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#1
What’s the difference among «literal translation» «direct translation» «word-for-word translation»?
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#2
Literal and word-for-word both mean that it is translated in such a way that it may not sound good but is gramatically correct.
Im not sure about direct, I’ve never heard it used like this before.
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#3
I’ve heard direct translation quite a few times and have used it myself. I can’t see much difference, if any, between that and «literal» however. Here is an example where both are used, clearly expressing the same idea in different ways:
«X might be the most literal translation, but what’s the point unless you are learning Greek and want such a direct translation.»
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#4
In the sentence Matching Mole provided, ‘literal translation’ could easily replace ‘direct translation’. The other version was used to avoid word repetition.
Literel translation, word-for-word translation, and direct translation are the same. An idiomatic translation is different in that the text is rendered into the other language so that it sounds right in the other language. I’m going to put just a small amount of Latin here just to show the difference between idiomatic translation and direct (word-for-word, literal) translation:
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres. <— Latin text
Gallia is all divided in parts three. <— literal translation
Gaul is divided into three parts. <— idiomatic translation
Gaul has three divisions. <—
Even more idiomatically translated
Orange Blossom
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#5
I sometimes use the word transliteration. Can it mean the same as the 3 others or should its use be restricted to alphabets?
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#6
Thanks, you’re all wonderful
I think «transliteration» is for the purpose of trinscribing pronunciation only.
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres. <— Latin text
galia est omnis diwiza in partes tres.<—Transliteration
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#7
http://forum.wordreference.com/showpost.php?p=2617335&postcount=4
When I translate something «literally,» (wörtlich) it still follows the main rules of the language I’m translating into. What you mean is «word-by-word» (wortwörtlich) to me. Or do you consider these two terms interchangeable in English? I’m not even sure myself if «wörtlich» and «wortwörtlich» can make this distinction, but I sense they are not the same in meaning.
Hi, are there any terms for «preserving the meaning of each word you translate from, but at the same time following the syntactic rule of the language you translate into?
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#8
Chesire is right about the meaning of transliteration. Transcribe is another word we use for this.
Tchaichowski is a transcription, or transliteration, of his name from Cyrillic.
In English, a word-for-word translation is the same as a literal translation. I don’t think there is a special term for a translation that retains the literal translations of the words while rearranging them into the syntax of the other language.
Orange Blossom
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#9
I have always used the term ‘free translation’ when referring to a translation which, rather than being literal or word-by-word, attempts to convey the same message in the translatee language as in the original by using the appropriate expressions and vocabulary for this purpose.
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#10
I have always used the term ‘free translation’ when referring to a translation which, rather than being literal or word-by-word, attempts to convey the same message in the translatee language as in the original by using the appropriate expressions and vocabulary for this purpose.
This is what is called an «idiomatic translation».
Orange Blossom
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#11
I’ve never heard that one, Orange Blossom, furthermore, I’m not sure it’s really appropriate.
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#12
A google search with «idiomatic translation» in quotes brings 33,000 entries.
Here is a quote from one site that uses it:
The word-for-word glosses should be neatly aligned under the original forms, and the idiomatic translation follows on a line below, enclosed in single quotes.
From: http://www.springer.com/west/home/l…IPageCounter=CI_FOR_AUTHORS_AND_EDITORS_PAGE1
Basically what I was saying in my previous post is that a free translation is also called an idiomatic translation. This is the opposite of a word-for-word translation, literal translation, or direct translation.
Orange Blossom
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#13
Thanks, Orange Blossom; a very interesting site.
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#14
Is «word-by-word translation» a misspelling?
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#15
Hi Cheshire,
Word-by-word may be a mistranslation or a mistyped word which I suppose could be called a misspelling.
Orange Blossom
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#16
Hello everybody,
would ‘direct translation’ be a way of saying there is no need to go through any intermediary? I mean that in French, we speak of the ‘departure language’, the ‘arrival language’, and in between there is what we call ‘neutral language’, that is a language that is not grammatically correct in any of the other two languages, but that allows to retain only the meaning deprived of any idioms before reaching an idiomatic translation. Would these different names be equally used in English?
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#17
I don’t think «literal translation» = «direct translation,» but I’m not sure what the latter exactly means either. Does it mean «with no intermediary?»
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#18
To me, direct translation suggests that each word is translated into its «direct» equivalent, and the word order is also rendered «directly», i.e. without any change, without trying to make the text sound natural or idiomatic in the target language. In that, I think it’s strictly synonymous with «literal» (= «to the letter», etymologically).*
In reality, there’s an almost infinite number of intermediary degrees between a totally idiomatic (the latter being a strange concept, anyway. It would be more accurate to call it «the most idiomatic possible») and a totally direct translation. But we don’t have the words to name all those steps (direct? half-direct?half-idiomatic? see what I mean?).
