Archive for February 2014

Tuesday 25 February 2014
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Apostilles and Official Translations

Public documents, which include passports, birth and death certificates, patents and more, are crucially important for individuals to have access to in their country of residence.  However, often a public document is needed abroad for use in countries where they were not originally issued.  A type of certificate called an Apostille has thus been created which serves to validate foreign public documents in countries that are a part of the Hague Convention, also known as the Apostille Convention.  These countries have a mutual agreement that an Apostille will suffice as authentication for public documents within countries that are party to the Hague Convention.  As a result, Apostilles facilitate the easy flow of public documents within participating countries making it easy for individuals to utilize these important official papers abroad.

The purpose of an Apostille is ultimately to verify the origin of the public document in question.  However, they do not validate the information contained within the public document.  A valid Apostille certificate has a box shaped outline within which it is identified using the title “Apostille”; there are 10 standard numbered pieces of information and there is inclusion of the Convention’s French title in short form which reads “Convention de La Haye du 5 octubre 1961.”  Other information may also be included in an Apostille such as supplementary information regarding the public document and a reminder that it is invalid for use in the country of issuance.  However, all supplementary information must remain outside of the box shaped outline in order to uphold the validity of the certificate.

An Apostille only serves for public documents in countries party to the Apostille Convention.  The laws in the country of issuance deem whether or not a document qualifies as a public document.  In each country party to the Hague Convention, there are “Competent Authorities” which are the dedicated authorities certified to issue Apostilles.  The cost of an Apostille varies amongst countries and even different Competent Authorities within countries.  When issued, Apostilles are either affixed directly on to the document or can be attached on an allonge, which is a separate page, through the use of a stamp, sticker or other form of adhesive.  They can typically be issued quickly and one day turnarounds are common.


In applying for and using an Apostille, the final step in the process required before submitting all relevant information to the requesting authority in the country the document will be used in is having a certified translator or sworn translator translate the text to the language of that country.  The country of issuance will already have provided the Apostille stamp, however the new country will require conversion of the Apostille to their language through a certified translation.  It is absolutely vital that the translation is completed by an accredited translator in order to reliably substantiate the accuracy of the translated text.  It is important to find a properly certified or sworn translator to complete this last component in the process to ensure that the documents will be accepted and understood in the country where they are to be used.
Friday 21 February 2014
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I translate perfectly into English too

Another aspect potential translation clients must be aware of is the need to have their translation performed by a native speaker of the language into which the translation is to be made. It is important not to overlook the fact that there are many bilingual persons out there but finding someone truly bilingual with the same level of linguistic proficiency in each language is a chore. This is why potential clients must be cautious when someone claims to translate perfectly from one language into another and vice versa. Typically, no-one really speaks more than one language for equal durations daily on a continuous basis; one always prevails over the other for some reason or another.

Some of the biggest signs of a translation having been completed by a non-native speaker of the target language are as follows. Let's take French by way of example. French punctuation typically appears in the format final word - space - punctuation mark, whereas English always follows the format final word - punctuation mark never with any space. This alone can be the bane of an editor's life as a 50 page document could contain such punctuation errors numerous times on each and every page!

Very often when the target language is drafted by non-native speakers it contains a structure that is so close to that of the source language structure that it makes no sense and only comparison with the source document can clarify the intended meaning. A typical example is the structure "the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the company" which is everso faithful to many a source language, including the French mentioned above. A structure that is easier on the ear and eye would be "the company shareholders' annual general meeting". Too many "of the's" in a text clog it up, look clumsy and lack both a professional and natural touch.

It is not to say that only non-native speakers commit such errors, the inexperienced or, dare it be said, less attentive to detail are equally guilty. Such examples highlight the need for care in the translation process and why many established translation companies include editing and proofreading in their fees. No matter how qualified, experienced and careful a translator is, translators are human beings who can overlook the odd out of place comma and hence the importance of paying a little a bit extra to receive a different language version of your document that reflects the professionalism and meaning of your original document in every sense without every "of" and "the" being literally transposed into the new version.

