Vetting a translator for the specific language pair you need

You've just found a translator who claims fluency in Afrikaans and Mandarin, but your legal contract needs flawless precision in those exact languages. Before you commit time and money, you need to verify they actually work in that language pair — not just that they speak both languages. The gap between bilingual conversation and professional translation work is wide, and hiring the wrong person can cost you far more than the translation fee.

Confirm their active specialisation in your exact pair

Translators often work only one direction — English to Portuguese, never the reverse. Some focus on one language pair (German to English) and have no credible experience with a second pair, even if they speak three languages. The first step is direct: ask them explicitly which direction they work and for how long. A translator who has worked Portuguese-to-English for seven years is not necessarily equipped to translate English-to-Portuguese with the same confidence.

Ask for examples of completed work in that pair, not just testimonials. Request a short sample translation (often free) in your source and target languages so you can see their output. This is not about judging the content yourself — it's about seeing whether their style and terminology fit your needs. A translator excellent at literary Portuguese may struggle with technical financial documents in the same language. Specificity matters more than general fluency.

Search their professional registration and memberships

South Africa does not have a single mandatory register for all translators, but professional bodies do exist. Check whether they hold membership with the South African Translators' Institute (SATI) or similar professional organisation relevant to your language pair. You can usually search member directories on these bodies' websites. Membership is not legally required for most translation work, but it signals that someone has undergone peer review and committed to professional standards.

If the translation will be used for official purposes — immigration, court, business registration — ask upfront whether they are accredited or certified for that use. Different bodies oversee different document types, and accreditation is language-specific. A translator certified for English-to-Zulu documents may not be certified for English-to-Afrikaans, even though both are South African languages. Never assume. Ask them to provide their accreditation certificate or registration number, and verify it independently with the issuing body.

Beyond formal registration, check their track record with clients in your field. If you need a financial translation, contact a previous client in accounting or banking and ask whether the translator understood the terminology and delivered on time. References are most useful when they come from people who work in your industry and can attest to both accuracy and reliability.

Probe their process and constraints

A professional translator will ask you questions before quoting. They will want to know the document's context, its audience, any glossaries or style guides you require, and deadlines. If someone quotes you instantly without asking anything, that's a red flag. The questions they ask reveal whether they understand that translation requires more than word-for-word conversion.

Discuss what happens if terminology is ambiguous or if the source text is unclear. A responsible translator will flag these issues and work through them with you rather than guess. This back-and-forth is especially critical for language pairs where your own knowledge is limited — you need someone who will educate you on choices they've made, not just deliver a file.

Also ask about their turnaround time and availability. Some translators work full-time for organisations and take freelance work only occasionally; others are overbooked and miss deadlines. Be explicit about your deadline and whether they can commit to it without sacrificing quality. A translator who refuses a tight timeline is being honest about their capacity, which is preferable to one who agrees and delivers rushed work.

When you're ready to hire, Strove's verified translator listings let you review credentials, past work and client feedback in one place, making it easier to spot the right language pair match for your needs.