When looking for Chinese translation services, how can you gauge the Chinese translators’ qualifications?
The American Translators Association (ATA) has certification exams for different languages, including Chinese. The ATA exams are stringent: the average passing rate is merely 15%. The ATA certification is the best attestation to translator competency available.
Credentials for English to Chinese translation services
The ATA has a certification exam for English to Chinese translation. The passing rate for the ATA certification exam of English to Chinese translation is about 14%.
Credentials for Chinese to English translation services
The ATA launches the Chinese to English certification exam in 2018. No data is yet available regarding ATA certified Chinese to English translators.
Criteria for ATA Certification Exams
Unlike most other exams, the passing score of ATA certification exams is -18. The -18 is the maximum points deducted in order to get certified.
The passages used in ATA examinations are extremely challenging, and the grading criteria stringent — any errors, omissions, and additions (as small as using “and” instead of “or”) are regarded as mistakes.
For sample passages of English to Chinese ATA examination, see here. Scroll down to “Sample Errors & Comments.”
After becoming ATA certified, translators must submit continued education units (CEUs) periodically in order to maintain the ATA credentials.
Distinction of translation vs. interpretation
People often use the word “translation services” with reference to language services in general, and use “translators” to refer to linguists as a whole. But do you know the differences between a translator and an interpreter?
Here is the answer: A translator works on written documents, whereas an interpreter works on spoken words. Translators and interpreters possess very different skill sets. Some people are both translators and interpreters; however, others focus primarily or exclusively on one but not the other. Read our blog Skill Comparison: Translators vs. Interpreters for more information.
