Certified translators are professionals who are legally entitled to translate legal and official documents. They can then sign or stamp the document and it will be legally recognised as an official and accurate translation of the original.

Rules about Translations

All certified translation must be taken from the original document (not photocopies) giving the end user peace of mind that the document is an accurate translation of the original.

A certified translator must normally be registered with the Institute of Translators and Interpreters (ITI), the only independent proffesional association of translators and interpreters in the UK. Being memebers of the ITI should assure you that they have the relevant levels of qualifications, skill and experience.

You will also find that most certified translators specialise in specific areas of expertise, such as oil & gas; banking & finance; engineering or law, whilst others just undertake general commercial work.

Necessary Documents

If you are looking for work in the UK, you may need to provide potential employers with translations of documents such as your qualification certificates, for example. Depending on the employer, they may accept your own translation, but some employers require a certified translation, in which case make sure that you are using a certified translator.

Finding the Right Translator

Most UK translators need to be native English speakers. This is because you always translate from your second language into your native speaking language to ensure accuracy. So make sure that the translator you are using is a native English speaker if you are translating documents into English. It is very rare that you will find a non-native speaker who is capable of translating complex official documents into another language accurately and many will refuse to do it for reasons of professional integrity, so be wary of anyone who says that they can.

Translation is difficult because of the number of idioms and peculiarities that are found written across texts, and making a mistake can lead to real problems and in some legal cases completely invalidate the document, making it a very important profession with a great deal of responsibility.

But not all translators are legal or technical experts of very specialised vocabulary.  You will find others who see themselves as being engaged in a very artistic process.

These are the ones who strive to portray accurately the works of others through the translation of e.g.novels or poetry. Here you are likely to find the ones who see themselves as real artists, as they attempt to interpret novels and stories without changing any of the meaning or emotion of a text, thus giving a truly accurate portrayal of the original authors work.
However, as these translators are much more likely to be engaged in translating novels and classical text, you are unlikely to come across one when looking to have your degree certificate translated.

Agencies

There are a number of good translation agencies across the UK, many of which can be found in our “Find a…” section. They will normally charge you a flat fee depending on how much work needs to be done, otherwise they will charge per word.

To be listed here click

USEFUL WORDS

linguist = a person who knows several foreign languages well
authentication of documents = proving that documents are genuine, real or true
legalising & certifying foreign documents = making legal and stating officially in writing that the documents are genuine
oath = a formal statement that something is true
signature = the act of signing something

GRAMMAR SPOT

Only and Even

Use only and even to focus on a particular word or phrase.  To make clear what is being focussed on, use onlybefore the relevant word or phrase:

I found only one certified translator in my area
I speak only a little Japanese I'm afraid

Only can also be used in mid position:

I only found one certified translator in my area
I only speak a little Japanese I'm afraid

In official written English, e.g. on notices, only comes after the word or phrase it is focusing on:

Waiting is limited to 30 minutes only

Even goes in mid position or before the word or phrase it is focussing on:

Emma is a real linguist.  She even speaks Chinese
There are plenty of translators England, even in small towns

(Both these examples express surprise).

When focussing on the subject, we put only or even before it:

Only a certified translator can authenticate the documents
Even the experts make mistakes sometimes

Also use only to talk about something happening a surprisingly short time ago:

I cleared my inbox only yesterday, and now it's full again

Only just can mean 'a very short time ago':

I'm new here.  I've only just moved to the area

It can also mean 'with little time to spare':

I only just caught the train.  It left as soon as I got on

Use even in negative sentences:

I'm not very good at languages.  I can't even say hello in French
He's not very likely to pass his exam.  He's not even started revising yet

Also use even before a comparative adjective:

It was an easy exam yesterday, but today's was even easier