamp. The answer is simple: there shouldn’t be. Every diligent translator will approach their work with maximum care, regardless of whether the document ultimately requires a stamp. Still, the translation process itself includes key differences related to formalities and technical details.

The biggest difference is that a certified translation, in addition to a digital version, must also exist in a physical, paper form. While most translations today are delivered by e-mail, certified translations live in the world of paper, stamps and binding.

The Anatomy of a Certified Translation: From Cover Page to Binding

To be legally valid, a certified translation must follow strict formatting rules:

• Cover page: Every certified translation starts with a cover page listing the certification number, date and the court interpreter’s stamp.
• Pagination: Each page must be numbered and include the certification number and date from the cover page.
• Certification text: At the end of the document, there is an official statement (the certification) in which the court interpreter guarantees that the translation is fully equivalent to the original.
• Stamp and signature: The interpreter’s stamp and signature confirm the document’s validity.
• Binding: The certified translation is bound together with the original document or a copy of it, secured with a binding slip.

The Secrets of Certified Translation: What Has to Be Translated?

When it comes to certified translation, the rule is straightforward: every part that can be read and understood needs to be translated. This means even small details that are often overlooked in a regular translation should be included. For example, text found in logos, headers or within images also needs to be translated.

But what happens if part of the text is illegible, such as a handwritten note or a poorly scanned page? In that case, the court interpreter adds a note of illegibility (e.g. “illegible”). Notes are also used in other cases, such as when a document contains text in a third language for which the interpreter is not certified.

More Than a Stamp: A Court Interpreter’s Perspective

To go beyond theory, we asked Mario, one of the founders of Sinonim and our court interpreter for English, what he considers most important in his work:

From Birth Certificates to Machine Specifications

The work of a court interpreter is marked by a wide variety of materials. In a single day, an interpreter may translate a birth certificate, a criminal record certificate, a machine specification or a financial report.

Additional challenges often come from the formats in which documents arrive. Rarely is it a clean Word file. Court interpreters regularly deal with low-quality scans, blurry screenshots or complex Excel tables that are difficult to process in CAT tools. Because of this, besides the translation itself, a large part of the workday is spent preparing and formatting documents so the final translation looks professional and is print-ready.

Bridging the Digital and Paper Worlds: The Modern Path to Certified Translation

Although a certified translation must exist in physical form, the process at Sinonim has been modernized. Clients today usually send document scans by e-mail. Once the translation is completed, we send a scanned copy of the certified translation back to the client. The physical copy is sent by post – ensuring fast delivery.

Need a certified translation you can rely on? Send us your document for a free estimate.