What is the problem with names and certified translations?

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Rules For Translating Names

Have you ever wondered how languages were formed and which names are used in certified translations? Who was the first person who decided to give proper names to different things, did they use symbols initially to communicate with each other and who even came up with the correct spellings for English names? Why is the American language different than the European accent? Well, as much as you have never thought about these rules, these dilemmas can become a nightmare if you have an official document and your chosen translation services or translator decides to translate names, especially for certified translations.

With the advent of technology, translators have started relying more on machines. In a sense, they are not wrong to do that. In certain instances, texts are meticulous; tables contain hundreds of pages and letters with repetition of words. These specifications make it harder for the translator to go through every word and find its meaning, so they prefer machine translation. However, there are some rules associated with translating proper names and tables. A professional translator understands that merely interpreting the words of a certain document won’t work.

Proper names for Certified Translations

The translator must follow the rules to translate a document containing product names, proper names, personal names, and place names. He must understand the nature of the document, the cultural terms, language usage, and dialect while assuring that the translated item is culturally appropriate, understandable for the intended audience, and preserves the message in its original form and settings.

Can You Translate A Name?

It is a tricky question. Language is an important part of the culture. Translators must be cautious with some specific characters and follow certain rules while dealing with name translations for multiple languages. For instance, some product names are trademarks and universally known by the same name. These could be enterprises, merchandise, a food chain, or a fashion brand. With such names, translators keep the original, proper names in the translated versions. Similarly, you are not supposed to translate a person’s name or a building name, but if the name is unpopular or comes from a remote language, it may be asked to be translated into English. Moreover, certain names have different meanings in different cultures. Therefore, it all comes down to the translator’s good handling of names in such situations.

What Is The Problem With Names And Certified Translations?

Certified translations are required mainly by American immigration, USCIS, government agencies, offices, embassies, and during employment. Certified translations come with a certificate of accuracy signed by the translator himself. Changing names or spelling is more complex than it sounds for such an important and sensitive document.

A birth certificate, for example, is used on many occasions throughout life, which is why its contents must be interpreted professionally and not by a machine. The proper names stated in the certificate must be kept the same as the original document, but if it includes the name of a hospital and the word hospital, he might need to translate that as well. The most common problem with translating names is that translators, if not professionally qualified to undertake a specific task or have some ambiguity about the target language, could forget the purpose of the translation and the native speakers who will read it. In such cases, using machines can make things worse.

Another problem while translating names

Another problem while translating names is when a text involves technical information, chemical nomenclature, periodic tables, and data from a specified field. Such contents are vital and cannot be jeopardized at any cost. This is where substitution rules come in.

In business, letters and press releases are translated to reach a larger audience. They often contain product names, properties, brand names, and several other components that require special attention during conversion.