i-Passage language translation and editing services

Do you need to get a document translated?

Document translation is done by a language-services agency, which may be purely a translation agency or may offer multiple services. The agency may be big or small. Neither size of operation nor scope of services consistently correlate to a given quality of execution.

Do you need a specialist translator?

Very commonly, the actual work is done by a free-lance translator with whom the client does not directly interface. The agency is responsible for knowing or finding a suitable translator. Translators do specialize per applied field – commercial / legal / scientific / creative, etc. An additional quality-filter is post-translation proofing (or editing), which can be included for a fee. This is especially useful for very big jobs which are broken into chunks to be handled by multiple translators.

What are the advantages of finding a translator through an agency?

The agency is a middle-man which means an added cost. You can avoid this by seeking a translator from the ATA website or elsewhere, but then you lose the filtering intelligence of the agency. Translators vary greatly in competence. Bypassing the agency does not necessarily mean losing quality – it just tends to be more unpredictable.

Do you already have a translation but want it proofed? Are you clear on the difference between translating, proofing, editing and formatting?

Proofing is principally searching for and removing errors, whether of translation or within one language. Editing means revision of the content, usually by reduction and clarification rather than expansion. Copy-editing is the refinement of language expression phrase-by-phrase, without content changes. Formatting, in the sense of “desktop publishing,” means editing the physical page/ slide / webpage / etc. layout so that it presents visually as intended.

How do these services work and how are fees for services determined ?

The cost of translation is often based on a word-count (see also here below under “Cost-basis for this service”); a typical low and high range is 5-30 cents per word, with a concentration in the middle at around 10-20 cents per word. The agency might mean an increase of 50% on what the freelance translator is paid. It is probably true that the variability of translator competence is greater and more unpredictable than the variability of pricing.

Services We Provide

We translate documents between Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and English from the business, legal, educational and other domains. The translation can be certified as needed for legal transactions.

We do not operate a large-scale database platform for the systematic translation of very large volumes of materials which are usually split between multiple translators.

We only take work we figure we can to our own satisfaction as well as yours.

Separately, we can cover all editing tasks from proof-reading to the style-editing of original-language texts and translations. This covers both basic written language form (grammar; spelling and punctuation) and also style, tone and structure. Content editing requires two distinct expertises: (i) general, which controls for expression and conforms to the expectations of an “educated reader” per the fore-mentioned features; (ii) technical subject matter expertise, which we do not provide.

We can cover common desktop publishing issues around display documents, including file format conversion. We are not specialists in image and/or video programs, such as those of the Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, etc., or book-ready print programs (Vella, Quark / MS Publisher / …).

Translating Applications

Document Type	Example
Government issued identity docs	– Birth / Death / Marriage Certificate – Driver’s License, voter registration – Public background check
Government-agency issued documentation	– Informational websites & publication – Regulations and/or procedures manual – Forms
Court documents	– Family law judgments (divorce decree, etc.) – Court reporter transcripts – Depositions – Motions and evidentiary submissions
Commercial, legal	– Contracts – Financial statements – Declarations
Educational institutions	– Transcripts – Diplomas – Course descriptions (catalog or extended)
Academic research	– Draft manuscript for article – Prepared text / slide-show / etc. for conference – Questionnaire
Medical documents	– Lab reports – Hospitalization and case history summaries – Referrals
Business	– Marketing materials – Negotiating proposals – informational presentational documents

What Sets Us Apart

Our translations are individual and unique, and quality-controlled by various filters. They will be done on-time. We can be contacted easily and reply promptly; the client is welcome to provide input if s/he is aware of peculiarities in the material or circumstances. For documents with notable graphic features, such as the seals in birth and death certificates, or the table formatting of transcripts, we transpose or recreate these graphic elements and features according to the preference of the client. We only take work we figure we can to our own satisfaction as well as yours.

Our editing services are based on our profiles as individuals, with academic training and industry experience. It cannot be stressed enough how much editing depends on the competence and dedication of the individual responsible. We consider this a niche speciality and a particular strength of i-Passage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I have heard the term “certified translation” used. What does it mean? What about “certified” versus “notarized?” Are there other sorts of official terms? Can you provide a certified translation?

A certified translation can be provided as needed (an ATA certified translator completes the translation and generates a certification document which is attached to the translation; the original is also attached). Certification is usually only required for specific official transactions. For business and academic research purposes, it is generally not required. In education it is required for degree-program admissions purposes.

Can you provide a notarized translation?

Translation, whether certified or not, can be notarized by a notary public (a third party service which we can have done on the client’s behalf).

What is the difference between certification and notarization of a translation?
Do you need one or both, and if so when?

Certification and notarization are often confused but are very different. Certification is the warrant by a translator of the validity of her/his translation of a text. Notarization is the logged verification by a notary public as to the authenticity of a signature (i.e., most frequently, confirmation that the party who signed a document has proved by presentation of legal i.d. documents to the notary that s/he is indeed the signatory). Certification and notarization serve different purposes. Sometimes both are required.

Are other forms of official approval required for specific institutions, situations or foreign countries?

Certification of translation is usually documented in a semi-standard form created by the certified translator. However, certain institutions have their own internal form which must be used instead. For example, county authorities usually require an in-house form for property transfer records. Educational institutions may refer translated and certified transcripts to a review board or agency for final validation. For international legal transactions, a certifying document known as an apostille may be required; this is an authentication form, as used by the U.S. Secretary of State, or an individual U.S. state. The apostille is a legal document for transnational purposes rather than a translation certification. Other countries have their own systems and logic. In Brazil, for example, the usual term for a document for legal purposes is not a certified translation but a tradução juramentada (sworn translation, signed, sealed and stamped), i.e., a translation executed by a tradutor juramentado (a translator both qualified and state-officialized by an oath) and intended for either domestic or international use – so it usually covers both the U.S. domestic certification and the apostille requirements. Mexico lacks a unified system – practices and terms vary per institution. The term “traducción certificada,” adapted from U.S. English, is widely used, as is “traducción peritada” which derives from the official designation of an expert translator (“perito traductor”). Analogous to Brazil, in Spain, the “traducción jurada” is executed by a traductor jurado, qualified as such by successful completion of a national exam and formally registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Argentina, a “traducción pública” is done by a “traductor público,” usually qualified as such by completion of a rigorous university degree in the field.We can help you navigate the likely documentary requirements for a given situation, but this is merely informal advice without legal standing; the final requirements will be determined by the authority involved and may vary from case to case.

Cost Basis for Translation and Editing Services

How It Works