What does a translator actually do?
Chances are you have never met a translator before and perhaps you assumed they had become extinct after the rise of Google Translate, DeepL and ChatGPT. While such tools can come in handy, they are and will remain just tools. When the stakes are high and you need quality translation, hiring a professional is still your best option.
A professional translator possesses a thorough knowledge not only of the languages they translate from and into, but also of the culture of the countries where those languages are spoken. Translation is not solely about converting words, but also about conveying the original author’s message and ideas. A translator is a critical reader who wants to understand every aspect of the original text. Once they are armed with all the facts, they create a translation that is linguistically perfect and that fully meets the reader’s or user’s needs.
As a company, you want to make a professional impression on existing and potential clients. Careless, typo-ridden texts undermine the quality of your products and services. Free online machine translations may look good at first glance, but when critical consumers or potential investors examine them more closely, they will take their business elsewhere. Missing business opportunities because of a dubious translation will cost you more in the long run than hiring a professional in the first place. After all, it is your company’s reputation that is on the line.
Example situation
You work for an international corporation that has a successful blog in English. You think that the blog would also be of interest to the Dutch market, but it is key that the translations of the blog articles blend in with the Dutch branch’s own marketing communications.
Legal translation
Your legal documents, delivery terms or notarial deeds for example, are drawn up with the utmost care and they need to be translated with the same level of care. You do not want to have an argument with a vendor because the translator translated voidable as void. Incorrect or inconsistent terminology is grist to a cunning lawyer’s mill should you find yourself facing a vindictive plaintiff.
Such worst-case scenarios are easily avoided by employing the services of a professional translator with sufficient legal knowledge to identify the pitfalls. I have a lot of experience translating common legal documents such as Terms and Conditions and privacy policies, but I am also familiar with employment agreements and articles of association, for instance.
Example situation
Next month you have a meeting with a Dutch agent who you hope will sell your products in the local market on your behalf. You want to be absolutely sure that your Dutch partners fully understand their obligations under the draft agency agreement. You need the agreement translated into Dutch no later than one week before next month’s meeting to prevent any delays.
Marketing translation
Your newsletters, product descriptions and website content have a clear purpose: making a sale. Your marketing content is aligned to your company’s goals and your clients’ need, and has its own distractive tone of voice. The translation has to reflect this tone of voice if you want to reach an international audience.
A great marketing translator keeps the target audience in mind because what is a witty advertisement in one language, may sound inappropriate in another. Cultural differences can also make your marketing less effective. To give just a simple example, the Easter bunny is not a bunny in the Netherlands, but a hare. A seasoned marketing translator acts like an extra member of your marketing department and makes sure you can sell well in another language.
Example situation
You own holiday lets in the countryside and you receive rave reviews from your Dutch and Belgian visitors. An appealing Dutch-language website could help to significantly increase your revenue.
Certified translation
As a sworn translator, I can offer certified translations, which are authenticated translations of official documents such as notarial deeds, judgements and documents from the company register. Another example could be a contract that is the subject of a lawsuit between you and a foreign company. A certified translation of this contract provides a legally valid document that you may need for that lawsuit or for government procedures in the Netherlands or elsewhere.
I am registered as a sworn translator in the Netherlands in the Sworn Interpreters and Translators Register under Wbtv Number 16467 for the following language combinations: English into Dutch, Dutch into English, French into Dutch and Dutch into French. While I primarily translate from English and French into Dutch, I do not compromise on quality when translating from Dutch into English or French.
A frequently asked question is whether my certified translations are also valid in Belgium. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Belgium has its own legislation for certified translations. If you need the translation outside of the Netherlands, local authorities may impose additional requirements, such as an apostille or legalisation. I strongly recommend that you to verify carefully with the local authorities exactly what they require from you. If necessary, I can arrange the apostille or legalisation at the local Dutch district court for an additional fee.
Example situation
A summons from the Netherlands has arrived by registered post this morning, but it is in Dutch. The legal department has figured out who the claimant is and what might be the date of a court hearing, but what it all says precisely…