The most «direct translations possible» are performed by translating machines. But no human being translates like that.
EDIT : * there would remain to define what a «direct equivalent» is. Is it a cognate? Rarely. I mean, most of the time, there is none available.
In my attempt to define what a direct translation is, I think I have unintentionally demonstrated that this term is clumsy, inappropriate and maybe stupid.
To sum up, my answer is that when people use these 3 expressions, direct, literal and word-for-word translation, they mean exactly the same, i.e. an extreme which exists only in theory (except if you take machines into account).
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#19
I sometimes use the word transliteration. Can it mean the same as the 3 others or should its use be restricted to alphabets?
I also did, until someone corrected me and I looked it up in the dictionary and verified that I was wrong. My question is, what is the equivalent verb form for the following nouns in the title of this post? Are the ff correct?:
translate literally
translate directly
translate word-for-word
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#20
I also did, until someone corrected me and I looked it up in the dictionary and verified that I was wrong. My question is, what is the equivalent verb form for the following nouns in the title of this post? Are the ff correct?:
translate literally
translate directly
translate word-for-word
Quite honestly, I don’t think there is a verb for any of these.
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#21
According to what I learned when I was at university, a literal translation and a word-for-word is the same, to translate from one language to another one word at a time, rather than giving the sense of the original. However, direct translation refers to the fact of translating from a source language into a target language that is your first or native language, so here we have another concept, reverse translation, to translate from your first or native language into a foreign one.
I hope it helps!
Table of Contents
- Why is the literal word-for-word translation of the metamorphosis not a good version of the text?
- How does Wyllie’s translation of the metamorphosis make Gregor seem more connected to his family than neugroschel does?
- Which term is used for word for word literal translation?
- Why do most translators avoid referring to?
- What are the problems in translation?
- Why literary translation is difficult?
- What are the challenges of literary translation?
- What is a literary translator?
- What skills does a literary translator need?
- How do you translate a literary text?
- What are the translation strategies?
- What is full translation?
- How do translations work?
- What is an ideal translation?
- What is free translation?
There is no difference between “literal translation” and “word -for-word translation.” Both terms describe what we might call “direct translation,” meaning that each word in one language is translated exactly into its counterpart in another language.
Why is the literal word-for-word translation of the metamorphosis not a good version of the text?
The reason for this is because a sentence’s grammatical structure and syntax of one language do not always coincide with the language into which it is being translated. Thus, for story “The Metamorphosis,” a literal, word-for-word translation would not be a good version to read.
How does Wyllie’s translation of The Metamorphosis make Gregor seem more connected to his family than Neugroschel’s does? Wyllie refers to Gregor’s parents as “his mother” and “his father” instead of “the mother” and “the father.”C. Wyllie has Gregor gently call his mother’s name, trying to calm her.
Which term is used for word for word literal translation?
In translation theory, another term for “literal translation” is “metaphrase” and for phrasal (“sense”) translation — “paraphrase.”
Why do most translators avoid referring to?
Most translators avoid referring to Gregor as a cockroach because Avoiding the word makes the reader as confused as Gregor is about the change in his physical state.
What are the problems in translation?
Some of the most common challenges of translation include:
- Translating Language Structure.
- Translating Idioms and Expressions.
- Translating Compound Words.
- Missing Names In Translation.
- Two-Word Verbs.
- Multiple Meanings In Translation.
- Translating Sarcasm.
Why literary translation is difficult?
Why is literary translation difficult? Literary translation is significantly different from any other kind of translation. The author has chosen a particular word for a particular reason, so it’s up to the translator to ensure it’s rightfully delivered in the target language.
What are the challenges of literary translation?
1. Difficulties of literary translation
- (1) Translating without changing the original tones of the author.
- (2) Culturally-specific expression.
- (3) Play-on-words and tongue twisters.
- (4) Dialects and Slang.
- (1) Read the original book.
- (2) Translate and self-review the translation.
- (3) Edit the translated version.
- (4) Proofread.
What is a literary translator?
Literary translation is a type of translation where the source documents are fiction. Specialists in literary translation, working for POLYGLOT, translate any kind of artistic works at a high level.
What skills does a literary translator need?
These are the basic translator skills you need to work as a professional translator.
- Advanced language knowledge.
- Excellent writing skills.
- In-depth cultural knowledge.
- Sound research skills.
- Best practice translation and review processes.
- Sound translation judgement.
- Computing and CAT skills.
How do you translate a literary text?
A literary translator must be able to command tone, style, inventiveness, and culture. Apart from these, he/she also should have the ability to re-conceptualize or re-verbalize the understanding of the source language into the target language linguistic framework and cognitive environment.
What are the translation strategies?
