The translation industry experiences a variety of translation issues, much like any other industry. Some of these issues are experienced by the customers and translators, while others could be categorized as structural issues because they affect translation as a whole.
Language structural variances, cultural distinctions, compound terms… We will discuss both the primary structural issues with translation and the primary difficulties that Translators, Clients, and the Industry as a Whole encounter in this article.
Even though we are unable to provide a solution for every single translation-related issue, we may help you lessen their impact by offering some advice gleaned from our experience. If you need a professional translation assistance you can visit legal translation service in dubai.
Without further ado, here are our top ten biggest translation issues and how to fix them:
1. Structure of the Language
English and other languages may have different sentence structures. One of the key structural issues with translation is thought to be this.
The cultures that each language’s speakers practise could potentially be very dissimilar. A number of languages may completely lack certain terminology. This is one of the most frequent difficulties that a translator encounters on a daily basis and one of the key causes of why translation is challenging.
For instance, while the adjective comes after the noun in French, it comes before the noun in English. The subject pronoun, which is a component of the verb in Arabic and certain other languages, specifies the subject gender and the sentence’s voice.
Confusing? It is possible! Language is broad, intricate, and always changing. The translator must be aware of the precise grammar rules in each language, employ them, and make sure that the translation is done without distorting the intended meaning.
Solution: Limit your Expertise.
Only hone your skills in a few languages that you are already fluent in. Use grammar checkers, translation memory tools, and other tools to make sure the structure of the source material has been preserved in the target language without affecting its meaning or sense
2. Cultural Differences
The cultures of the speakers of each language may also differ greatly. Colloquialism is frequently included into formal language, which makes the translator’s job extremely challenging.
With the exception of technical document translations, legal document translations, and medical transcript translations, the more widespread the language is spoken, the more dialects and colloquial terminology you are likely to encounter.
Solution: Conduct research and analysis
Look for the most frequent slang terms and dialects on the internet to become familiar with that language’s colloquialisms. When you need to translate, this can provide you a good notion.
By watching movies, TV shows, publications, and books in that language, immerse yourself as much as possible in the culture. Recognizing regional culture and dialects will be notably aided by movies and television shows.
3. Compound Words
A compound word is created when two or more nouns and adjectives are combined. Three formats are possible for them: closed (like a notebook); hyphenated (like long-distance); or open (like a fighter pilot). Some compound words are rather simple and imply precisely what they say, like afternoon; others only mean a portion of the phrase, like bellboy; and still others mean nothing at all, like deadline. It might become very difficult for the translator in these circumstances.
Solution: Concentrate your Knowledge
Any translator must select their specialty. Instead of attempting to be a master of all trades, pick one or two areas of study and become an expert in them.
Learn the translations for the compound words that are most frequently used in your field of study.
4. Two-Word Compound Verbs
There are various verbs in English that are made up of two words, typically a verb and a preposition. For instance, although the common verb is break, the words break up, break down, break into, break in, break off, break apart, and break away all have various meanings.
In this instance, the preposition that comes just after it gives it a whole distinct meaning. It is quite unlikely that the two words will have the same meaning when translated into the target language!
Solution: Skip the literal translation
Instead of trying a literal translation, consider finding an acceptable word in the target language for the phrase or the verb in its whole. You can check out OnTime attestation for efficient translation services.