The Art of Creative Translation

Creativity in translation is often questioned. How can there be any creativity in translation? Of course
there is. Translation is a process of adaptation and therefore requires a lot of creativity. Translators find
themselves engaged in the adaptation process between two languages, cultures and mindsets. They are
required to have a complete understanding of the languages they are dealing with in terms of fluency.

Translation is a complex process of adapting one source text into a new one without losing the context.
This requires a very high level of creativity. Two facts cannot be denied when translators begin to work
from a creative perspective.

Firstly, translating content is a rewriting task. Translators have to use different words in different
languages to achieve the same context and meaning. This means they have to have excellent writing
skills. Since writing is a creative act, therefore translating content is also a creative act.

Secondly, technical translation services in Abu Dhabi or Middle East market demands a number of skills.
Translation is a complex and challenging job. Translators can often find themselves lost in translation as
they work hard, behind the scenes and often face prejudice from people who underestimate their work.
Only when the translators have a combination of skills, will they be able to overcome the challenges of
their job – which again is very creative.

Here is how translators are able to manifest creativity across different levels of translation.

Personal Style
It is impossible to work with text or words and not leave your own impression somewhere in there.
Similarly, translators will also leave their mark in their work. Each translator approaches a text in his own
way and since creativity is personal, they are able to manifest their creative approach in the text they
work on.

Connecting the Dots

In the process of translation, translators have to connect different dots to achieve a profound result.
They can mix translation tools, glossaries, resources by understanding the languages and demands of
the text, engage different writing skills and read between the lines of what is said in the source text.
Each task is therefore creative because the combination and connecting of these dots are different and
unique.

Writing Skills
Translators always offer copywriting skills as an extension of translation in a task. They can be
considered as excellent copywriters because they approach the source text from a translator’s
perspective and interpret it precisely before writing into another language with the same clarity.
Artistic Personalities
Translators can have actual artistic personalities. Besides their main professional occupation, they may
be engaged in hobbies related to photography, branding, writing, painting and more. Art is an outlet to
express oneself and it is parallel to the translation psyche in the sense that one has to adapt information
from a source, modify it into a new targeted one. Highly qualified linguists around the world are
remarkable artists in different fields which they often choose as the primary field of translation.

Creative Perception
Translators soak up information when they read a source text because they have to elaborate the
information as part of their translation process. The more they perceive from a text, the more easily
they are able to translate it. This process is highly creative.

Languages are a Creative Tool

Language is creative. Like mixing colors and combinations in art, translators also use language as a tool
to produce creative work. The fact that translators have to know at least two languages and mediate
between the two, is a creative notion.

Creative Marketing Skills

Branding is the core of marketing when it comes to marketing translation. Translators have to connect
the dots and convey the same impression and message of a brand in multiple languages by working on
designs, colors, copy and name. It is a highly creative process.

Translation is an art of creativity from all these aspects. It requires attention and appreciation as
translators put a part of themselves in the work they produce and submit. The art of creative translation
is achieved at a very high level as the translator gains experience in the field and spends more years
working on different projects.