7 translation techniques to facilitate your work
- Borrowing. Borrowing is a translation technique that involves using the same word or expression in original text in the target text.
- Calque.
- Literal translation.
- Transposition.
- Modulation.
- Equivalence or Reformulation.
- Adaptation.
What is full translation?
In full translation, the entire text is submitted to the translation process, that is, every part of the source language text is replaced by the target language text material. In partial translation, some parts of the source language text are left untranslated. They are simply transferred to the target language text.
How do translations work?
In a translation, every point of the object must be moved in the same direction and for the same distance. When you are performing a translation, the initial object is called the pre-image, and the object after the translation is called the image.
What is an ideal translation?
The ideal translation will be accurate as to meaning and natural as to the receptor language forms used. An intended audience who is unfamiliar with the source text will readily understand it. The success of a translation is measured by how closely it measures up to these ideals. The ideal translation should be
What is free translation?
A free translation is a translation that reproduces the general meaning of the original text. It may or may not closely follow the form or organization of the original.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Literal translation, direct translation or word-for-word translation, is a translation of a text done by translating each word separately, without looking at how the words are used together in a phrase or sentence.[1]
In translation theory, another term for «literal translation» is metaphrase (as opposed to paraphrase for an analogous translation).
Literal translation leads to mistranslation of idioms, which was once a serious problem for machine translation.[2]
The term as used in translation studies[edit]
Usage[edit]
The term «literal translation» often appeared in the titles of 19th-century English translations of classical, Bible and other texts.
Cribs[edit]
Word-for-word translations («cribs,» «ponies» or «trots») are sometimes prepared for a writer who is translating a work written in a language they do not know. For example, Robert Pinsky is reported to have used a literal translation in preparing his translation of Dante’s Inferno (1994), as he does not know Italian.[citation needed] Similarly, Richard Pevear worked from literal translations provided by his wife, Larissa Volokhonsky, in their translations of several Russian novels.[citation needed]
Poetry to prose[edit]
Literal translation can also denote a translation that represents the precise meaning of the original text but does not attempt to convey its style, beauty, or poetry. There is, however, a great deal of difference between a literal translation of a poetic work and a prose translation. A literal translation of poetry may be in prose rather than verse, but also be error free. Charles Singleton’s translation of the Divine Comedy (1975) is regarded as a prose translation.
As bad practice[edit]
«Literal» translation implies that it is probably full of errors, since the translator has made no effort to (or is unable to) convey correct idioms or shades of meaning, for example, but it can also be a useful way of seeing how words are used to convey meaning in the source language.
Examples[edit]
A literal English translation of the German phrase «Ich habe Hunger» would be «I have hunger» in English, but this is clearly not a phrase that would generally be used in English, even though its meaning might be clear. Literal translations in which individual components within words or compounds are translated to create new lexical items in the target language (a process also known as “loan translation”) are called calques, e.g., “beer garden” from German “biergarten.”
The literal translation of the Italian sentence, «So che questo non va bene» («I know that this is not good»), produces «Know(I) that this not goes(it) well,» which has English words and Italian grammar.
Machine translation[edit]
Early machine translations (as of 1962[2] at least) were notorious for this type of translation, as they simply employed a database of words and their translations. Later attempts utilized common phrases which resulted in better grammatical structure and capture of idioms, but with many words left in the original language. For translating synthetic languages, a morphosyntactic analyzer and synthesizer is required.
The best systems today use a combination of the above technologies and apply algorithms to correct the «natural» sound of the translation. In the end, though, professional translation firms that employ machine translation use it as a tool to create a rough translation that is then tweaked by a human, professional translator.
Douglas Hofstadter gave an example for the failures of a machine translation: The English sentence «In their house, everything comes in pairs. There’s his car and her car, his towels and her towels, and his library and hers.» is translated into French as «Dans leur maison, tout vient en paires. Il y a sa voiture et sa voiture, ses serviettes et ses serviettes, sa bibliothèque et les siennes.» That does not make sense, because the literal translation of both «his» and «hers» into French is «sa» in case of singular, and «ses» in case of plural, therefore the French version is not understandable.[3]
Pidgins[edit]
Often, first-generation immigrants create something of a literal translation in how they speak their parents’ native language. This results in a mix of the two languages in something of a pidgin. Many such mixes have specific names, e.g. Spanglish or Denglisch. For example, American children of German immigrants are heard using «rockingstool» from the German word «schaukelstuhl» instead of «rocking chair».
