Does the subject matter of the text affect the cost of translation?
Pricing is one of the most complex aspects of translation services. We strive to make our pricing policy as clear and easily understandable as possible. Several factors influence the cost of providing the service. One of them is the subject matter. For example, medical text always involves more effort, because translations that meet the necessary standards usually require a language specialist with medical training. The cost depends on the language also. For instance, working with Nordic languages brings higher costs than Baltic languages do, since the regions differ in their cost of living.
What is translation memory, and why is it important?
As our co-operation continues over time, we accumulate resources that assist with further material. One of these is translation memory, computer-organised databases covering all translations of your source text – the vocabulary used, phrases, and sentences. Whenever you order any new translation work, we consider how we can put the previously translated text to use. Because the translation memory recognises things we have already translated, the work is simpler and we can calculate a lower fee for portions that involve repetitions.
The savings from translation memory typically start having a noticeable impact on the translation budget within about six months to a year after co-operation begins, when the volume of text has grown quite large. The possibility of taking past translations as a guide makes the work of translating faster while also helping to maintain uniform terminology and style. Of course, the collaboration still requires your input, for a smooth process that takes feedback on terms and proposed alternatives into account in good time.
What exactly does a translation-project manager do?
The project manager is the glue holding the translation team together, from beginning to end. This is a proactive person who learns what is important to you and deals with your unique translation problems. The project manager is an expert assistant who always selects the best translation team and work process for the task at hand. For the translation to meet or exceed everyone’s expectations, it is important to know what we are translating, for whom, and why. The project manager takes care of the work with this in mind from the very beginning. This is how we create the perfect bridge between your needs and our skills.
INFORMATION ABOUT SWORN TRANSLATIONS
How do I know whether I need a sworn/official translation?
More and more people are studying or working abroad, starting a business outside their home country, marrying a citizen of another state, or engaging with entities in a foreign country in some other way. These settings often require submitting documents to a foreign authority together with official translations. In most cases, these require a sworn translator.
Under the legislation in force in the Republic of Estonia, all official translations from Estonian into another language or from a foreign language into Estonian from 1 January 2020 onward must be handled by sworn translators and be accompanied by a sworn translator's confirmation. This act transforms them into state-certified official documents.
Engaging a sworn translator’s services is necessary whenever an Estonian or foreign authority requires submitting a document’s official translation, be it a diploma, a register extract, a court decision, a notarial deed, or any similar document. Our sworn translators have amassed many years of experience in translating such documents, and they are well versed in legal matters and international requirements. Alongside the official qualifications, their professional experience and passing national examinations attest to their legal competence and other relevant skills.
What should I check before submitting the documents for translation?
Before providing the documents to a sworn translator, it is definitely worth checking them, whether by reading them yourself or by having their author confirm that everything is as it should be. If you find errors or inaccuracies, you have the option of consulting a notary. The smoother the text is in the source language, the more likely it is that you will be satisfied with the translation and that the reader will find it readily understandable. Importantly, a sworn translator acts as a linguistic mediator in official processes, with the task of conveying the source text’s meaning as precisely and unambiguously as possible in the target language. These translators are guided entirely by the original document – they are not allowed to make any linguistic or substantive corrections.
How should I provide Interlex with the legal document(s) needing translation?
If you’d like to order the services of a sworn translator, we recommend calling us first and, if possible, sending an electronic version of the document to be translated (such as a picture taken on a mobile phone). Sending us a scanned copy of the document by e-mail normally suffices for receiving a price estimate. However, we will need the original document before providing an official stamp confirming the translation. We recommend bringing the original document to our translation office in person or asking a friend or relative to do so on your behalf. If you live abroad or far from Tallinn, you can use registered mail or a courier service to send the papers that need to be translated. We can return all documents to you in the same way.
For use in Estonia, an official translation by a sworn translator may be delivered as a digital document. If you want to receive the translation in this form, please mention it when placing the order.
NB: The Estonian authorities are willing to issue certificates of ‘family events’ (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce certificates) in English, French, and German if necessary. Details are available from the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
How much time should I allow for this service?
To provide results of the highest quality, the sworn translator needs time to delve into the legal nuances of the document, not just time to perform simple translation. The turnaround time depends primarily on the amount of text to be translated, but its complexity is important too. We recommend that you reserve at least a week just in case, so that there is reasonable time for dealing with documents that need to be apostilled.
What is an apostille, and when is one required?
To use a public document issued in one country in another, you need internationally recognised proof of its authenticity. Unless an international agreement provides otherwise, granting the document legal authority for this purpose requires certifying it via what is known as an apostille. Official documents issued in Estonia (e.g., a school diploma, register extract, or notarial power of attorney) that are to be used in another country adhering to the Apostille Convention need to be apostilled.
An apostille is a certificate permanently attached to the document to attest to the competence of the person who signed the original document.
When ordering a sworn translation, determining the purpose for the translation and whether the translation is to be bound to the original document or a copy thereof is a very important first step. Every document must receive its apostille in the country where it was issued. An original document, a notarised or officially certified copy, or a printout/extract from a public document may be apostilled. Notaries have been responsible for apostilling of public documents in Estonia since 1 January 2010. Contact details for notaries can be found at www.notar.ee/et/notarid/nimekiri.
If it turns out that your document needs to be legalised or apostilled, it is important to do this before getting the document translated. The first requires the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the second a notary.
