STATSAUTORISERTE TRANSLATØRERS FORENING (STF) has the English name The Association of Government Authorized Translators in Norway.
The members have passed a very demanding translation examination, written and oral, into and/or out of Norwegian and the foreign language concerned. This "Translatøreksamen" represents the highest Norwegian qualification for written translation to and from Norwegian of specialized texts (economic, administrative, legal, mercantile and technical). As a result, successful candidates are authorized by the Norwegian government, currently represented by Norges Handelshøyskole (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration) to place their stamp and signature on their work, along with the words "True Translation Certified".
The association itself was founded on 14 November 1913, and is one of the oldest translators' associations in the world. It is organized and run as a non-profit association for the purpose of protecting the interests of its members in the widest sense by
- seeking greater recognition for the Government Authorized Translators as highly skilled professionals
- promoting good translating practice and supporting its members with guidance and information
- working for greater understanding among the authorities and relevant user groups of the importance of quality translations
- strengthening the links among colleagues and promoting high professional standards and work ethics
STF currently has around 210 members, almost half of them living in the Oslo area. They are authorized in 18 different languages - 15 European languages plus Chinese, Urdu and Vietnamese. Because of the difficulty of the examination, only a handful of members are authorized in more than one language pair. English dominates, naturally enough, but there are also a number of German translators. The majority of STF's members are self-employed freelancers, but some work in translation companies as staff translators.
Many of our members also have the outgoing nature and verbal skills that make them first-class interpreters, and a number of them are among Norway's best conference and court interpreters.
Translations cover a wide spectrum. They range from the retelling of a poem to the exacting reproduction of a user's manual, from a précis containing the main points of a text, to a precise translation of a contract, in which a single misinterpretation can have major financial consequences. Many people who take great pains with the formulation of a text in their own language nevertheless fail to realize that translating that text will require the investment of quite as much effort. Nor are all native speakers blessed with the ability to translate well into their mother tongue.
A good translation of specialized texts is contingent on the translator having extensive insight into not only the two languages, but also the subject matter and the culture of both source and target language. As a result the quality of translations can vary substantially, and this in turn is reflected in their price. If a translation is important, it does not pay to go bargain-hunting. In this respect, government authorization represents a sort of official guarantee that the translator meets certain requirements in terms of integrity and quality.
Members of STF are listed in a Directory published every three years. Updated lists of members' details are available from STF's Secretariat. A list is also kept of those members who are active as interpreters.
STF enjoys great respect as a professional association of highly skilled members, and it has for some years been a member of the Fédération Internationale de Traducteurs (FIT).