Often, professional translators are asked questions such as, “My aunt is fluent in French, why can’t I have her translate my business website?” These types of questions often arise when a business owner is considering whether or not to seek out professional San Jose translation services for their needs. The difference between being bilingual and holding a certification in translation is often questioned when business owners are deciding who will translate their website content, legal documents and other information. It is important to understand that, while a bilingual individual and a professional translator may both have knowledge of a language, they are not the same.
What does “bilingual” mean?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a bilingual person as one who is, “able to use two languages, especially with equal fluency.” Unlike a certified translator, persons who are considered to be bilingual are not necessarily native speakers of both languages, nor have they been immersed in their second language for several years.
What about “translator?”
A translator is defined as one who, “turns words into one’s own language or another language, especially as a profession.” The most important thing to be gathered from this definition is that translation is a profession. Translators possess the appropriate skill set and comprehension of the language necessary to make an accurate, thorough translation from one language to another.
What’s the difference?
It is said that not all bilingual individuals can translate, and not all translators are bilingual. A certified translator specializing in San Jose translation services is most qualified to produce accurate, reliable translations of written documents. Bilingual individuals may possess conversational language skills, but most have not studied at a graduate level or spent years living immersed within the culture of the given language as certified translators have.
Business owners cannot afford to cut corners in the area of translation services. Having a bilingual friend or relative “take a look at” documents and provide a translation is a dangerous practice. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of the cost of a professional, certified service before making the decision to risk the credibility of your business by having an under qualified person translate your business documents.
The Marketing Analysts Translation Service is a professional translation company that strives to provide only the most accurate, readable, mistake-free translation of your important business documents.
