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In the world of business, you’re going to encounter a lot of different cultures and languages. If you’re not careful, it’s easy for your company’s messages to be misunderstood or misinterpreted by people in other countries. That is why a lot businesses who needs for translation hired Capital Linguists as they find their services good, effective and deliver exquisite understanding of tone and register in any language they translate.
If you’re a translator, you’ve probably been warned about the dangers of making translation mistakes. You may have even seen scary examples of how to avoid them. But what are some common translation mistakes? How do they happen? And how can you avoid them?
It’s important to know the types of mistakes that can happen when translating because if you don’t know what to expect, it might be easier to avoid them!
1. Incorrect Verb Tense
Verbs are very important to how we communicate with each other. When you translate text from one language into another, ensure the tense used matches the period when the event occurred (or at least some point in time).
2. Incorrect Word Order
When translating text from one language into another, ensure that any compound words have been translated correctly and in the right order (e.g., “toothbrush”). This can help ensure that all phrases are understood correctly by both parties involved in the conversation.
3. Translation from Word to Word
A document must, of course, be translated without affecting the text’s content, yet, doing so will only corrupt the text’s overall meaning. When a text is translated word for word, its original meaning is often lost. Therefore, the translation must be completed in the same tone and fashion as the original. Different syntactic norms should be taken into consideration when translating.
4. Word Meanings Are Exaggerated
To look meticulous, translators are occasionally tempted to go overboard. The use of complex and technical phrases throughout a translation is unnecessary and certainly not appreciated. It’s critical to comprehend the client’s needs and proceed appropriately.
Keep the language straightforward if it’s a handbook or manual for personal use. Ask for rules regarding the required publishing standard if it is more of a literary piece that will be published.
5. Utilizing the Wrong Tone and Style
It’s crucial to understand that each document type has a certain scripting style. The translated paper could be terrible if you are unfamiliar with the suitable style. A medical transcript, a movie script, and legal records, for instance, cannot all be translated in the same way. Each of these has a distinctive flair all its own.
6. Not Knowing Jargon
Most translators won’t necessarily comprehend the specialized subject matter, even if you engage the most qualified LSP (language service provider). You shouldn’t anticipate translators to comprehend corporate jargon, insider terms, or acronyms unique to a given industry. This kind of overuse of language increases the risk of translation errors.
How do you avoid them?
We all make mistakes when we translate, but there’s one thing you can do to avoid making them: use a professional translator or translation services, like Lexcode Philippines.
Professional translators are trained in the art of translation and know how to avoid the most common mistakes. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional translator for your project. They will make sure you don’t get stuck with a bad translation.
Conclusion
When it comes to translating, there are many things to consider. A good translator knows how to take the meaning from one language and transfer it into another. However, they know to be careful not to change too much, or they could lose the original message.
Other factors involved in translation—like cultural differences and differences between cultures—make it difficult for native speakers to translate from one language into another without making mistakes along the way. Translators need to know these factors, so they don’t accidentally lose meaning when translating text from one language into another.
Author’s Bio:
Angelo Castelda is a freelance writer from Asia. Besides writing, he also spends his time traveling and learning about diverse cultures and languages, which opened his heart more to learning and imparting knowledge about language translation.
