Contrary to popular belief, the art of translation is far more complex than a simple word-for-word conversion from one language to another. It demands not only a nuanced grasp of the languages involved but also a deep understanding of the cultural contexts they operate within. Moreover, achieving a high-quality translation requires more than linguistic expertise; it calls for relevant experience and exceptional writing skills to ensure that the final output resonates with its intended audience and serves its purpose effectively.

The translation, editing, and proofreading are three-level processes that are complete. This is a three-step process, and it reduces the chance of mistakes. Furthermore, it also asks to proofread the content and check grammar, punctuation, and spelling. A professional translation company ensures that the translation that they deliver is accurate with the right amount of editing and proofreading.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts of translation that translators should practise.

Using the right terminology

While translating the technical and medical contexts, the terminology is of extreme importance. The right usage and placement of terminology can elevate the quality of professional healthcare translation services. The law-related and technical content is also important to translate, as any error or mistake in the content can cause liability for the direct effectors.

Taking certain measures can help mitigate the risk of using the wrong terminology

• Identifying the target market
• Using linguists with relevant qualifications and proven experience in translation jobs.
• Hiring translators who have industry-based knowledge.

Don’t spare the dialects  

A language is not a collection of a few words. It is a whole culture, a set of norms, traditions, and customs. A language comes with multiple dialects and scenarios. The translation agencies should make sure that while translating the content, they don’t overlook or ignore the importance of the dialects. There are many pieces of evidence that prove that people get and identify their language only when they get their dialects. However, translators often forget this, and this has come up as the most frequent error done by translators. Whenever translation companies and their translators are addressing a particular audience, it is important to be mindful of the importance of the dialects.

The translators need to understand how a single language is not spoken and written in a similar manner in two different countries. French translation, for instance, could be different if the target audience is in France, and it has to be different for the francophone community settled in Canada.

Adopting different dialects could be easy in these ways:

• Defining the target demographic
• Using native linguists and speakers
• Incorporating local cultural references in order to appeal to the new target audience

Don’t forget to convert the measurements

The translation of the text often has to deal with the text type, its format, and additional requirements too. The requirements for medical translation services could be different from those for the translation of legal content. Likewise, if you want to engage your readers, you should ensure that you convert the measurements right away. Translation jobs get greatly affected by the battle of metric vs imperial systems. These units talk about the size, mass, and weight of the volume, length, distance, and area. So, it is expected to be there in the text that talks about the diverse industries. Thus, it is a great practise of translation that you should always look for these units and translate them as per the practices that are carried out in the target audience.

Here are a few tips that can help with the proper conversion of the measurements.

• Knowing about the target audience and the conversion tool that they use for the target audience.
• Paying attention to the delivery of the content with the right symbols and punctuation.
• Incorporating both systems for a broader audience.

Reviewing and analysing the original document

This should be the practice of all translators. Reviewing the original file can save you from the hassle of mistakes and errors in your target file. Proofreading is vital to translating and writing the content. The general perception about proofreading the content stays with the target file, though it is extremely crucial to go through the source file as well. As many times as there are mistakes in the source file, they get translated to the target file too, which further leads to complications. Also, the errors may vary with the languages as well. The issues that are common in the English language could be different and not so important in the Polish language; however, seeking Polish translation services could be the ultimate solution to avoid mistakes and errors.

Hence, mistakes in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, inconsistencies, and misconceptions can affect the work of linguists.

• Scanning and solving the mistakes in the source language
• Giving time to the translator to proofread the original document
• Staying available to answer and clarify the information

Takeaway

It is important to recognize the complexities of translation as a discipline with specific best practices and pitfalls. The process is far from haphazard; instead, it follows a rigorous methodology that demands meticulous attention to detail. Adhering to the do’s and don’ts of the trade is not merely advisable; it’s crucial for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the translated content. In an arena where even the smallest error can lead to significant misunderstandings, compromising on quality is not an option.

David Radar, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.