Translation Glossary

An international certification issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that authenticates documents for use in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. An apostille confirms that a notary public's signature, seal, and title are genuine.

The Association of Translation Companies, the UK trade body for language service providers. ATC members commit to quality standards and ethical business practices.

The American Translators Association, the largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the United States. ATA certification is a respected credential for English-related language pairs.

British Sign Language interpreting for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. BSL is a complete visual language with its own grammar and syntax, distinct from English. Professional BSL interpreters are registered with NRCPD.

Certified translation of birth certificates for immigration, education, or legal purposes. One of the most commonly translated personal documents. Must include all information and stamps from the original.

A translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company confirming that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge. The certification includes the translator's name, qualifications, signature, and contact details. Required by UK authorities including UKVI, DVLA, and universities.

Interpreting where the speaker pauses after a segment (typically a few sentences) while the interpreter renders the message in the target language. Used in business meetings, legal proceedings, and medical appointments.

Computer-Assisted Translation tools that help translators work more efficiently. Features include translation memory, terminology management, and quality assurance checks. CAT tools are not machine translation; they assist human translators.

The Chartered Institute of Linguists, a UK professional body for linguists. CIOL offers the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans), a respected professional qualification for translators.

The translation of written documents from one language to another. Includes business documents, legal contracts, technical manuals, marketing materials, and personal documents. The most common form of translation service.

Certified translation of academic diplomas, degrees, and qualifications. Required for university applications, professional registration, and immigration. May need to accompany NARIC/ENIC credential evaluation.

Certified translation of foreign driving licences for DVLA exchange or international use. UK residents with non-EU licences may need translation to exchange for a UK licence.

A segment in translation memory that is similar but not identical to the current source text. Fuzzy matches are expressed as percentages (e.g., 85% match). Higher percentages require less translator effort and may qualify for discounts.

The Hague Apostille Convention (1961) is an international treaty that simplifies the process of authenticating documents for use abroad. Member countries accept apostilles instead of requiring full embassy legalisation. Over 120 countries are members.

The UK government department responsible for immigration, security, and law enforcement. The Home Office sets translation requirements for visa applications and accepts certified translations from professional translators.

The international standard for translation services. ISO 17100:2015 specifies requirements for translation service providers, including translator competencies, the translation process, quality assurance, and project management. Certification demonstrates professional standards.

The international standard for quality management systems. While not specific to translation, ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that an organisation has robust processes for consistent quality delivery, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

The oral or sign language communication of spoken or signed messages from one language to another in real-time. Unlike translation (written), interpreting happens live and requires immediate linguistic and cognitive processing.

Settlement status in the UK that allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK indefinitely without immigration restrictions. Also known as permanent residence. Applications often require translated supporting documents.

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting, the UK's professional association for translators and interpreters. ITI membership indicates professional standards and commitment to a code of conduct.

The process of authenticating documents for use in countries that are not members of the Hague Convention. Legalisation involves verification by the FCDO followed by the relevant embassy. More complex and time-consuming than apostille.

The translation of legal documents requiring specialist knowledge of legal terminology and concepts in both source and target legal systems. Includes contracts, court documents, patents, and regulatory submissions. Accuracy is critical as errors can have legal consequences.

The comprehensive adaptation of products, services, or content for specific markets. Beyond translation, localisation includes cultural adaptation, currency conversion, date formats, measurement units, and regulatory compliance for target regions.

The combination of source and target languages for a translation. Written as "Source > Target" (e.g., French > English). Some translators work in both directions; others only translate into their native language.

The translation of medical and healthcare documents requiring specialist knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical procedures. Includes patient records, clinical trials, medical devices documentation, and pharmaceutical content.

Automated translation of text by computer software without human involvement. Modern MT uses neural networks (NMT) for improved quality. Best used with human post-editing for professional quality.

Machine Translation Post-Editing: The workflow combining machine translation with human review and correction. MTPE offers cost savings of 30-50% compared to human-only translation while maintaining professional quality.

Certified translation of marriage certificates for spouse visas, name changes, or legal proceedings. Required for UK immigration when marrying abroad or sponsoring a foreign spouse.

The lowest charge for a translation project, regardless of word count. Covers fixed costs of project setup, quality assurance, and delivery. Typically £15-50 depending on service type.

A certified translation that has been witnessed and authenticated by a notary public (a solicitor with a special appointment). The notary verifies the translator's identity and witnesses their signature, adding an official seal. Typically required for international legal use rather than UK domestic purposes.

Advanced machine translation using deep learning neural networks. NMT produces more fluent and natural translations than previous statistical methods. Powers services like Google Translate and DeepL.

A person who has spoken a language from early childhood and has native-level proficiency. Professional translation services typically use translators who are native speakers of the target language for optimal quality.

The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, Australia's certification body. NAATI certification is required for official translations in Australia and recognised internationally.

The UK immigration system for work and study visas that awards points based on criteria such as job offer, salary, qualifications, and English language ability. Replaced the previous work permit system.

The process of reviewing and correcting machine-translated text by a human translator. Light post-editing corrects errors only; full post-editing brings quality to human translation standards. Cost-effective for suitable content.

The price charged for each word of source text translated. The global standard for translation pricing. Rates vary by language, specialisation, and urgency. UK rates typically range from £0.07 to £0.18 per word.

The systematic process of checking translations for accuracy, consistency, and adherence to specifications. QA includes proofreading, terminology verification, formatting checks, and client-specific requirements. Professional services include multiple QA stages.

An additional charge for urgent or expedited translation services. Compensates for prioritisation, extended working hours, and resource reallocation. Typically 25-100% surcharge depending on urgency.

A term used primarily in continental Europe for translations made by officially appointed translators who have sworn an oath before a court or government body. In the UK, "certified translation" is the equivalent standard. Some European countries require sworn translators for official documents.

Interpreting that occurs in real-time as the speaker talks, with only a few seconds' delay. Used in conferences, large meetings, and international events. Typically requires soundproof booths and specialised equipment.

The original language of a document or speech that is to be translated or interpreted. For example, when translating from French to English, French is the source language.

The translation of technical documents such as user manuals, engineering specifications, scientific papers, and software documentation. Requires translators with relevant technical expertise and familiarity with industry-specific terminology.

Creative translation that adapts marketing and advertising content for different cultures while preserving the original message's intent, style, tone, and emotional impact. Goes beyond literal translation to recreate content for the target audience.

Remote interpreting services provided over the telephone. Offers instant access to interpreters in hundreds of languages without the need for in-person attendance. Ideal for urgent situations and short conversations.

A database that stores previously translated segments (sentences or phrases) for reuse in future translations. TM improves consistency, reduces costs for repetitive content, and accelerates turnaround times.

The systematic creation, storage, and management of approved terminology for consistent use across translations. Includes glossaries, term bases, and approval workflows. Essential for brand consistency and technical accuracy.

The language into which content is translated or interpreted. For example, when translating from French to English, English is the target language.

UK Visas and Immigration, the government department responsible for processing visa applications, managing immigration, and making decisions on who has the right to visit or stay in the UK. Part of the Home Office.

Interpreting services delivered via video conferencing, allowing visual connection between parties. Particularly valuable for sign language interpreting and situations where visual cues enhance communication.

The translation of website content for international audiences. Goes beyond text translation to include SEO optimisation, cultural adaptation, and technical implementation. Often combined with localisation for full market adaptation.

The number of words in a document, typically used as the basis for pricing translation services. Professional services count the source document words. Different languages expand or contract during translation.