Translator’s humor[edit]
Literal translation of idioms is a source of translators’ jokes and apocrypha. The following has often been told in relation to inexperienced translators or to machine translations: When the sentence, «The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak» («дух бодр, плоть же немощна«, an allusion to Mark 14:38) was translated into Russian and then back into English, the result was «The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten» («водка хорошая, но мясо протухло«). This is generally believed to be an amusing apocrypha rather than a reference to an actual machine-translation error.[2]
See also[edit]
- All your base are belong to us
- Calque
- Dynamic and formal equivalence
- Literal Standard Version
- Metaphrase
- Semantic translation
- Translation
- Transliteration
- Young’s Literal Translation (of the Bible)
References[edit]
- ^ «LITERAL | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary». dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ a b c Hutchins, John (June 1995). ««The whisky was invisible», or Persistent myths of MT» (PDF). MT News International (11): 17–18. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Hofstadter, Douglas (30 January 2018). «The Shallowness of Google Translate». The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
Further reading[edit]
- Olive Classe, Encyclopedia of literary translation into English, vol. 1, Taylor & Francis, 2000, ISBN 1-884964-36-2, p. viii.
Advantages and disadvantages of Word for Word Translation
Word for word translation or literal translation is the rendering of text from one language to another one word at a time with or without conveying the sense of the original text. In translation studies, literal translation is often associated with scientific, technical, technological or legal texts.
A bad practice
It is often considered a bad practice of conveying word by word translation in non-technical texts. This usually refers to the mistranslation of idioms that affects the meaning of the text, making it unintelligible. The concept of literal translation may be viewed as an oxymoron (contradiction in terms), given that literal denotes something existing without interpretation, whereas a translation, by its very nature, is an interpretation (an interpretation of the meaning of words from one language into another).
Usage
A word for word translation can be used in some languages and not others dependent on the sentence structure: El equipo está trabajando para terminar el informe would translate into English as The team is working to finish the report. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. For example, the Spanish sentence above could not be translated into French or German using this technique because the French and German sentence structures are completely different. And because one sentence can be translated literally across languages does not mean that all sentences can be translated literally.
Literal translation can also denote a translation that represents the precise meaning of the original text but does not attempt to convey its style, beauty, or poetry. There is, however, a great deal of difference between a literal translation of a poetic work and a prose translation. A literal translation of poetry may be in prose rather than verse, but also be error free. Charles Singleton’s translation of The Divine Comedy (1975) is regarded as a prose translation.
Machine Translation
Early machine translations were famous for this type of translation because they simply created a database of words and their translations. Later attempts utilized common phrases which resulted in better grammatical structure and capture of idioms but with many words left in the original language.
The systems that we use nowadays are based on a combination of technologies and apply algorithms to correct the “natural” sound of the translation. However, professional translation agencies that use machine translation create a rough translation first that is then tweaked by a professional translator.
Mistakes and Jokes
Literal translation of idioms results quite often in jokes and amusement among translators and not only. The following famous example has often been told both in the context of newbie translators and that of machine translation: When the sentence “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak was translated into Russian and then back to English, the result was “The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten. This is generally believed to be simply an amusing story, and not a factual reference to an actual machine translation error.
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Since an early age I have been passionate about languages. I hold a Master’s degree in Translation and Interpreting, and I have worked as a freelance translator for several years. I specialize in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Web and Social Media. I love blogging and I also run the blog www.italiasocialmedia.com
10 Translation Techniques To Give You a Sense of the Scope
“How does any text get translated?
“Is there an exact strategy that the translator follows in the translation process?”
Many questions could have crossed your mind and more about the translation techniques. Yes, there are several techniques that translators use to get a piece of text translated professionally. So, if you’re wondering about the translation strategies and techniques and how a translator deals with different languages and types of texts, this article is your handy guide.
In this article, we’ll explore the many types of translation methods, including the direct and indirect translation techniques, to help you understand what’s going on behind the scenes. Whether you have an in-house translation/localization team or employ a professional language provider or even a translator, this post allows you to sneak a peek at the different translation techniques.
Table of Contents
– Direct Translation Techniques:
- Borrowing
- Calque
- Literal Translation
– Oblique Translation Techniques:
- Transposition
- Modulation
- Reformulation or Equivalence
- Adaptation
- Compensation
- Expansion
- Reduction
Direct Translation Techniques
Translators use these techniques when it’s possible to utilize the structural and conceptual elements of the source language in the target language.
Direct translation techniques are:
- Borrowing
- Calque
- Literal Translation
. Borrowing
Borrowing is a technique that doesn’t seem to be a “translation” since it uses words or expressions from the source language. As its name suggests, it borrows the word from the original text and inserts it into the target language without any alteration.
Usually, the translator uses this technique when:
- There is no equivalent in the target language.
- There is an equivalent, but the borrowed word conveys the meaning better than the target language word.
- The translator wants to preserve and give the sense or feel of the target language.
For example, the English Language borrowed many expressions and words from other languages, such as German (Kindergarten and Hamburger), French (Café and résumé), and Japanese (Kimono).
