Thread: Translation rules formatting

Hi Everybody,
I am new to this forum and I have a question. A friend of mine and I are debating about what is correct to do when we need to translate a document (e.g. a birth certificate) that has "boxes", lines, etc in the text. I have seen official translations that ignore the format of the document (i.e. they use "sections" or "numbers" or "rows") and concentrate merely on translating the text. My friend, on the other hand wants to "reproduce" (like a photocopy) the same document (inlcuding bozes, lines, etc.) In other words, she wants to have the same exact document as the original but in English. Is that correct? (I think that we can't reproduce formats that belong to institutions, goverments, etc. all we do is translate the text). Can somebody comment on this and better if there is one place (or website) to check?.
I appreciate your help. Thanks!

Hi! You should ask a Certified Translator to do that kind of translation. It is not an easy task and a Translator has the knowledge to do it correctly.

Good luck!

M

That's a great question, please post whatever you find out! I would probably agree with you in that aspect, although I don't know for sure, but perhaps if the translation is certified afterwards the exact reproduction of the boxes, etc. would not matter as long as it has the proper certification for it. Let us know!

According to my experience, it depends on what your hirer is asking you to do, not necessarily on what kind of text you're translating. Sometimes they ask you to put the translation exactly in the same format as the original, but to do so you need to have the program in which the original was made. Nevertheless, this is not the norm, at least in Mexico.

The usual is to translate the text only, without paying attention to the format, respecting only italics and boldface letters.

As Mirta said, consulting with a certified translator would help.

Originally Posted by rvaldivia

Hi Everybody,
I have seen official translations that ignore the format of the document (i.e. they use "sections" or "numbers" or "rows") and concentrate merely on translating the text.

You're right. At least in Argentina, in my Colegio de Traductores to cerify an official translation I don't have to leave blanks, just translate as a contract.

Hope it helps!