SAPT brings together professional translators and interpreters. We have been working as an association for over a decade, since 2005. Our main mission is to improve the quality of translation and interpreting services and define the standards to be applied to these services.
Professional translators and interpreters
Members of SAPT don’t advertise the fact that they are professional translators and interpreters. Professionalism is a nice catchword which grabs the attention of clients, but for us the label “professional” means a lot more. A translation and interpreting professional is someone who works full-time in this job. Someone for whom it is only a temporary job or extra income can hardly call themselves a professional. Our members are specialists, thanks to their education, experience, translation and interpreting skills and constant efforts to enhance their expertise and devote themselves to their profession.
Tip: Choose an interpreter or translator by area and/or location to find the professional that meets your needs.
Accredited members
Our members have the opportunity to become so-called accredited members. This means that they go through a process that checks their experience and translation and interpreting skills. Accredited members are approved by an accreditation board, either based on their meeting one or several accreditation criteria and/or passing an accreditation exam. Accredited members include the best translators and interpreters whom we consider as leading examples and natural authorities in our profession.
Tip: If you notice the label “accredited member” next to a SAPT member’s name, you can be sure that their skills have been thoroughly tested and reach the highest level among SAPT members.
Improving the quality of translation and interpreting services
Since even preschool children are now being taught languages, it comes as no surprise that people who do not even master basic spelling can call themselves language experts. Often there is not enough time to check out the quality of the person whose services you are using. This can lead to low quality translations, which you have certainly experienced at first hand yourselves, whether on the internet, on television or in translated books. At best this can be a source of amusement; at worst it can cause an international faux pas.
Here at SAPT, we believe it is of utmost importance to avoid any work-related blunders in our profession. As professionals we try to distance ourselves from those who are only taking advantage of flawed market conditions. For us, applying professional standards goes without saying.
Applying standards
Suitable working conditions improve productivity in every profession. We are convinced that standards need to be applied to the work of translators and interpreters, too. These rules should serve both the translators and interpreters carrying out the work, and also you, as the person using the service.
Our members vow to apply these standards in their work, thus helping improve the standards of translating and interpreting in Slovakia.
Tip: Read our standard terms and conditions for translating and interpreting in the “Documents” section.
