Overview
The English text, written for the layman, was a simplified version of a more complicated article of law known as the “public charge rule.” The original translator had done a literal translation — “charging the public by the government” — that did not convey the author’s intended meaning.
Approach
My first instinct was to consult the original legal text and its supporting context, as the translation did not seem rational. The phrase “charging the public” felt particularly illogical in context. Upon review, it became clear that the true meaning of the provision was far removed from the notion of the government charging the public.
Farsi Translation Center researched the original article of the law, read several pages of comprehensive explanation, and re-translated the information so it accurately conveyed the intent of the law.
Result
An accurate translation was delivered to the City of New York. The client was grateful that they did not publish the original translation as evidence, as this could have resulted in a lawsuit against the entity that publishes the information.