Translations for U.S. Immigration
What is translation?
Translation is to render or convert (written or spoken words) into another language. Restating written words into another language is “translation” by translators while reproducing verbal communication into another language is “interpretation” by interpreters. The word of translation is more frequently used than rendering or rendition. It is simply restating or expressing words from one language into another language.
Qualities of good translations
Authenticity - transparency: this relates to the quality of translation that a native (mother tongue) speaker feels that translation was originally written in native language. Perfect localization achieves this purpose by taking into consideration the cultural differences. Professional bilingual translators prefer to translate into native language rather than from native to foreign language. Reason is simple: native translator is more familiar and updated with his/her own culture, news, and local events and his/her translation is free of any distortion.
Fidelity - faithfulness: Translated text must accurately render the meaning of the source text without adding or deleting any information or data and without intensifying or weakening any part of the meaning. See Wikipedia more on these subject.
Many U.S. government agencies, universities, colleges, and other public and private agencies require certification of translations to make sure that professional rendition of documents into English. See certified translation for green card as an example.
Translation is more than word-for-word rendition
Each language has its own idioms and colloquial use of words. Word-for-word translation does not carry such linguistic factors and does not reflect the intended meaning. That's why machine language translation cannot be used for legal, medical, and many other translation purposes. Words in electronic dictionaries are without context and can be interpreted in different ways and cannot understand the meaning intended by the author in other language. Human translators can do that.
Directory Classification of Translation Services
Open Directory Project (ODP) category classification of language services
Business > Business Services >Translation
Science > Social Sciences > Language and Linguistic > Translation
Yahoo! category classification of translation services
Business and Economy > Business to Business > Translation Services
Social Science > Linguistic and Human Languages > Translation and Interpretation > Online Translators
