Posted on: May 22, 2023 by admin
Translation is the process of converting written text from one language into a different language while ensuring that the meaning of the original document is retained by taking into account the social, cultural and linguistic nuances of the source and target language. Translation is used when a source text (e.g. foreign novels, official documents, business materials and instruction manuals) foreign in one language needs to be read and understood by speakers of another language.
High-quality translation is a detailed and complicated task performed that should be performed by skilled translators to ensure the information is accurate. The process has four distinct stages:
This is the process whereby the translator reads, interprets and translates the text into the target language. In order to do this, the translator needs to segment the text into smaller chunks that can be dealt with systematically. Each chunk represents a discrete unit of meaning and is translated one at a time. At this stage, the translator will need to identify linguistic challenges such as idioms, specialised terminology, abbreviations, cultural references, typos and errors in the original document. During this stage, the translator may need to do background research, review the source document in its original format and in some cases, ask the client questions to ensure the translation context is correct.
During this stage, the translator reviews the text to check that it flows smoothly and that the language used in the translation is appropriate, accurate and relevant. The copy may need to be edited to ensure the language is localised to closely reflect the language usage of the intended audience (e.g. slang, idioms, jargon and colloquialism). The translator will also double check that the translated text has included all elements of the source text and that nothing has been added or omitted.
Proofreading is done after editing and is often performed by somebody other than the original translator. This is because it is much easier for somebody with fresh eyes to pick up on the errors that the translator cannot see. Proofreaders will evaluate the text for unnatural tone or flow, poor style and typos such as punctuation or spelling errors.
The final edit involves correcting all the errors and issues identified during the proofreading stage to improve the overall quality of the text. This is the final step before the document is sent to the client.
Document translation is a complex process that should contain multiple stages to ensure that the translated text is accurate to the source document. If you’re looking for a high-quality professional translation service, contact Speak Your Language today.
