Certified Translation Services

May 2, 2016
At-symbol-cannot-be-translated

A Symbol that Needs No Translation: the @ Sign

History of the @ Symbol On typewriters, @ was a seldom used key, but throughout the years, this character has become one that symbolizes modern electronic communication across the globe. Did you know the first documented use of @ was in 1536, but was not really used again until 1971? Over the years, the @ sign has been used for many specific purposes, but its importance was never fully understood until it became used in the information technology realm.   How the @ Sign Translates in Other Languages In English, we know that this sign, @, means at, but what is it referred to in […]
April 25, 2016
translation-projects

How to Complete Large Translation Projects

Generally, translators have different ways of dealing with texts that can change based on several factors: level of experience, type of text being translated, size of text being translated, familiarity with the topic, available resources, available time (closeness of deadline), and personal preference. In the event of taking on a large translation job, it is wise to keep in mind a few things along the way: Divide Up the Work It is essential not only in the field of translation, but also for almost any profession to consider dividing up working into manageable chunks. Creating milestones is a great way […]
April 4, 2016
about translation and transcription

A Word about Transcription and Translation

Let’s take a moment to compare and contrast transcription and translation – terms that are similar, but different. The two are connected to language, but they are different in numerous aspects. In simple words, transcription is copying or summarizing something (such as an audio recording) into written form, word for word. In transcription, only a single language is involved. Translation is, of course, as we have discussed on this blog several times, translating a written document from one language to another. More about Transcription                 Transcription has two approaches to get the job done: It includes either using written, summarized material to be transcribed […]
March 21, 2016
translation-tips

How to Become a Good Translator

A translator must take on a translation assignment with a clear mind, being careful to avoid judgments or thoughts of how to make the text better. Experienced translators never give in to the temptation of trying to make his or her translation better than the original. The best translators are the best because of his or her invisibility: contributing nothing new to the translated material and never distorting the original text’s meaning. A translator should not make any changes at all to the text he or she is translating, not only because that would be distorting its meaning, but also because […]
March 11, 2016
english-to-spanish-translation

Top Challenges for Spanish-English Translators

Because Spanish is a Latin-based language (also referred to as a Romance language) it is markedly different than English, which is a Germanic language. These differences in origin create several challenges when translating into Spanish or vice versa. There are some obvious challenges a translator can encounter that we will discuss in this blog post. An adjective is generally located after a noun in the Spanish language, which of course is not the case in English and is something that native English speakers often have a hard time remembering. Spanish speakers can have a hard time forming negatives or interrogatives […]
February 22, 2016
translation-types

Types of Translation Services

Translation has become increasingly popular in recent years. Those not familiar with the language services industry might think that the translation process is very easy and that the only requirement for a translator is the ability to speak a second language. However, the translation process is more complex than it seems and varies among various fields. For example, the translation process for the legal field is incredibly different than the translation process for the medical field. Below is a list of some common translation types in the industry: Business Translation This is also known as administrative translation. Business is conducted […]
February 15, 2016
legal-translation

Legal Translation

Legal translation requires a translator with a legal background or familiarity with legal terminology. Our legal translators in Los Angeles and around the country all have experience translating various types of legal documents including contracts, Court and witness transcripts, depositions, confidentiality agreements, wills and trusts, complaints, policies, licenses, litigation documentation, arbitration translations, and much more. One thing that complicates matters is the even though legal documents might be written in English, they contain verbiage that is almost like a different language and requires a specially trained person to understand it, whether or not it is being translated into another language […]
January 1, 2016

Translation Tips

Even if you primarily translate technical materials, legal contracts, resumes, and so on, keep reading and writing. Why? Good translation is an art based on good reading and writing skills. Read as often as you can in all your languages. This will help keep your non-native language skills up to par. For example, consistent practice reading and writing in your second or third language will increase your ability to understand idioms and the latest terminology. Read and write in your native language, too, because these are skills that are necessary no matter which language you are dealing with. If you are looking […]
December 4, 2015
spanish-translation-cliches

Lost in Translation: Top Challenges with Language Translations

At Executive Linguist Agency, we have done numerous written translations over the years with most of them being English-to-Spanish translation and vice versa.  It is the job of a skilled translator to recreate a document in the target language without distorting its meaning. Translating from one related language to another (from Spanish to Italian, for example) can minimize inaccurate translations, but nuances still exist. Here are some of the typical language translation challenges that arise: Sentence Structure In English, a simple sentence is structured with the subject, verb, and object – in that particular order. For example, “Pablo translates documents” […]