TRANSLATION ERRORS - HOW THEY HAPPEN AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

TRANSLATION ERRORS - HOW THEY HAPPEN  AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

You have probably smiled at a translation error in a menu abroad. Their selection may include filled handkerchiefs instead of filled dumplings, or grilled Turkish meat instead of grilled turkey meat. The English word turkey means both turkey and turkey. As funny as these mishaps can sometimes be, there can also be cases that can turn out to be expensive and dangerous.

How do translation errors happen?

If you've seen such a mistake before, it should be clear that this translation was obviously not done by a professional translator. Typical translation errors can be found e.g.  in menus, instructions for use, on signs or other documents. But how does it come about?

It is not uncommon for many to overestimate their own foreign language skills. In most cases it is unfortunately not enough to be able to speak a language “quite well”. The tactic of translating the source text word for word will not result in a correct translation. The best examples of this are the well-known sentences “I think I spider” or “That is not the yellow of the egg”. Sounds funny, but doesn't make sense in English.

It becomes more difficult with the so-called false friends, i.e. with words that are supposed to be similar. In German, they use the word Handy for mobile phone, however handy in English means practical or handy and mobile phone means mobile phone or cell phone. And if you want to order butter burro with your breakfast bread in Italy, this order will make the waiter look wide with this order. Because burro also exists in Spanish, but in this language it means donkey.

In addition to an extensive vocabulary, the correct sentence structure and content are also important. The profession of translator is often underestimated, but here it becomes clear that professional knowledge is required in certain specialist areas.

If you do not classify your foreign language skills as sufficient for this project, you may come up with the idea of ​​using an online program for the translation. And even if machine translation is constantly evolving, it does not always bring the desired result, on the contrary - it can even result in correct gibberish. Anyone who has an eye for content and language would notice this immediately, but without this knowledge it is difficult to recognize the inconsistencies and errors. It is not uncommon for the translated text to be simply copied and pasted.

What are the consequences of translation errors?

In contrast to small translation errors in menus, errors can occur in instructions for use, certificates, magazines or books. If errors have crept into a book or magazine, this can mean high additional costs for reprinting. The translator responsible can also be held accountable.

It can even get worse in the case of translation errors in the instructions for use for certain devices or in medical texts, if this can result in property damage or personal injury. In this case, too, the translation service provider could face legal consequences. There are even certain insurance policies for freelance translators. Wherever or whatever a translation error occurs, the reputation is quickly ruined.

How can you avoid translation errors?

Think about which text you would like to translate or have translated, which subject area is involved and in which languages ​​the text should appear. For a professional translation, it is best to contact a translation agency or a qualified translator directly. The translator then sits down, among other things. deal with the following questions:

• Which is the source and which is the target language?

• What must be considered when translating from one language into the other?

• Which industry is it, or which technical terms and specialist knowledge are required?

• Who is the client and what is the content of the text?

Translation agencies in Bangalore like Wordpar International also offer proofreading of documents, i. e. They check texts with regard to the faithful, content and formally correct rendering of the source text. This is particularly important for documents such as theses, application documents, instructions for use, etc. In this context, the saying "Four eyes see more than two" is once again confirmed.