Common Translation Issues and How to Solve Them

Category: Translation          Written by: Daqeeq          Date: 15 Mar 2022

Daqeeq says….

Common Translation Issues and How to Solve Them

There are various challenges inherent in the translation industry, just like any other profession; some are experienced by translators, others by customers, and some may be termed structural problems because they constitute a difficulty in the translation process itself.

Language structural differences, cultural differences, complex terms are abundant in this process… In this article, we will discuss both the major structural difficulties in translation as well as the major translation challenges encountered by translators, clients, and the industry as a whole. Although we cannot provide a solution to every single translation difficulty, we may be able to assist you to lessen their effect with some advice gleaned from experience.

Without further ado, in this article we will mention some of the major translation problems and their solutions.

Language Structure

Sentence structures in English and other languages may differ. This is regarded as one of the most serious structural issues in translation.

The culture of each language’s speakers may also be drastically diverse. Certain words may be totally lacking in various languages… This is one of the most prevalent challenges that a translator has on a daily basis, and it is also one of the major reasons that translation is tough.

In English, for example, the adjective comes before the noun, but in French, the adjective comes after the noun. The subject pronoun is part of the verb in Arabic and certain other languages, and it indicates the subject gender and voice of the phrase.

Is it confusing? It can get really bad! Language is enormous, complicated, and ever-changing. The translator must understand the specific structure of each language and use it, as well as ensure that the translation is conducted without affecting the meaning.

As a solution for that: Limit your Expertise

Develop competence just in a few languages in which you are already fluent. Use grammar checkers, translation memory tools, and other approaches to guarantee that the structure of the source content is retained in the target language without affecting its meaning or sense.

Cultural Differences

The culture of each language’s speakers may also be drastically diverse. Colloquialism is frequently weaved into formal language, making the translator’s job extremely difficult.

Except in technical document translations, legal document translations, or medical transcript translations, the greater the territory where the language is spoken, the more dialects and colloquial terms you are likely to uncover.

The British, for example, are famed for their dry, stinging sarcasm, which is their kind of comedy. This type of sarcasm, however, may not be appreciated not just in a nation speaking a different language, but also in another country where English is spoken.

Then there’s the issue of how to translate correctly without offending or angering the intended audience. Culture is sometimes regarded as a structural translation issue.

The solution for that: Conduct research and investigation.

Scan the internet for the most prevalent colloquialisms in that language, and become acquainted with the most widely used dialects. When you need to translate, this might provide you with good hints.

Immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible by watching movies, TV shows, periodicals, and reading books in that language. Movies and television shows will be extremely useful in learning about local culture and accents.

Missing Terms

Missing terms are a typical translation problem. Certain names may be totally lacking in some languages — this may be due to culture, as such things may not be utilized by the people, or those acts or activities may not be authorized or simply not performed.

This might be a challenging position for the translator, and it raises another crucial structural issue worth discussing. Assume that the phrase “child adoption” has no equivalent in another language since such a thing does not occur in that region!

The best solution for this: It is preferable to consult with the Client.

In such instances, it is advisable to consult with the customer before deciding on the best course of action. They may propose keeping the source document’s word, or they may offer a new phrase themselves, or they may even urge you to come up with a freshly invented term that comes as near to the true meaning as feasible.

The most typical obstacles in document translation mentioned in this article are simple to solve when you work with the right translation partner. Without you having to worry, a professional translation business like Daqeeq will manage the layout, formatting, images, figures, and deadline for you.