Translation

[Jeff Long]

A language translation services company is looking to translate a document( birth certificate ) from my native language to english.
I happened to meet them through a friend of mine and they were asking if I could do the translation for them & they are willing to pay even . I personally do not have any problems, translating them. But I was just wondering if there are any "legal issues" to it. Do I need to be qualified by some kind to do this kind of a translation.
If there are no problems, howmuch do you guys think I should charge ( why leave the extra money )
[ April 02, 2002: Message edited by: Jeff Long ]

[Jason Menard]

Do I need to be qualified by some kind to do this kind of a translation.

Well, in some countries there are very strict requirements for translators.


[ April 02, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Jim Yingst]

I remember a few years ago when tee shirts with nice ornamental Japanese on them (Kanji) were popular in the US. I was always pretty suspicious - I knew that if I were designing a shirt to be worn by people who didn't understand my language, it would have said something like "this foolish person has no idea what his shirt says". Possibly this sort of thinking explains the first picture above. :roll:

[Jason Menard]

I was stationed in Japan for a few years. There being a decent number of gaijin over there and all, we always wondered why they didn't just hire some of us to at least proofread their commercial English. I mean this stuff was really all over the place.

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
I was always pretty suspicious - I knew that if I were designing a shirt to be worn by people who didn't understand my language, it would have said something like "this foolish person has no idea what his shirt says". :roll:

You mean that if you were writing a Hungarian-English phrase book that you would make the Hungarian phrase "may I have some matches" translate to "my hovercraft is full of eels"?

[Jim Yingst]

Well, I would if I spoke Hungarian.

[Jim Yingst]

Looking again at "For restrooms, go back towards your behind"... Very funny. Aside from the obvious humor, it seems that the sign is intended to mean "the restrooms are behind you". Now, imagine someone who speaks neither Japanese nor English, but who sees the nice friendly international symbols for men's and women's restrooms. Looking at this sign, wouldn't this person reasonably expect that the restroom is located, well, somewhere in front of them? Near the sign, perhaps? :roll: As opposed to being in the complete opposite direction . Seriously, I think that the problems with this sign have less to do with linguistic difficulties than they do with basic, fundamental stupidity on the part of whoever put the sign there.

[Jeff Long]

Ok guys. True to its name(Meaningless Drivel), the discussion has gone totally out of topic.
This is a piece of statement that I need to sign if I decide to do the translation.

"I declare herewith that the foregoing is a true and correct
translation into
English from ---------, and that I am competent to translate this
document."
Name & Signature of Translator Date

I'm not qualified in anyway,meaning I'm not certified. For that matter I don't have a degree in my native language. I have learnt the language all through my high school as one of the required classes.
The word "competent" bothers me. Guys got any idea or advice for me?
[ April 04, 2002: Message edited by: Jeff Long ]

[Nanhesru Ningyake]

>As opposed to being in the complete opposite direction
Maybe, they had just relocated the restrooms, and this sign was retraining the loousers.
Or perhaps there's something that temptingly looks like a restroom in that area - and people get irresistably attracted like flies to a lantern. And so this sign says, hey chump, look behind you.

[Jason Menard]

I guess if you are weary of signing this document but would still be interested in the job, I would get in touch with a contract lawyer. IANAL, but it looks like the company is having you sign this to shift the liability towards you if there are any problems.
So they are giving you something in another language to translate into English? How fluent are you in this other language? What types of things are they likely to give you to translate? Is it highly technical information that may be outside your experience in either language? What are the risks if something is not translated correctly? Just some things to think about.
Hungarian: Which way to the bus stop?
English: Would you please fondle my buttocks?

[ April 04, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Randall Twede]

jeff,
i think it depends on what the info is for. if it is for someones private use, i wouldnt be concerned as long as i was fluent in both languages. i have no idea what you should charge.