P.S.: Usually, the translator writes the borrowed term in italics if it’s considered foreign and not common in the target locale.
. Claque
Calque is a translation method by which a phrase is translated literally from the source to the target language. This word-for-word translation constructs a new term in the target language, such as the French term “gratte-ciel,” which comes from English “Skyscraper.”
It’s worth noting that Calques can spread widely in the target locale if they are absorbed and accepted by natives like “breakfast” that comes from the French term “déjeuner.” However, Calques can likely fail in the target language if the translator doesn’t utilize them cautiously.
. Literal Translation
This method is all about translating word-for-word from the source language. Usually, the translator uses this strategy when the languages they are translating from and to are close, especially culturally-wise. To illustrate, the French question “Quelle heure est-il?” is translated to “What time is it?” in English. In this example, you can see that the literal translation approach doesn’t affect the meaning that the original phrase aimed for!
The translator should be careful when using this technique since it can sometimes fail; it has specific rules. The translated text should retain the word order, style, and meaning of the source language while being at the same time idiomatic.
Examples of Bad Translations:
Oblique Translation Techniques (Indirect)
Translators use these techniques when the source and target languages’ cultural and linguistic aspects are not close. Therefore, direct translation methods can’t carry the original text meaning faithfully to the target language.
Oblique translation techniques transform the structural and conceptual elements so it doesn’t miss the nuances of the original text.
Oblique translation techniques are:
- Transposition
- Modulation
- Reformulation or Equivalence
- Adaptation
- Compensation
- Expansion
- Reduction
. Transposition
Due to the contrasts in grammatical structures between different languages, the transposition technique comes into play. It’s when the translator changes parts of the text order (sentence structure) while retaining the same meaning as the original text, such as the English sentence “He likes dancing” that turns to be “Er tanzt gern” in German.
Transposition is particularly the favorite technique for English and Spanish translators since both languages are dramatically different grammatically. English verbs are likely to come at the beginning of the sentence, while the Spanish verb comes at the end.
. Modulation
Modulation is all about adjusting the point of view of the source language. Without changing the purpose of the text, the translator uses another phrase in the target text to convey the same meaning as the original text. It involves semantic and perspective change while preserving the intent of the source language’s text. The translated text should give a sense of nativeness, such as the French phrase “dernier étage” -which means literally “last stage”- that turns to be “top floor” in English.
. Reformulation (Equivalence)
Do you want to translate an idiom, advertising slogan, or proverb? Then, reformulation is your way to go. This method allows the translator to find an equivalent to the original expression in the target language. He changes the phrase totally while expressing the same meaning as the source language. For example, the English idiom “let the cat out of the bag” is translated to “vendre la mèche” in French.
. Adaptation
Also known as cultural equivalence or cultural substitution, Adaptation is the chosen method when translating jokes, as an example. It’s essential when expressing the meaning of phrases that don’t exist among the target audience culturally or aren’t common in the target culture. The translator replaces the original phrase with another culturally acceptable and convenient one to the target locale.
Accordingly, when readers dip into the translated text, they can feel as if it’s not translated, as if it has been created especially for them. “Culture-friendly” is the whole idea behind this technique; it’s how to fit in with another language’s culture.
. Compensation
As its name suggests, this method compensates for missing the nuances of the original text by mentioning the lost info later in the translated text. The translator uses this technique when a word has more than one meaning or form in the source language while having just one in the target language.
So, to ensure that the reader doesn’t miss any detail, the translator should be creative enough to insert the missing info smartly into the translated text without sounding awkward. To give an illustration, German has two ways for expressing “you”: Du (formal) and Sie (informal.) So, in order to translate this form of formality into English, the translator has to pick other expressive words to be added to the text.
A Comparison Between Translation
Techniques (With Examples)
Have your own copy of AsiaLocalize’s
comparison sheet!
. Reduction
Sometimes, the translator chooses to cut words or phrases that seem redundant or unnecessary while translating from one language to another; this method is called reduction. During the application of this method, the translator should be super conscious and careful so as to sail through any difficulties during the mission of conveying the intended original message safely without losing anything in translation. For example, the English term “computer science” is reduced to be “informática” in Portuguese.
. Expansion
Contrary to reduction, the expansion technique involves adding more words to express the source text meaning the best. Sometimes, without amplification or expansion, the meaning can’t be conveyed since there might be differences structurally, grammatically, and semantically between the source and target languages. However, professional translators shouldn’t use it gratuitously; they should know the best time. For example, the English word “Penalty” should be translated to “tir de réparation” in French.