Translations2u is a UK based translation company. Read about us or take a look at our FAQ for an overview of how we work.
Wednesday 19 February 2014
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Stereotyping translators' knowledge

One of the biggest challenges of translating as a profession is overcoming stereotypes. Stereotypes are no new concept and have existed for a long time and in relation to many groups and classes etc. A frequently overlooked fact arising stereotypes of the linguist's profession is that obtaining a reliable translation requires more than just knowledge or even professional working knowledge of a language on the part of the person charged with performing the task.

For general topics that come into the everyday vocabulary of many people or some less technical topics, mere ability to read, write, speak and understand the spoken language can suffice. However, even so, the translator must be capable of correctly expressing the pertinent concepts in the target language. Furthermore, they must be capable of producing the finished work with highly accurate grammar, syntax and spelling.

When the word technical is used in the sense of technical translation, great care must be taken for "technical" applies to  a multitude of sectors. For instance, competence to translate washing machine manuals is not automatic endorsement of competence to translate automotive materials or even safety data sheets. This is why it is essential at the quote seeking stage for potential clients to trust the person they will potentially be dealing with contractually by providing a copy of their all important documents so that the content can be accurately assessed.

This is so regardless of whether the quote is being sought from a translation company or an individual. Surely there can be nothing worse than reaching the contract signed stage of the process only to discover that the content isn't quite what was expected. This brings us on to the fact that alarm bells should ring when a professional from any sector contacts a business to obtain a quote for language work and is not asked to provide a copy of the documents in order to confirm a fee and delivery time. Open communication from the outset avoids costly errors, misspent money and precious time.
Friday 14 February 2014
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Legalities of a wedding in Portugal

In our series of legal requirements for getting married in another country we’ll take a brief look at Portugal.

Portugal is a popular destination for many non-Portuguese nationals to marry with stunning scenery, beautiful venues and rugged coastlines.

To legally marry in Portugal, bride and groom must both be 18 years of age although a marriage may take place with parental consent if bride and groom are aged 16-17. In neither case must the intending spouses be related.

Bear in mind that your ceremony will be performed in the Portuguese language with no exceptions so if this makes you uncomfortable then you can opt to have a Portuguese to English translator present to convey everything that is being said.

Something that makes arranging a wedding in Portugal simpler than in some other European countries is there is no need to have resided in Portugal for any length of time prior to your wedding day.

The most official part of the marriage arrangements in fact takes place before you even arrive in Portugal and an established Portuguese wedding planner can guide you through all the formalities. This is because certain official documents must be provided to the Registo Civil in the area where you wish to marry. The Registo Civil is equivalent to the Registry Office and where births, deaths and marriages are recorded.

Note that some documents must be authenticated, or legalised, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to be accepted by the Portuguese authorities. More about authentication can be found on our Certified Translation page or via the FCO site itself.

If you happen to be resident in Portugal then you must provide your residence permit, otherwise your passport is required and this is one document that need not be translated. Likewise, the Certificate of No Impediment which must be provided does not require translation since this is ordinarily obtained from the embassy and therefore issued in Portuguese.  

Documents which must be translated following the authentication/legalisation process are as follows. Birth certificates and, if applicable, divorce documents and death certificates if one of the intending spouses is widowed. To be accepted in Portugal these translated documents must have been authenticated within the preceding six months.


Unlike the UK, where there is no sworn translation system, the way to have a document recognised by the Portuguese authorities is to ensure your documents are translated by a court sworn translator. This is usually a professional linguist qualified to degree level who is authorised by a district or regional court in Portugal to provide official translations. The on-document certification and accompanying certification with stamp confirms this official status. Contrast this requirement when a document must be translated from Portuguese to English for the UK authorities.
Thursday 13 February 2014
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X, Y and Z

X, Y, Z The final three letters of the Roman alphabet and yet again there are discrepancies between their pronunciation in both the Spanish and Portuguese alphabets.

Spanish pronounces X as "eh-keess" but this letter is pronounced differently depending on where it appears in a word. For instance, it follows the English "eggs" sound of "exam" when the Spanish equivalent "examen" is spoken. However, "experto" likewise follows the English "expert" by using the softer sounding "ecks", or even in the Spanish word for "sixth", "sexto".

Of course, depending on where the Spanish speaker is from there may be more consistent pronunciation of the "eggs" sound and the "ecks" sound throughout the spoken language. Spanish also has a further pronunciation of X and that is the same as the Spanish letter J which requires the guttural "ch" sound like that in many Scottish words.

