Looking for expert Icelandic translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Icelandic to clients globally. We specialize in various industries, including legal, literary, and business sectors. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Icelandic translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Icelandic Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Icelandic translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations based on Standard Icelandic, the official and widely accepted form of the language used in Iceland for all formal and official contexts, while also respecting any regional linguistic nuances.
We specialize in both English to Icelandic and Icelandic to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Icelandic language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Icelandic translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of an Icelandic text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Icelandic Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Icelandic communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Icelandic Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Icelandic translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Icelandic Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Icelandic language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Icelandic, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Icelandic. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Icelandic and Icelandic to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Icelandic and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Icelandic and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Icelandic medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Icelandic language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Icelandic translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of Icelandic, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of Icelandic, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Icelandic
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Icelandic localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Icelandic-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Icelandic, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Icelandic-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Icelandic-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Icelandic/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Icelandic or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Icelandic and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Icelandic and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Icelandic to English or English to Icelandic translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Icelandic- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Icelandic Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Icelandic-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Icelandic, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Icelandic-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Icelandic and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Icelandic or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully polished or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Icelandic
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Icelandic and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Icelandic language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Icelandic Language
Icelandic, known locally as "Íslenska," is the official language of Iceland, spoken by approximately 350,000 people. As a North Germanic language, it is closely related to Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, and has changed very little over the centuries. This historical continuity makes Icelandic unique among modern languages, as speakers can still read medieval texts such as the Icelandic sagas with relative ease. Icelandic is a key element of Icelandic national identity, and the country has made significant efforts to preserve its linguistic purity in the face of globalization.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Icelandic
Icelandic has its roots in the Old Norse spoken by the settlers of Iceland during the Viking Age, around the 9th century. Over time, while many of the other Scandinavian languages evolved significantly, Icelandic remained relatively unchanged. This linguistic conservatism has allowed the Icelandic language to retain many of the grammatical structures and vocabulary of its ancient form.
Icelandic literature is one of the oldest in Europe, with the famous Icelandic sagas, *Edda*, and skaldic poetry forming the cornerstone of medieval Icelandic culture. In the modern era, the Icelandic language is highly regulated, with a strong emphasis on linguistic purity. New words are often created from existing Icelandic roots rather than borrowed from other languages, particularly in fields such as technology and science. This practice has helped maintain the language’s uniqueness and cultural significance.
Linguistically, Icelandic is known for its complex grammar, including a case system with four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive), as well as a rich system of verb conjugation that reflects tense, mood, person, and number. Icelandic nouns are also inflected for gender (masculine, feminine, and neuter), number, and case.
The Writing System: Latin Script
Icelandic is written using the Latin alphabet, with a few additional letters that reflect sounds unique to the language. These include "Þ" (thorn), representing the "th" sound as in "thin," and "Ð" (eth), representing the "th" sound as in "this." The alphabet consists of 32 letters, and Icelandic spelling is highly phonetic, meaning that words are generally pronounced as they are written.
Vowels and Consonants: Icelandic has a rich system of vowels, including several diphthongs. It also maintains distinct sounds for "Þ" and "Ð," which are not found in most other languages. Additionally, the language features extensive use of vowel shifts, known as umlaut, where vowels change depending on the grammatical form of a word.
Icelandic Alphabet
The Icelandic alphabet, based on the Latin script, includes the following letters:
- Vowels: A, a, Á, á, E, e, É, é, I, i, Í, í, O, o, Ó, ó, U, u, Ú, ú, Y, y, Ý, ý, Æ, æ, Ö, ö
- Consonants: B, b, D, d, Ð, ð, F, f, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, P, p, R, r, S, s, T, t, V, v, X, x, Þ, þ
Key Linguistic Differences Between Icelandic and English for Translation
When translating between Icelandic and English, several important linguistic differences must be considered:
Inflection and Case System: Icelandic uses a case system, where nouns, pronouns, and adjectives are inflected depending on their role in a sentence. This system does not exist in English, which relies more heavily on word order to indicate meaning. Translators must carefully consider these case endings when translating between the two languages to preserve the correct meaning and grammatical structure.
Verb Conjugation and Tense: Icelandic verbs are conjugated for tense, person, mood, and number, with distinct forms for singular and plural, and indicative and subjunctive moods. This level of grammatical detail requires careful handling in translation to ensure that verb forms in Icelandic are properly rendered in English, where verb conjugation is less complex.
Vocabulary and Loanwords: Icelandic has a policy of linguistic purity, meaning that instead of borrowing words from other languages, new terms are often created from existing Icelandic roots. This practice can make translation challenging, especially for technical or scientific terms that have direct equivalents in English but more complex constructions in Icelandic.
Word Order and Flexibility: Although Icelandic typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order, its case system allows for more flexible word order without changing the meaning. This flexibility must be carefully managed in translation, as English has a more rigid sentence structure.
By understanding these linguistic and cultural nuances, Green Crescent ensures that translations between Icelandic and English are accurate, culturally appropriate, and reflect the unique linguistic heritage of the Icelandic language.
An Insight into Icelandic Expression
This passage is from Sjálfstætt fólk (Independent People) by Halldór Laxness, a cornerstone of Icelandic literature that explores themes of independence, hardship, and human resilience.
- Icelandic: "Maðurinn er sjálfum sér nógur, það er lífsregla sjálfstæðra manna."
- English Translation: "A man is sufficient unto himself; that is the creed of independent people."