Frequently Asked Questions

Think of interpreting as a verbal art whereas translation is a written one. Even though these two terms are often used interchangeably, they require very different skillsets and aptitudes. Always be sure to be clear about your requirements so that you have the right people for the job.

A sworn translation refers to a translation that has been certified by a sworn translator. The certification verifies that the translation is a true and accurate translation of the source document.

Documents requiring sworn translation usually include, but are not limited to identity documents, unabridged birth certificates, ante-nuptial contracts, police clearance certificates, contractual agreements, company registration documents and academic transcripts.

Sworn translations are often used in official processes such as visa applications or in international legal processes.

Unfortunately, not. A sworn translator is a qualified and experienced individual who has been appointed by the High Court of South Africa. Sworn translators are also commissioners of oaths, which allows them to certify the translations they produce. From time to time, they may even appear in court to provide interpreting during cases involving foreign nationals.

Unfortunately, not. Sworn translators will only ever certify their own work because they are ultimately responsible for each and every document they certify.

This is not necessary because our sworn translators can work with a clear scanned copy of the document you wish to translate. This gives you the added piece of mind in knowing that your documents are always in the safest hands; yours. However, we do require that the originals are presented to us before we release a sworn translation. In order to complete the certification process, the sworn translator needs to check the scanned copy they received against the original.

This is a tricky question to answer because many factors influence the turnaround time of a translation. These range from the format of the source document to how technical it is, but you can work on a general ball park figure of 6-8 pages per day. Please note that special arrangements can always be made to accommodate shorter deadlines, but our highest priority is always quality.

Unfortunately, not. Apostilles can only be obtained from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Unfortunately, not. As our local sworn translators have been appointed by the High Court of South Africa, their jurisdiction falls within the borders of South Africa. Should you need to use your sworn translation abroad, it will have to be notarized by the Consulate of the country in which it will be used. For example, if you needed the sworn translation of your police clearance certificate for a job application in Germany, you will need to have your sworn translation notarized by the German consulate. Alternatively, you would have to have the sworn translation of your document done in Germany.

The industry norm for simultaneous interpreting is to have two interpreters of the same language pair in one booth e.g. French and English. The interpreters then rotate periodically. This benefits our clients, because the quality of the interpreting is always high while project risk is kept low.

This depends on a number of factors but the general rule is to use simultaneous interpreting during static events such as conferences or workshops and use consecutive interpreting during more dynamic events such as tours or on-job-training. There are lots of permutations to this so always check with one of our consultants first. They are more than happy to help tailor a solution to you.

You can rest assured that there will always be at least one full-time technician who will be on site each day of your event. Our experienced technicians are fully qualified and will be able to address any technical issues which may arise.

Absolutely. The benefit of the PA system is that everyone is the room is always able to clearly hear whomever may be addressing the floor. In the instances where some people generally tend to speak softly, our technicians can immediately adjust the volume using the mixer desk so that the listeners don't miss a thing. PA systems also benefit the presenters because they do not have to overexert their voices by speaking very loudly for very long periods of time.

The set-up of equipment is always done the day before an event. This allows us to test and de-bug any issues. It is not uncommon for conference rooms to be occupied the day before an event. In which case, we will set up after hours.

Essentially, the copy-editor's job is to polish expression while staying true to the author's style and intention. This includes correcting grammar and punctuation errors, spelling, basic fact-checking, formatting and ensuring that text flows well, and that nothing is missing or repeated.

Proofreading is not as intrusive as copy-editing and involves checking proofs before publishing for previously uncaught errors as well as checking that the changes requested by the copy-editor have been made.

Copy-editing takes place immediately after copy has been prepared by the author. The copy-editor then works through the copy methodically and flags areas of concern for the author. The author then works through the comments and the copy is prepared for proofing. At this stage, the proofreader goes through the proof to ensure that the copy is error-free and ready for publishing.

As copy-editors work with copy before it has been prepared as a proof, they generally work with documents in Microsoft Word. This format is preferred because it is easy to track changes, make and resolve queries, and maintain version control. By contrast, proofreaders generally work with Adobe PDFs as the designers would have typeset the text and inserted the artwork.

This is very difficult to measure because copy varies in length and technicality, but we generally maintain a pace of 20-30 pages a day. Please note that this is an approximation only and the turnaround time will always be specified with a quotation. We understand the high-pressure nature of this industry and will always endeavour to meet our clients' deadlines.

It is important to understand that copy-editing and proofreading are collaborative processes and client feedback is crucial. As our valued client, it is important that the total scope of the project is discussed and that all expectations are clearly communicated. In the event, that your organization makes use of an inhouse style guide, please make a copy available to us.