In the Portuguese alphabet the letter "x" is "sheesh", however Portuguese pronunciation of the alphabet goes a little further than Spanish or English with 'x' having four primary sounds. Firstly, in 'xícara', Portuguese for cup, x is pronounced as "sh" as in "shop", the word xícara being pronounced shee-kah-rah with emphasis on the first syllable.

However, the letter does adopt a more familiar sound, that of "ecks" in a word such as "fênix" or "fénix", meaning phoenix. The "ecks" sound of the Portuguese "x" is softened somewhat when it precedes a consonant and "contexto" is an example of this. This softer pronunciation is also heard in some other words such as the Portuguese for "next" which is "próximo".

Translations2u is a uk based translation company specialising in Portuguese to English translation, as well as English to Portuguese services, in addition to providing English to Spanish translation or a Spanish to English translator for all our clients' business and legal requirements.
Monday 10 February 2014
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A "B" sound that doesn't quite touch the lips

Here is the penultimate instalment in the line of our little mini-series on the pronunciation of the Spanish and Portuguese alphabets. 

 The next letter is V and this letter has a pronunciation that will frequently reveal the status of non-native Spanish speaker. You see the Spanish v is pronounced as a soft b sound in that it the speaker's lips don't quite touch.when saying unlike the letter b which requires the lips to touch completely. It could be thought of as an aspirate b but care must be taken by the non-Spanish speaker nto ensure this  gap between the lips does not sound like a p. The best way to conceive of the differences is simply to practise making the relevant sounds. 

 In Spanish, particularly that spoken in Spain, v is typically pronounced "oo-veh", remembering that soft b sound. However, some other Spanish speakers and very often those from Latin American Spanish speaking countries,tend to refer to this letter as "b pequena" or "b chica". In other words, "little b". This starts to make sense once you are aware of how v is pronounced. Readers will be pleased to know that Portuguese speakers are more consistent by simply pronouncing this letter as "vay" with the v sound being that expected in English and other languages. 

 Moving on to w and the Portuguese alphabet will no doubt again curry favour among non-native Spanish and Portuguese speakers wishing to familiarise themselves with these languages. This is because w is simply pronounced "dawbel-yoo" or "dahbel-yoo" by Portuguese speakers. In Spanish, the soft b sound of v is again required as this letter is typically pronounced "dawbleh-oovay" with emphasis on the "oo". There are instances among Spanish speakers both from Spain and other countries where "dawbleh-vay" is heard with the pronunciation of v being as expected to the anglophone ear. Interesting that the pronunciations in both these languages of "double v" (double vee) is closer to the appearance of this letter than the English which describes it as "double u".

 #Translations2u is a legal translation specialist working between many languages that include the offer of English to Portuguese and English to Spanish translation for all continents. For a Portuguese to English or Spanish to English translator, Translations2u has the specialist knowledge to ensure 100% accuracy. 
Wednesday 5 February 2014
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First step

What happens from the translator’s perspective when you need to have a translation? Well, initial contact is always from a client or prospective client who may be an individual requiring a certified translation of a marriage certificate, for instance, or a company of virtually any size from half a dozen employees to a multi-national undertaking.

Very often clients do not provide the documents that have to be translated. This makes it difficult to quote accurately for the particular project. As a text could contain many industry or field specific references it is necessary to ascertain the exact nature of each document as a translator and editor with a particular expertise or experience could be required. Thus, before we provide a quote, we have to be sure of exactly what is required and that we have the appropriate resources to handle the client’s project.

The content is extremely important since the complexity may require our full quality assurance service to ensure as many checks as possible are performed on the translation or the text may be so standard that we can offer translation with a general review. Providing the document(s) to be translated at the quoting stage is therefore essential to ensuring that we offer clients the best deal possible.


Although we are happy to sign any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements, these are not issues to be concerned with in the majority of instances when simply requesting a quote. This is particularly the case when an individual or business representative contacts a reputable organisation with independent reviews and feedback. For instance, each page of our translations2u website has a link to our terms of business and code of professional conduct as provided by the Chartered Institute of Linguists. Professional accreditation is a step in the right direction toward ensuring the content of clients’ documents are treated in the most professional manner possible from the very first contact.

