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So You Want to Be a Translator?

By: Andrea Moreno Acosta

Anyone who knows two languages can translate. But what makes a good translator? Once, I heard an announcement in English that said “If you see an abandoned bag, bring it to the attention of station personnel” Immediately after, the Spanish-language version of the announcement told people to “bring the bag to the station personnel’s attention.” How could the messages be so different? The answer is not having a good translator.

An example of translation gone wrong.

Lost in Translation: When “Exit Only”  turned into  “Success Here.”

A good translator is a constant work in progress. A good translator understands that his or her profession requires continuous study, research, and cultural immersion. Those skills allows him or her to not just to change words from one language to another, but also to accurately convey the meaning of the  original message so that that anyone in the target audience can understand it.

As a Spanish-language translator, I know that this is no easy feat. Spanish is a language spoken in 21 different countries, each of them with its own dialects and local jargon. Writing for Spanish-speaking audiences is complex because, depending where you are, the same word can either get you a fruit (and not always the one you expected) or it can get you in a bind.     So, how does a translator become a good translator? Here are a few tips that have served me well in this quest:

  • Literal translation is a No, Nein, Non. This is a common issue for some of us who live outside our home countries. We become so used to thinking and speaking the language of our host country that, when translating, we get a case of what I call “writing English in Spanish.” How to tackle this? Continuous study is your best ally. Read books in your native tongue, read newspapers to stay current, and always do some research for context before translating. It sounds like work but, then again, it is your work.
  • You have resources, use them! The Internet offers fantastic tools for translators such as Wordreference, Linguee and ProZ. These websites not only offer links to dictionaries, glossaries, and reference documents, but also the opportunity to interact with other translators who share knowledge about word choices and cultural nuances that you may not be aware of.
  • Google it! I often use Google to search when I’m uncertain about a word or phrase. I then look at the number of hits and most importantly the sources of those hits (newspapers or reports vs. random pages) to make the best language choice.
  • Avoid using colloquialisms. We all come from somewhere and that influences how we speak and translate. But if a portion of your audience has to reach for the dictionary to understand an expression that’s only used in your hometown/region-or country-, there is an alternative word. Find it.
  • Use Anglicism’s carefully. Words like mouse or email are commonly used worldwide – though not always accepted by linguists and editors- When in doubt, research the context and the target audience to make the best choice, but also be open to your client’s preferences.
  • Test your translation! This can be done in two ways:
  1. Read it out loud to yourself.
  2. Ask a friend or family member to review it. Gather their feedback, edit, review and repeat.

Finally, and I cannot stress this enough: spell check is your best friend. Always use it before turning in any document. This practice can mean the difference between getting client referrals and having a phone that never rings.

 

Nhora BarreraSo You Want to Be a Translator?

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