Regardless of the fiery rhetoric that is so often thrown back and forth between the Russian and U.S. governments, and even in the face of tariffs placed on certain goods, citizens in the U.S. and Russia are continuing to do business together. Considering the size of the two countries, and the potential customer base that exists within each country’s borders, it’s no wonder that so many of us on both sides of the Pacific have an interest in doing business with each other.
While the current overall volume of U.S. annual trade with Russia pales in comparison to other countries — such as China, Canada, Mexico and Japan, for example — there is a growing interest in doing business with Russian countries. If you plan to do so, there are a few things to consider, not the least of which is the need for a good translator who can interpret the myriad of legal documentation involved in doing business with Russian entities. Here are some examples of the categories of Russian legal and/or government documents that you’ll likely encounter (and need translation of) during the course of doing business:
- Laws and regulations
- Business licenses
- Business contracts
- Judicial/legal opinions
- Powers of attorney
- Travel visas
If you’re looking for a qualified Russian translator, it’s important to keep in mind that the person you choose will need more than simply a passing knowledge of the Russian language. In fact, it’s preferable to find a translator who is also a native speaker of Russian. Unlike many other languages – French, Spanish and German, to name just a few – Russian uses its own unique alphabet. And the details of business, government and legal transactions change rapidly depending on the current social and political climate and relationships between the two countries. So your translator will have to be not only fluent in the language, but well versed in the current legal and/or government paperwork required in a business relationship.
In addition to the services of a qualified legal Russian translator – i.e., one who translates written text – you may also require the assistance of a trained Russian interpreter. Just imagine trying to navigate your way through a complex business meeting or phone call without one!
You may think it would be a daunting task to find an experienced, professional Russian translator and/or interpreter who is also well versed in the current legal and government documentation required in business dealings between these two powerhouse countries. And, if you attempt to locate one on your own, you would be right. Simply contacting a random freelance translator listed on the Internet is a risky proposition at best. You have no way of knowing whether or not you’ll receive the high quality services from such a person that your international business dealings will require, and you can only take their word for their level of experience and satisfaction of past clients.
That’s why the first step in finding a qualified Russian translator and/or interpreter is to contact a reputable translation company. These businesses have a vested interest in making sure that they match your needs with the skills and experience of one or more professional linguists. If they fail to do that, their reputation is at risk, and a bad reputation can have a devastating impact on their business. When you contact a translation company, you should tell them about your industry, what your plans are for doing business with Russian companies or other entities, and what services you anticipate needing from your translator/interpreter. Based on that information, the translation company can locate a highly trained and qualified linguist – one who can provide the highest quality translation services possible for your business.