The perfect translation is one you don’t notice

Many people think translation is something anyone could easily do in no time: just transform all the words from one language into another and you’re done. But translation is actually a highly complex process. A professional translator has to take into account much more than just the meaning of individual words to create a translation that communicates the content of the original text in a different language in the best possible way.

Here are some crucial factors that can make or break a translation:

Natural and correct use of language

A translated text should be free from grammatical mistakes, structure its sentences in a way that flows and feels natural in the target language, and use the right words in the right place, all while maintaining the source text’s original meaning and tone. Readers should never have to wonder whether they’re looking at a translation: instead, it should feel as if the text was originally written in the target language, by someone with a deep affinity for that language’s cultural context. A natural and “fluent” translation that fits into the target language’s culture ensures the reader will not only understand but also really identify with the text’s message.

A careful interpretation

A translation naturally has to relay all the literal information that is present in the source text. Oftentimes, however, the original text says quite a lot between the lines. The words and idioms that the writer chose to use can contain important nuances that a good translation should capture and communicate. The translator needs to consider the text in its entirety and in its context to be able to correctly transpose all parts of it into the target language. Careless translations can lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations and a loss of the source text’s rich original meaning.

Tailored to the text’s goal and target group

Depending on how the text will be used, the translator may need to pay attention to both its goals and target group. To be able to adjust the translation’s style to these factors, they may need to ask questions like: Is this text for internal use only, or will your company publish it for customers to read? Which market will it be used in? How much knowledge of the topic would you say the intended reader has? The text’s goal will also affect its style. Informal marketing copy that has to catch the reader’s attention on social media is ideally written in a more colloquial, personal tone, while a descriptive text in a user manual should use more formal, pedagogical, and technically correct language. The more information the translator has about a text’s target group and goal, the better and more reliable the translation will be.

Expert knowledge

Different sectors and industries each use their own subject-specific jargon and terminology. That is why a good translation requires the translator to have extensive knowledge of the specialist language used in the text’s particular field and context. This is true even if the text is about something other than legal issues, medicine, or technology. It’s actually not uncommon for a translator to enlist the help of a subject expert when they’re translating a highly specialised text. It is also important for terminology to be consistent throughout the text, to make sure the translation is correct and as clear as possible.

So, what is ‘a good translation’?

A good translation is about much more than simply translating a text word for word. It is about interpreting and communicating the content of the source text to a particular target group in a natural and linguistically correct way, using the proper terms for the text’s particular subject area. A good translation strikes the perfect balance between many different considerations – which is something a professional translator is an expert at. This is also true for machine-translated texts: it always helps to have a human post-editor read through the translation and make sure both the individual words have been correctly translated and that turns of phrase and cultural references have been tailored to the new context.

Textforum collaborates with an extensive network of freelance translators around the world to deliver top-quality translations. Get in touch with us and we’ll help find the right translator for your text.