Glossary

PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION

Professional translations are carried out by a linguist whose mother tongue is the target language of translation. The translation is verified, in turn, by a proofreader and by the Project Manager.

FIRST-DRAFT TRANSLATION

First-draft translations are carried out by a single translator. They are meant to be informal translations for the internal purposes of a business, institution or individual client and therefore do not require complete accuracy. They are normally used to cut down on expenses, when translating documents that do not require certification.

PROOF-READING

Proofreading is meant to correct errors made in the 'draft' translation. It deals mainly with grammar, spelling, punctuation or diacritic marks (if any). Our proofreaders are usually native speakers with extensive experience, used to coping with all kinds of challenges.

SWORN TRANSLATION/INTERPRETING

Sworn translations are carried out by a sworn translator, i.e. a professional linguist of impeccable reputation who has been duly sworn. Sworn translations are required mainly for official documents.
This type of translation requires the authentication of the translation in compliance with the original document. Such an authentication in the form of the translator's statement with his/her hand signature and seal can be delivered by a sworn translator. If the client has presented a copy, instead of the original document for translation, the sworn translator indicates in his/her statement that the translation is true to a copy of the original.
Under a regulation of Court-appointed experts and sworn translators given by the Polish Minister of Justice on 8 June 1987 (Official Gazette, 23 June 1987), a page-unit of sworn translations is equivalent to 1,125 keystrokes. Whenever this is exceeded, even by as little as ten keystrokes, the rounding is up carried onto the next page unit i.e. every unit started counts as a full unit. In sworn translations, every single document is charged separately. Copies of sworn translations are charged at the same price as the original. Sworn translations usually apply to types types of contracts, legal documents and documents required by public authorities, including birth, marriage, and death certificates.

Sworn interpretating is carried out mostly at a notary's offices, during court hearings or police interrogations of foreign nationals, and for the signing of international contracts requiring notarisation. Sworn interpreting is usually consecutive. As with all other kinds of consecutive interpreting, the pricing unit is in a 4-hour block.

CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

A certified translation is a translation made by a translator or translation agency, properly licensed and accredited in the UK. This type of translation is used mostly in translating official documents for public institutions in the UK, e.g:

The Home Office,
Naric,
SIA,
Consulates, etc.

SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING

Simultaneous interpreting is used during international meetings attended by a large number of participants, e.g. at conferences, where specialist equipment is required. The interpreter works from a sound-proofed booth, equipped with a headset and sound control system, and s/he interprets the source text whilst it is being delivered by the speaker.
This job requires extensive experience, knowledge and an ability to concentrate. In the booth, there are usually two interpreters who take it in turns to work, whilst their partner takes a break.
The pricing unit of simultaneous interpreting jobs is in 4-hour blocks.

Polish Translators Ltd. also offer whispered interpreting where, during the source text delivery, the interpreter whispers his/her interpretation directly to his client sitting next to him. This type of translation is useful when a single person does not know the language of the meeting. The pricing unit of whispered interpreting jobs is in 4-hour blocks.

CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING

Consecutive interpreting is used during international meetings and conferences. The interpreter relays the speaker's message when the speaker pauses between text segments (sentences or paragraphs). The pricing unit of consecutive interpreting jobs is in 4-hour blocks.

OVER-THE-PHONE INTERPRETING

Over-the-phone interpreting is a fast and efficient method of interpreting that is gaining popularity. In an age of modern technology, a client need not go to a translation agency to arrange a meeting with an interpreter but rather use the service without leaving his home.

SUBTITLING

Subtitling consists of text versions of the dialogue/commentary that appear at the bottom of screen, usually in films but also in TV programs etc.
Polish Translators Ltd. boasts extensive experience in this field, having worked on numerous subtitling projects both in Poland and in the UK.

DUBBING

Dubbing is the recording of a film, TV series or computer game soundtrack by replacing a foreign language soundtrack with dialogue in the language of the audience, e.g. from English to Polish.
In Poland the dubbing technique is only just beginning to become popular, but is slowly becoming more seriously recognised. This type of film interpreting is particularly popular with childrens' films and TV series.

TRANSCRIPTION

Transcription is a typewritten version of sound, i.e. a written rendition of the spoken language. Examples include dialogues, presentations, or cassettes/CD/TV soundtracks. Our transcription service is most frequently used during Court hearings.