Common Misconceptions About Certified Translation (And Why They Matter)

Organizations and individual businesses conducting international operations need precise professional translations to handle official text materials such as business agreements and medical records. Certified translations perform dual functions by ensuring both high-quality translation and document authenticity for essential written material.

However, several common misconceptions remain about what certified translation entails and why it is important. Clearing up this confusion matters both for translation service seekers to find providers who fully meet their needs and for qualified translators to have their efforts appropriately valued. This article will tackle five of the most prevalent certified translation myths and explain the reality in plain, factual terms.

Misconception #1: Any Translation Can Be “Certified”

One of the biggest misconceptions about certified translation revolves around the meaning of “certification” itself. Many assume that any translation provider can certify or attest to the accuracy of their work upon request from the client. In reality, certification requires extensive qualifications on the part of the translator.

Certified translators have passed rigorous examinations that test their language skills, subject-matter expertise, translation competence, and ethical standards. Recognized certification is granted by established industry bodies like the American Translators Association (ATA) based on performance instead of merely being self-declared. Non-certified translators may still produce quality work, but they have not yet measured up to the highest standards in a formal, verified process.

Clearing up this basic confusion over the meaning of “certified” is important because buyers deserve transparency regarding the level of qualifications possessed by the translator handling their documents. Declaring any translation “certified” without proper certification dilutes the value of this designation.

Misconception #2: General Translation Experience Is Sufficient

Many translators with extensive general translation backgrounds reportedly do not need certification to handle technical or complex documents. Even though they may have decades of translation experience, certified translators must prove their skills and ethical judgment specifically for their certification language pairs and specialty areas.

For example, a French translator may have done exceptional literary work for 15 years but still not yet demonstrate the legal terminology capabilities required to obtain a certified legal translation designation. Certifications indicate niche expertise beyond simply translation tenure. Attempting specialized documents without targeted certified competencies puts quality at risk.

Clients should receive translations tailored to their precise needs instead of relying solely on a provider’s overall history. Certified specialization matches appropriate subject-matter capability with particular translation projects.

Misconception #3: All Certifying Bodies Are the Same

Since certification plays such a key role in identifying qualified translators, it is also important to understand not all certifications carry the same weight. The global life sciences translation services market size was estimated at USD 1.45 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.43% from 2024 to 2030. There are over 150 translator associations worldwide, but only some adhere to the highest international standards for granting certification based on exam assessment performance instead of just courses or degrees.

For example, the ATA is the leading U.S. organization meeting global industry standards for rigorous certification testing. In contrast, some associations offer credentials without exam-based verification of translation skills. There are also fake credentialing groups that sound official but provide meaningless certification more as a money-making operation. Doing research matters to ensure genuine certification aligned with global quality standards.

Drawing this distinction affects buyers’ ability to determine which providers truly have the most extensively verified capabilities. Since all certifications are not equal in reliability, scrutiny of the granting institution’s standards and practices is warranted.

Misconception #4: Certified Translators Are Only Used for “Official” Documents

People frequently misunderstand that certified translation serves only essential purposes in official settings, including immigration paperwork and academic transcript evaluations. Many clients choose non-certified service options for informal documents because they think certification is unnecessary for everyday business materials.

Certification demonstrates both expert mastery and ethical dedication, which leads to benefits in translating messages of all sizes across multiple industries and use cases. When organizations worldwide want their written content effectively delivered across cultures, they should hire certified translators who translate websites and materials or manage correspondence, reports or any written documents.

Elevating awareness of the value certification contributes even to common documents and increases quality options for global communications, large and small. Certified competency helps messages resonate regardless of legal imperatives.

Misconception #5: Certified Translation Must Be More Expensive

A final common misconception is that certified translation expertise must inherently come with a high price tag that is hard to justify for many buyers’ budgets. While substantial education, testing, research, and dedication to ongoing professional development are required of certified linguists, translation costs ultimately depend more on factors like language combinations, specialty subjects, deadlines, and document length.

Professional certified translators provide detailed quotes tailored to each project, with some even specializing in affordability for volume requests. Just as with lawyers or accountants, rates vary based on seniority and the complexity of the assigned work. Reasonable certified translation needs no more to be out of financial reach than hiring any specialized skilled service provider. Competent certified professionals are available at accessible prices for individual and organizational needs, large and small.

Certified translators provide transparent cost information, which dispels the misconception that certification equals costly services. Purchasers should not let inaccurate beliefs stop them from seeking professionals who charge rates aligned with their language skills range and subject knowledge.

Conclusion

With cross-border business functions and global mobility only increasing, high-quality certified translation is becoming increasingly important for transmitting messages accurately across languages and cultures. However, the gaps between common consumer assumptions and the reality of certified translation qualifications, value, and accessibility still need to be addressed through transparent education.

Whether simply unclear on the meaning of “certified,” harboring misguided views tying certification exclusively to “official” documents or assuming certifications are uniformly rigorous, buyers deserve facts. Similarly, qualified linguists who have undertaken extensive verification of capabilities should have those efforts recognized when potential clients request their services.