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NYC Legal
Notary · Translation
NAATI Frequently Asked Question

Can a machine translation simply be signed off by a credentialed practitioner?

Direct Answer

A practitioner is answerable for every word they sign. Certifying output that has not been fully revised runs against the professional code and invites the kind of errors that get documents rejected.

In-depth Answer

Machine translation handles ordinary prose well, but Thai official documents produce a recurring set of specialised failures: Buddhist-era years left unconverted, government body names rendered literally when an official English name exists, personal names romanised inconsistently with the passport, document and ID numbers silently reformatted, and text inside seals missed entirely because it is an image.

A practitioner working to standard may use tools such as translation memory or a termbase, but must revise every line against the source before signing, because the signature and stamp are a statement that the content is accurate and complete.

Clients who want assurance can ask about the revision workflow and who performs the final check.

Related questions

Translation for Australia

Documents most Australia visa applicants translate into English

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