Translations2u offers multiple language combinations and business translation, technical translation and legal translation expertise including the specialist translation of Sharia law matters. Certified translations and sworn translations are available for many regions.
Tuesday 4 February 2014
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Marrying abroad translation issues

One of the most stressful experiences, we often hear, is planning a wedding. A time when emotions are running sky high and the desire for everything to be 200% perfect is a source of tension with every wedding related phone call.

For many British people in particular, a traditional wedding is a costly affair which often adds to the existing pressure when there really should be none as the event in question is supposed to be the happiest day of a person’s life.

Travelling abroad to get married is an increasingly popular option nowadays for many couples regardless of background or age and can even be a far more cost-effective way of tying the knot. This way the wedding and honeymoon are combined for most couples. In addition – and this depends entirely on your preferred climate - a southern European wedding (or further afield) can come close to a guarantee of blue skies and sunshine coupled with the reduced risk of your big day being a washout.

As an accredited translation company Translations2u often translates marriage certificates from other languages into English and other documents from English to be presented to the authorities of other countries. However, for the latter, intending spouses must check what the relevant authority in the country where they wish to marry actually requires of them to comply with local legislation and what type of “certification” that authority will accept.

Important to note is that different countries set different legal requirements, some require a period of residency, others don’t. Some require additional documents to be translated whereas others require only three essential documents.

Once you have been married abroad, a certified translation into English is easily come by since the UK has no “sworn translator” requirement. Instead the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Institute of Translators and Interpreters set guidelines for the performance of translations that are required for official purposes. Although any competent person can in principle be accepted as a “certified translator”, the authorities, educational establishments and courts always seek a translation certified by a recognised accrediting body such as those indicated above.


Future posts will cover the requirements for getting married in various countries and those considering marrying abroad or looking for advice on translating their personal documents into another language for this purpose are welcome to contact Translations2u for free advice at any time.
Saturday 1 February 2014
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Celebrating the Chinese New Year

For the Chinese, New Year celebrations are amongst the most important events of the year and festivities take place all over the world.  The Chinese New Year is a significant tradition with history dating back over 4000 years.  To put it in perspective, the year that began on January 31st of 2014 marked the beginning of the 4712th Chinese year.

The celebrations span a fairly long time period, beginning on the last day of the last month of the year as per the Chinese calendar and running until the 15th day of the first month of the New Year.  It should be noted that the Chinese calendar is the lunar calendar, meaning that dates do not align with the traditionally recognized calendar months of a year.  As a result, the festivities will typically begin on different calendar days from one year to the next.  There is an animal associated with every upcoming New Year and it is believed that all individuals born within that year will possess certain characteristics relevant to that animal.  There are a total of 12 different animals that are cycled over the years in a rotation.

To prepare for the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Chinese participate in activities that represent bringing about a new life and new beginnings in the New Year.  They spend significant amounts of time freshening up their homes, organizing their lives, ridding themselves of problems, tackling nagging tasks and changing up their personal style.  They take these actions with the intention of turning over a new leaf and setting themselves up for success in the year to come.

Some common themes throughout the celebrations are dragons and the colours gold and red.  To begin, the colour red is a positive symbol in Chinese culture associated with power, happiness and scaring away the bad spirits.  Gold is associated with good fortune.  Gold and red are the typical colours used when decorating homes and venues for Chinese New Year festivities due to their positive symbolism in the culture.  Dragons are also commonly seen as they are recognized symbols of positive things including strength and luck.

The Chinese New Year celebrations begin with a late night feast on New Year’s Eve and a large and extravagant fireworks show when the clock strikes midnight.  From there, the events for the duration of the festivities are focused on enjoying food with close friends and family, exchanging gifts and wishing loved ones well in the new year.  To culminate the celebrations, there is a Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month of the new year.  For this event, people carefully hang and carry beautiful glowing lanterns all over the city.  The lanterns are often painted with care, boasting beautiful designs such as zodiac signs or flowers.  There is also a large parade and a traditional dragon dance.  The entire Lantern Festival is elaborate and rich in traditional culture, making it a highlight for the Chinese who celebrate it and for others who have the opportunity to experience it.

 Translations2u is a UK based specialist in English to Chinese translation and other language translation services.