Frequently asked questions
In short, a certified translation is an ‘official translation’: a translation which serves as an official document. It’s drawn up by a sworn translator who stamps and signs it, making it an official document. Sworn translators are highly qualified translators who have taken an oath or made a promise before the court of their place of residence, and as such they are the only people authorized to make certified translations.
Certified translations consist of 1) the translation itself, 2) a copy of the original document and 3) a statement by the sworn translator saying that the translation is an accurate representation of the original document in the other language. The translator then signs and stamps the statement. The translation, the copy of the original document and the statement are attached to each other and together form the certified translation.
A certified translation is always printed out on paper, so bear in mind that rather than being e-mailed the translation is sent by post. Alternatively, you’re welcome to collect it in person. If you so wish, a digital version can be sent for your perusal before it’s printed and signed.
Architextura offers certified translations from Dutch to German.
Certified translations consist of 1) the translation itself, 2) a copy of the original document and 3) a statement by the sworn translator saying that the translation is an accurate representation of the original document in the other language. The translator then signs and stamps the statement. The translation, the copy of the original document and the statement are attached to each other and together form the certified translation.
A certified translation is always printed out on paper, so bear in mind that rather than being e-mailed the translation is sent by post. Alternatively, you’re welcome to collect it in person. If you so wish, a digital version can be sent for your perusal before it’s printed and signed.
Architextura offers certified translations from Dutch to German.
Only sworn translators are qualified to make certified translations. Sworn translators are highly qualified translators who have completed a translation study and have taken an oath or made a promise before the court of their place of residence. Certified translators must be listed in the Dutch (public) register for certified interpreters and translators (Register voor beëdigde tolken en vertalers- Rbtv). Registration must be renewed after five years. In order to renew the registration, sworn translators have to satisfy the requirement of Permanent Education (PE). This means that they have to take extra training and courses to ensure their knowledge remains at the required level. For each renewal, the register checks whether the translator has met the PE requirements. If they haven’t, registration lapses and the (formerly) sworn translator is no longer authorized to deliver certified translations.
You can verify if a translator is indeed qualified to certify translations on the Rbtv website: https://www.bureaubtv.nl/.
Being sworn in is an additional translator qualification guaranteeing the client that the translator is educated to a high standard and is legally authorized to translate and certify official documents. My personal entry on the register as a sworn translator for Dutch > German has recently been renewed and is now valid until June 2019.
You can verify if a translator is indeed qualified to certify translations on the Rbtv website: https://www.bureaubtv.nl/.
Being sworn in is an additional translator qualification guaranteeing the client that the translator is educated to a high standard and is legally authorized to translate and certify official documents. My personal entry on the register as a sworn translator for Dutch > German has recently been renewed and is now valid until June 2019.
Contact us when you need a documented translated. After you’ve sent us a digital version of the text, we’ll jointly agree on a delivery date. You will receive a quote shortly afterwards. We will also agree on which (digital) format the translation will be delivered. This could be in MS-Word format for example, but a host of other formats is also possible. Usually, your translation will be delivered in the same format as the original source file. We schedule in the translation and treat it with great care and confidentiality. If any ambiguities or questions arise, we will contact you. If everything is clear, the translation will be delivered digitally no later than the time agreed. Certified translations are always delivered in writing and sent by post. It is of course possible to collect the translation in person.
Once you’ve received everything to your satisfaction, we will send you an invoice for the work. The payment should be made within two weeks of you receiving the invoice.
Once you’ve received everything to your satisfaction, we will send you an invoice for the work. The payment should be made within two weeks of you receiving the invoice.
Translators are people and people make mistakes. They make fewer mistakes than machines do (when translating at least) but nobody is perfect. Conscientious translators therefore always use the four-eyes principle. This means that not only the translator, but also a reviser carefully checks the translation. Architextura also works with the four-eyes principle. All translations are checked by a reviser (a native speaker of the target language). Not until this second check has been carried out will the translation be delivered.
A machine translation is a translation performed entirely by a computer without any intervention by a human translator: Google Translate for example. These completely automated translations are becoming increasingly better, but at the moment they are by no means good enough to use unedited. Texts translated by a computer usually give a good impression of the contents of this text but have to undergo further processing before they can be used for ‘serious’ purposes. This processing is called ‘post-editing’. This means that a translator or reviser revises the text and corrects it to arrive at a correct and coherent text. Machine translation most certainly offers opportunities for the future, when large parts of a text will be translated automatically followed by a thorough round of corrections. At the moment however machine translation still results in the translator having to do more work than when the text is translated personally.
Architextura doesn’t use machine translations (for the time being); all our translations are ‘hand-made’.
Post-editing is the processing of a machine translation. Post-editors are usually translators and revisers who edit and correct a text in such a way that a correct and coherent text is created. At architextura we are of course also happy to help you with post-editing machine translation in German.
Most translators work with translation software. This is not the same as a machine translation. Translation software is a translation application helping the translator to keep the translation consistent, not to overlook parts of the text and to make sure the text has the same lay-out as the source text. The application stores each sentence of the translation in a translation memory and helps in building term databases. The program makes sure that phrases and words which appear repeatedly in the text are translated the same way each time.
There are a number of translation programs available. Architextura uses the most advanced translation software currently available: Kilgray’s MemoQ: https://www.memoq.com/.
It may sounds as a cliché, but a proper translation is always worth its price. My ‘blog XY’ will tell you a little more about possible implications when a translation isn’t made by a specialized translator. One terminology error can have far-reaching consequences.
In general, the costs of a translation depend on a variety of factors: The type of text (general, technical, legal), the size of the text (one page or an entire book), the delivery date (is it urgent or not) and the purpose of the text (for internal use or publication). The costs of a translation are based on the number of words to be translated. Architextura’s rates range from approximately €0.17 - €0.21 / per word. Before the start of the translation, architextura will prepare a quote and you will know exactly what the costs of the translation will be.
In general, the costs of a translation depend on a variety of factors: The type of text (general, technical, legal), the size of the text (one page or an entire book), the delivery date (is it urgent or not) and the purpose of the text (for internal use or publication). The costs of a translation are based on the number of words to be translated. Architextura’s rates range from approximately €0.17 - €0.21 / per word. Before the start of the translation, architextura will prepare a quote and you will know exactly what the costs of the translation will be.
The delivery date of the translation is agreed upon in consultation with the client. An urgent translation will be delivered sooner than a non-urgent one. One page can of coursed be translated quicker than an entire report. Bear in mind that approximately 1500 words can be translated and revised in one working day.
For a document with more than 10,000 words, architextura will give you a 5% discount. New clients will receive a 5% discount on their first assignment.
Ask the opinion of others! How satisfied are or were other clients with the translator? Are you happy with the communication with the translator? Do you trust the translator?
Read here what others say about architextura and how satisfied clients are with our services.
Read here what others say about architextura and how satisfied clients are with our services.
Did you not find your question?
Send us an e-mail and we will answer all your questions as soon as possible!