Final Thoughts
As we can see above, even though there are many translation techniques that seem to require too much thinking to choose from while translating, expert translators don’t actually spend too much time thinking about the best-suited method during the process. It depends on the translator’s experience that has been built over years, reflected in his intuitive choice and use of translation methods. It’s a process that takes place and runs automatically without the intervention of any intricacies.
The ability to choose the appropriate translation method at the right time during the translation process is what makes the difference between a skilled, expert translator and a novice. So, if you’re searching for a professional language provider who has in-depth acquaintance with the best practices of translation techniques and methods, at AsiaLocalize, we hire the top linguists. We can guarantee the quality and outcome of translation services produced depending on fast and valid actions taken by our world-class translators.
Your translation quality is subject to the choice
of a competent language provider!
Get the quality you deserve with AsiaLocalize!
Generally
speaking, translators can choose from two methods of translating,
namely direct,
or literal, translation and oblique
translation. In some translation tasks it may be possible to
transpose the source language message element by element into the
target language, because it is based on either parallel categories,
in which we can speak of structural parallelism, or on parallel
concepts, which are the result of metalinguistic parallelism. But
translators may also notice gaps, or “lacunae” in the target
language which must be filled by corresponding elements, so that the
overall impression is the same for the two messages.
It
may, however, also happen that, because of structural or
metalinguistic differences, certain stylistic effects cannot be
transported into the target language without upsetting the syntactic
order, or even the lexis. In this case it is understood that more
complex methods have to be used which at first may look unusual but
which nevertheless can permit translators a strict control over the
reliability of their work: these procedures are called oblique
translation methods. In the listing which follows, the first three
procedures are direct and the others are oblique.
Direct methods of translating
Procedure
1: Borrowing (transcription, transliteration, transcoding)
To
overcome a lacuna, usually a metalinguistic one (e.g. a new technical
process, unknown concept), borrowing is the simplest of all
translation methods. It would not even merit discussion in this
context if translators did not occasionally need to use it in order
to create a stylistic effect. For instance, in order to introduce the
flavour of the source language culture into a translation, foreign
terms may be used, e.g. such Ukrainian words as, and so on.
Procedure
2: Loan translation
Loan
translation (calque) is a special kind of borrowing whereby a
language borrows an expression form of another, but then translates
literally each of its elements. The result is either a lexical loan,
i.e. calque which respects the syntactic structure of the target
text, whilst introducing a new mode of expression; or a structural
loan, which introduces a new construction into the language.
The
following types of borrowings can be distinguished:
loan
words proper
– words borrowed from another language and assimilated to this or
that extent;
loan
translation
– 1) (process) borrowing by means of literally translating words
(usu. one part after another) or word combinations, by modelling
words after foreign patterns; 2) (result) translation loans (calques)
– words and expressions formed from the material already existing
in the English language but according to patterns taken from another
language by way of literal word-for-word or morpheme-for-morpheme
translation: e.g. chain smoker::Germ Kettenraucher; goes without
saying::Fr. va sans dire; summit conference:: Germ. Gipfel Konferenz,
Fr. conférence au sommet;
semantic
borrowings/loans
– the term is used to denote the development in an English word of
a new meaning due to the influence of a related word in another
language.
Translation
loans are
word-for-word (or morpheme-for-morpheme) translations of some foreign
words or expressions. In such cases the notion is borrowed from a
foreign language but it is expressed by native lexical units, «to
take the bull by the horns» (Latin), «fair sex» (French), «living
space» (German) etc. Some translation loans appeared in English from
Latin already in the Old English period, e.g. Sunday (solis dies).
There are translation loans from the languages of Indians, such as:
«pipe of peace», «pale-faced», from German «masterpiece»,
«homesickness», «superman».
Procedure
3: Literal translation
Literal,
or word for word, translation is the direct transfer of a source text
into a grammatically and idiomatically appropriate target language
text in which the translator’s task is limited to observing the
adherence to the linguistic servitude of the target text.
If,
after trying first three procedures, translators regard a literal
translation unacceptable, they must turn to the methods of oblique
translation. By unacceptable is meant that the message, when
translated literally: gives another meaning, has no meaning, or is
structurally impossible, or does not have a corresponding expression
within the metalinguistic experience of the target language, or has a
corresponding expression, but not with the same register.
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Daniel Kráľ
Translator/Copywriter
As a bit of a restless expat, translation and writing haven’t initially counted among my passions. Having previously lived, worked and studied in eight countries on three continents, I have made my way through academic research and teaching English before serendipitously finding LEXIKA in 2020 and joining the team. Over the last couple of years, I have gotten a few original publications and a range of translation projects under my belt, constantly striving to learn something new and improve. Currently split between writing, translating and a product research gig for a US tech startup, I am a true jack of all trades, master of none.
