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Accuracy of the expression "Translator's Note"
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Thread poster: paula ribeiro

Accuracy of the expression "Translator's Note"

Derek Gill Franßen

Germany
Local time: 07:26
German to English
+ ...

It depends...

Nov 21, 2009

paula ribeiro wrote:
I've been asked about the legitimacy of inserting a Translator's Note in certificates for example, regarding marks and anything that has no direct equivalent in English. Would that be a correct note?

[emphasis added]

I think that it depends on the situation.

I agree that translator's notes are legitimate in certificates for illegible signatures and the like, as Jenn pointed out, as well as in the cases that Henry mentioned.

I do not, however, think that grades should be explained (which is what you asked), nor should the translator include an explanation about the grade scale, if it is not in the original.

There is usually a person, department, organization, or government agency that is responsible for assessing and transferring grades given by foreign institutions; they will know the various scales and meaning of the grades.

I think that a translator's note would be superfluous in that particular case.

paula ribeiro

Portugal
Local time: 06:26
English to Portuguese
+ ...

TOPIC STARTER

Thank you again!

Nov 21, 2009

Thank you Aleksander, sometimes it is hard to have a serious perspective and stand by my work, in fear of losing the client. But I agree, and I did agree with the client about putting in the note regarding the marks, however, they decided to put in a series of explanations regarding the kind of training it was, to which I objected and that was it...

Now, regarding what Derek said, at least with everyone I have worked with so far, the consensus lies in putting the notes specifically for grade scales. I understand what you are saying, but from what I've seen, the practise has been to explain that it is "on a scale of 1/20" for example. Otherwise I try to avoid them.

Lawyer-Linguist

Portugal
Local time: 06:26

Member (2004)
Dutch to English

Speaking from experience ...

Nov 21, 2009

Derek Gill Franßen wrote:
There is usually a person, department, organization, or government agency that is responsible for assessing and transferring grades given by foreign institutions; they will know the various scales and meaning of the grades.

... they often don't know. I'm busy assisting my elder daughter with her foreign university applications. You'll be surprised how little is known, and how much explaining needs to be done. I would have thought a GPA of 19.1 speaks for itself, it doesn't. Yes, I know there are agreements on equivalence in place, but in many cases the information hasn't filtered down to the people actually processing the applications.

There is no harm including a footnote saying that Portuguese schools/universities award marks from 1-20. It's a mere statement of fact. In this case, the translator is not expressing an opinion on equivalence, just providing some rather essential background information.

I wouldn't go further than this though. It's not our job as translators to 'enter the arena', so to speak.

[Edited at 2009-11-21 16:42 GMT]

Aleksandar Gasic
Montenegro
Local time: 07:26
English to Serbo-Croat
+ ...

but...

Nov 21, 2009

It's not our job as translators to 'enter the arena', so to speak.

A moot point, somewhat. I see what you mean, but what if the translation is rather meaningless without some deeper explanation? Some time ago, I had to translate some diplomas from the late 19th century. E.g. a student graduated from "realna gimnazija". What translation would a "real gymnasium" make in the American point of view? Germans would perhaps figure it out, since it was their system, but...