Typology of Documents

In this unit, you will read about what types of documents are translated by DGT and which languages such documents are translated into.

Selective translation - what is translated

Of course, not everything is translated into every official language — far from it. At the Commission, the only documents produced in all 23 official languages are

  • pieces of legislation and policy documents of major public importance

— accounting for about a third of DGT work.

Other documents e.g.

  • correspondence with national authorities and individual citizens
  • reports
  • internal papers

are translated only into the languages needed in each case.

Internal documents are all written in (and sometimes translated into) English, French and German. Similarly, incoming documents — which may be drafted in any language — are translated into one of these three languages so they can be generally understood within the Commission.

Yes/No questions
Check your understanding of the text on the following questions.


Are important legislation and policy documents translated into all official languages?

Ano Ne


Is correspondence with individual citizens translated into all official languages?

Ano Ne


Are internal documents translated into all official languages?

Ano Ne
Ikona iDevice Now you know
  • which types of documents are subject to translation and which of them are likely to be translated into Czech