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PALEX — Popular Translation Techniques and Tips for Quality Translations
Kamil Mustafin
Linguistic Lead
17 December 2021
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Providing translation services for almost two decades, we know for sure that quality translations require a great deal of commitment, accuracy, and professional attitude. Whether you represent a company that needs professional translation services or a translator that wants to boost their career, keep reading! In this article, we’ll share with you the key tips and techniques that allow you to get top-notch translations based on our extensive experience of working with 80+ languages.
TABLE OF CONTENT
(click to show)
-
Translation Techniques
- Direct Translation Techniques
- Indirect Translation Techniques
-
9 Tips for Quality Translations
- Write for your target audience
- Strive for clarity
- Use shorter sentences
- Keep your text consistent
- Be aware of clichés, metaphors, humor and slang
- Avoid noun strings
- Use the active voice
- Check the basics
- Read your translation out loud
- What Are the Responsibilities of the Translation Project Manager?
- Trust Palex for Quality Translations
Translation Techniques
At first glance, you may think that there is nothing challenging about translating if you know a target language. You just take the source document, translate it word by word, and there it is the translation. Sometimes this method might work. But when it comes to large projects and complicated fields, such as healthcare, such translations can be over-simplistic or, on the contrary, too wordy. This may lead to mistranslations or translations that are difficult to understand. The goal of a translator however is to translate an original text in such a way that the final text doesn’t look like a translation. Only when a translation text flows naturally, it’ll serve its purpose effectively. Otherwise, poor translations may be annoying and confusing at best or life-threatening and cause serious legal repercussions at worst.
To create a translation text that is easy to understand and engage with, you need to approach this issue more deliberately, using specific techniques. Applying the most suitable techniques, the translator can convey each linguistic element precisely. Let’s discover the most important ones.
Direct Translation Techniques
As the name suggests, direct translation techniques are used when the conceptual and structural elements of the source content can be easily translated into the target language.
Borrowing
This technique implies that you take the words straight from the source language and transfer them into the target text. Translators use borrowing when there is no target language equivalent and can help to preserve the cultural context of the source text.
Example: cartoon (Italian), karaoke (Japanese), lemon (Arabic), and entrepreneur (French).
Calque
Calque is the practice of borrowing a phrase from one language and translating it literally into another.
Example: An “Adam’s apple,” for example, is a calque of the French pomme d’Adam.
Literal Translation
The literal translation means straightforward word-for-word translation. It doesn’t suit many language pairs as, in most cases, the sentence structure will vary. You should use this technique cautiously, as you can miss the nuances of the original text. It’s most suitable for languages and cultures that are extremely close.
Example: The English “I want a piece of cake” would be translated as “Je veux un morceau de gâteau” in French.
Indirect Translation Techniques
Oblique or indirect translation techniques are used when you have to change the writing style and grammar to translate the source text into the target language.
Transposition
Using transposition, translators change the grammatical structure of a text while the meaning stays the same. This technique is useful for working with languages that differ in grammatical structures. To write a translation, a translator must know how changes to the order of a sentence will affect the meaning of the text in different languages.
Example: “He likes swimming” translates as “Er schwimmt gern” in German.
Modulation
Modulation involves using a different phrase from that used in the source content to preserve the same meaning in the target language. With this technique, you change a perspective to convey the idea in a way that aligns with the natural patterns of the target language. Thus, a reader in the target language won’t be confused by an unexpected phrase.
Example: In British English, the first floor is the floor which is above the ground floor. In Russian, it would be translated as “второй этаж”, which literally means “the second floor.”
Equivalence/Reformulation
Like modulation, this technique allows you to convey the meaning of an expression, name or proverb by finding a target language equivalent.
Example: The “the apple of my eye” phrase for Russian reader, depending on the context, may be translated as “свет моих очей” which literally means “the light of my eyes.”
Adaptation
Some phrases are only relevant to people from the source language’s culture. In this case, such phrases need to be even more fully adapted so that people from another culture would understand them.
Example: Cyclisme (French) = football (UK) = baseball (US).
Compensation
Some nuances and phrases can’t be translated. With this technique, translators express the idea of these nuances at another point in the document.
Example: While the English language only has one way of saying ‘you’, German has different ways, which are ‘du’ (informal) and ‘Sie’ (formal). A translator can choose specific words elsewhere in the text, which helps compensate for the loss of nuance.
Reduction
When using reduction, the translator chooses to remove any words forming the original text which are considered redundant in the target language.
Example: The Italian “carta geografica” can be rendered in English as just “map.”
Transcreation
Just like the name suggests, this technique is about translation and creation. Transcreation implies adapting a message to resonate with the culture of the target audience. Translators recreate the text in such a way that it preserves the original intent, context, emotion, and tone. As a result, the translation should provide the audience with an identical emotional experience as the source message.
