The rules governing translation of legal and official documents into English in Singapore are very rigorous since English is the official language of the government and the courts. As mentioned earlier, Singapore is a diverse country with several languages being spoken by the population, thus the significance of translation and interpreting services in the provision of services and in the judicial sector. Original documents and certified translations, completed by accredited translators, must be provided in order to meet the legal standards.
Legal Requirement for Certified Translations
Several laws and government policies mandate or recommend the use of certified translations for legal and official purposes in Singapore:Several laws and government policies mandate or recommend the use of certified translations for legal and official purposes in Singapore:
- The Legislation in question is called The Administration of Justice (Language) Act and according to it, the proceeding in courts must be in English. Therefore, any documents, whether original or copies, that are presented to the courts such as affidavits, judgment, contracts and other relevant documents must be translated into English by a competent translator.
- According to the Interpretation Act, the English version of the legislation takes precedence over the others. Authoritative English translation is hence necessary for understanding and applying Singapore laws.
- Foreigner identification documents, birth certificates, academic transcripts, and other documents used by government agencies need to be accompanied by a translation into English. These English translations often require an official legalisation to be accepted.
Certification Standards for Translators
In order to come up with certified English translation that is court admissible in Singapore, there are strict certification measures for the translators in terms of their academic background, experience, specialization, quality of their translations and also proof of qualification.
The key criteria include:
- Formal educational background, for example a university degree, an advanced diploma or certificate course in translation
- Passing examinations and certification of proficiency in various languages
- Specific work experience in legal or medical interpreting
- Accurate records and positive reviews from clients
- Affiliation with professional bodies (e. g. Singapore Association of Translation and Interpretation)
- Certification to the ISO quality standards on translation services
The Certification Process
Certified translators must also undergo application and renewal of certification in order to make sure that their certifications are still active. The usual certification steps comprise:The usual certification steps comprise:
- Bona fide check – Court translators should be persons of good character and should not have any criminal record.
- Social Security number verification through census/work documents
- Education qualifications check – minimum level: Bachelor’s degree in translation studies or any other related field
- Review of previous works to check the qualification of the translator
- Awareness of code of conduct and confidentiality policies
- Conformity to the quality assurance agreement and practices
- Declaration of previous experience/specialization to be filled and signed by an existing client.
- Payment of certification fees
Translation Service Quality Matters
As certified translations are used in legal proceedings, it is important to select a reliable translation agency that offers accurate translations and maintains quality control. Hallmarks of reliable services are:Hallmarks of reliable services are:
- Local professional translators who are well conversant with the Singaporean system
- Application of computer aided translation tools
- Multiple proofreading and editing
- Adherence to the conventions of Singapore English in particular
- Comparing the findings of analysis to the source text
- Copyright and confidentiality clauses
For this reason, certified translators have to constantly update themselves and renew their credentials in order to offer translations that can meet the new legal requirements. The best agencies seek to incorporate technology, training and testing to ensure that they offer their clients legal translation services.