Tag: australia

Use a NAATI Accredited Translator for Dealings with the ATO

If you have come to live in Australia from overseas, you will soon be dealing with the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The ATO will issue you with a tax number which you will need in many aspects of life in this country. For instance, if you want to start up a business you may need an Australian Business Number or at least to register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST). If you are going to be employed, you will need an Australian Tax File number.

Australian-tax-office
To register for any of these numbers you will have to show some documents to prove who you are and what your status is here in Australia. The most important document you will need for the ATO is your identification. If you were born overseas or have identification documents that were issued in any other language than English you will need a NAATI accredited translator to make sure they are translated correctly before registering.

certified-translation
Any original documents need to be translated first by a document translation service, then certified by them that it is a true copy of the original document. The ATO is quite fussy about the way the certified translation is presented to them, as they won’t accept a translation from any person without the copy being stamped (if one is available) and the translator’s name or company name and telephone contact details as well as the date of the translation recorded on the copy.
Your language translation services should know what the ATO requirements are and provide several copies of the translation for you with each one certified by the translator or a representative of the translation service. This is important not just for the ATO, but other organizations for which your document translation is needed because the translation document may never be returned to you for use elsewhere. In fact, the ATO quite clearly states that any certified translation which is sent to them when registering will not be returned to you after they have examined it.

Australia – Literally a Great Place To Live

Navigating Linguistic Quirks Abroad: Australian Travellers and the Oxford English Dictionary

Australians on their overseas experience might be finding themselves baffled by more than how the British manage to keep cheerful in a place with such terrible weather. They might literally be baffled by the latest updates to the hallowed Oxford English Dictionary, keeper of linguistic propriety in the home of the English language.

A Shifting Lexicon

Alongside digitally-relevant updates such as Twitterati and urban slang such as chillax, established words have had their definitions updated. The most controversial example of this is the word “literally”, which can now officially mean “metaphorically” as well. According to the custodians of the OED, this simply reflects usage, such as the late, great Steve Jobs describing the iPhone as “a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone”. The OED also accepts the original meaning of literally as literally, so there are those who see the potential for confusion.

Language in Transit: Lost in Translation

Those traveling abroad can often find themselves needing some time to adjust to the local language, even when they’re moving from one English-speaking country to another, as the same word can have completely different meanings in different countries.

Diverging Interpretations

In the United Kingdom, an “earbashing” is akin to a stern scolding or reprimand. In Australia, however, it transforms into a term for casual chatter. Similarly, “thongs” in the Australian lexicon refer to sandals secured by a thong strap, commonly known as “flip-flops” in other parts of the world. In the UK, “thongs” take on an entirely different connotation, denoting a style of undergarments.

Rapid Adaptation and Professional Aid

Fortunately, travelers typically adapt swiftly to linguistic idiosyncrasies in their new surroundings. Until this transition is complete, professional NAATI translators stand ready to assist. These skilled language experts bridge the gap between dialects and interpretations, ensuring clear communication in an ever-evolving linguistic landscape. Whether traversing the diverse linguistic terrain of English-speaking nations or navigating the subtleties of a foreign tongue, linguistic adaptability remains a hallmark of the modern global explorer.

Australia’s Oldest German Settlement

The town of Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. German immigrants known as Old Lutherans arrived there in 1839 to escape religious persecution in Prussia (Hahn was captain of the ship named Zebra they arrived on). They laid their settlement out in Hufendorf style, and were soon well known for their pious customs and zest for hard work – even though the lack of translators in Adelaide made them difficult for locals to understand.

These days, Hahndorf is easily found after a thirty-minute drive along the South Eastern Freeway from Adelaide. Notable attractions include traditional fachwerk half-timbered architecture, and St Michael’s Lutheran Church begun in 1839, and still home to a worshipful congregation.

From time to time the settlement was hit by schisms though. The breakaway St Paul’s Lutheran Church was established in 1846 when pastors Kavel and Fritsche experienced theological differences. German English Translations in AustraliaDuring World War One, the South Australia Government changed Hahndorf’s name to Ambleside. This was corrected in the 1930’s (although the replacement name is still seen in various places).

These days of course German migrants travelling to Australia have an easier time of it. They arrive on modern jet planes and have NAATI Translators to assist them with their documentation. They also no longer need to build half-timbered houses. In fact, Australian architecture is among the most modern in the world. .

Thanks, Wikipedia for the photo and Incidental Nomads for the welcome sign.