Example: The sweets brand’s, Haribo’s “Kids and grownups love it so, the happy world of Haribo” is not just a slogan, it’s a catchy melody that gets stuck in your head whether you want it to or not.
German translation is “Haribo macht Kinder froh, und Erwachsene ebenso,” which literally means “Haribo makes children happy, and grownups too.”
The German version doesn’t sound as catchy when you translate it back into English, but the result in German has a better ring to it. Moreover, Haribo has stuck with the same melody when translating its slogan to many other languages.
9 Tips for Quality Translations
Now that you’re familiar with the most common translation techniques, let’s move on to key tips that are useful for writing effective translations.
Write for your target audience
Get to know who will use and read the text, why, when and through what medium. Use language your audience understands and feels comfortable with.
Strive for clarity
Writing with clarity means that your target audience will be able to understand your thought-out points. Readers shouldn’t take any effort to understand what you’re trying to convey. It’s good to use simple words that mean what they – words that your audience doesn’t have to look up the meaning of.
Use shorter sentences
Concise sentences make the text easier to read and comprehend. Long sentences can interfere with the intended meaning or message in the text. This can cause a reader to lose interest and focus on the information. So keep sentences to the point and use one idea per sentence.
Keep your text consistent
If you use specific phrases or need to do technical translations, remember that you should use them consistently. It will improve clarity for your readers and minimise research time for your translators. Also, you can create a term glossary and share it with your translation team to make the process run even smoother.
Be aware of clichés, metaphors, humor and slang
The items above are good in a certain context but bear in mind that they also may lead to misunderstandings. Clichés and metaphors are often specific to language and cultures and may be a communication barrier to international readers. In some cases, translators apply some of the techniques that we’ve described above or even avoid using them.
Avoid noun strings
When a sentence has too many nouns in a row, it is hard to read. A good way to make a sentence clearer is to rewrite noun strings.
For example:
The team has finished working on the localization healthcare software project. (noun string)
The team has finished working on the localization project that is related to healthcare software. (reworded)
Use the active voice
Active voice is more direct and easier to read rather than passive voice. Active voice makes it clear who is supposed to do what. It eliminates ambiguity. Not “It must be done,” but “You must do it.” However, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use passive voice at all. You should decide which voice to choose depending on the context.
Check the basics
Even if you have a proofreader in your team, you shouldn’t forget about grammar and punctuation. Proofread your own work.
Read your translation out loud
It’s often useful to listen to your text by reading it out loud. Check out its rhythm. If something confuses you, try to change the arrangement of the words and sentences. A well-written translation should sound natural and smooth. Read it once again before you submit it to the client.
What Are the Responsibilities of the Translation Project Manager?
We’ve discovered some translation tips that help ensure the quality of translation from the translator’s point of view. But who is in charge of the whole project? It depends. Some companies work directly with translators (e.g. freelancers) so they manage the project themselves. Also, they can have their own translation department with a dedicated specialist who is responsible for their work. In Palex, we provide our customers with professional translation project management services. Project managers’ responsibilities include:
- Handling project timeline. Project managers make sure that every stage of the translation process goes smoothly and within the defined deadlines.
- Assembling the team. Project managers choose the best team suitable for a certain project, considering the backgrounds and translation skills of the pool of workers.
- Serving as the main point of contact between the customer and the translation agency. This way, the manager can quickly respond to customers’ feedback without having to disrupt the translators more than needed.
- Making sure of the translation’s quality. PMs make certain that all the project deliverables are complete and correspond to the formal requirements. Their main task is to collect and clarify the client’s requirements and organize the process so that these requirements are met.
- Providing the client with the reports. Project managers ensure that the client is aware of the status of the translation process.
Moreover, project managers contribute a lot to building trust in the relationship between a vendor and a client. Maintaining a good, transparent relationship takes time and profound communication skills. Project managers ensure that both sides are on the same page regarding the project. And even when unpredicted challenges arise, project managers talk openly about them with the client and suggest the best possible solutions.
In addition, project managers can offer workflow improvements. Project managers at translation agencies are often former translators, so they know the details of the translation process. Also, the experience of managing the workflow allows them to identify the bottlenecks and find solutions to eliminate them.
Thus, the manager is responsible for getting the quality translation for your company while you can focus on handling other issues of your business.
Trust Palex for Quality Translations
Palex is the clear choice when accurate information and well-translated materials are crucial to ensuring that your customers around the world understand your product and use it properly.
Our clients include major multinational companies conducting business in medical-biological development, information technology, and science-intensive industries. Our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17100:2015 certificates serve as an objective quality warranty of our services.
We will be happy to help you with translation and localization services. Our team of professional translators will use their experience and expertise in multiple languages to choose the right technique for your text, giving you the most accurate translation possible.
Feel free to contact us at sales@palexgroup.com.
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