Language Translation For Dummies

e is a very complex mode of humanlanguages are no second priority. An expression in
communication. With hundreds of diversea certain country differs from the other.
languages in the world how possible would that beWhat’s funny for a Japanese may be
that a person from the east could bring bring aoffensive to a spanish. Every single expression
message across somebody in the west withoutthat will be translated is considered critical.
distorting the real message? What if people whoAnother common misconception in translating is
speak different tongues gather together trying tothat there exists a simple "word-for-word"
talk to one another? How chaotic could it get?equivalent between any two languages. Translation
Language translation may immediately pop-out tois not a straightforward mechanical process. A
anyone’s head as an answer butword-for-word translation does not take into
it’s way beyond that.account context, grammar, conventions, and
Language translation is not a piece of cake.idioms.
It’s quite dynamic and needs tons ofRelevant resources are also necessary in order to
expertise. The text to be translated is called thetranslate efficiently.
"source text," and the language to be translated isThere are also two criteria in determining the
called the "target language".quality of language translation: fidelity and
A certain text can be perceived in hundreds oftransparency. Fidelity or “faithfulness” in
different ways. The primary goal of languagetranslation is measured through the accuracy of
translation is to interpret the meaning of a text tothe translated text, whether it render the
the equivalent text of another language. It ismeaning of the source text, without adding to or
essential that the same message issubtracting from it, without intensifying or
communicated accurately.weakening any part of the meaning, and
Misinterpretation and misconception arise whenimportantly without distorting it.
the language translation is haphazardly done. ThereThe criteria used to judge the fidelity of a
are translation services but it needs to be verytranslation vary according to the subject, the
efficient. Translation must take into accountprecision of the original contents, function and use
constraints. Here are some factors to consider inof the text, its social or historical context, etc.
translating any language.On the other hand, judging the transparency in
Context should be well-interpreted. The contexttranslation would appear more straightforward. It
of the source text should always be parallel tocan be in the case of word-for-word translations
the target language.generated by many machine-translation systems.
The rules of grammar of the two languagesThis often results to a humorous and non-sense
should be overlooked. A single error in translatingmessage.
the tense of a message can distort the supposedWords are so powerful that a single mistake in
meaning of the original text.translating them spells a big difference.
The writing conventions and the idioms of the