Legal and Medical Translation Flashcards

What does a 'certified translation' typically mean in the US legal context?

Answer: A translation accompanied by a signed statement attesting to its accuracy and completeness

A certified translation includes a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator or agency, attesting the translation is complete and accurate.

Which US government agency requires certified translations of foreign documents for immigration purposes?

Answer: USCIS

USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) requires certified translations of all foreign-language documents submitted with immigration applications.

Why is legal translation considered a specialized field?

Answer: Legal terminology is jurisdiction-specific and mistranslation can have serious legal consequences

Legal systems and terminology differ significantly across jurisdictions, and errors can affect rights, obligations, and legal outcomes.

What is a 'notarized translation'?

Answer: A certified translation whose translator's signature has been notarized by a notary public

A notarized translation has the translator's signed certification acknowledged by a notary public, confirming the authenticity of the signature.

What is 'equivalence of effect' in legal translation?

Answer: Producing a target-language document that has the same legal force and meaning as the original

Legal translations must convey the same rights, obligations, and legal meaning as the source document to have equivalent legal effect.

Why must medical translators understand both source and target medical terminology?

Answer: Mistranslation of dosages, diagnoses, or procedures can directly harm or kill patients

Errors in medical translation can lead to misdiagnosis, improper treatment, or dangerous drug interactions with potentially fatal consequences.