TRANSLATION I.

PROF. ELIUD LÓPEZ.

UNIT #1: TRANSLATION.

What’s a translation?
It is the process of reworking text from one language into another while
maintaining the original message and communication.
The main objective of translation is to transfer the intent of a message and
original tone, taking into consideration regional and cultural differences
between target and source languages.
The source language is the language being translated from.
The target language is the language being translated into.
For example, I work from Spanish to English, so my source language is Spanish
and my target language is English. I work from source documents in Spanish
and turn them into target documents in English.

Types of Translations
According to the professional field/area where translations can be required,
we would highlight:

1. Commercial Translation: This one is done for business purposes. It

includes translations for marketing sales, as well as translations that are
part of a contract.
2. Literary Translation: It seeks to preserve the author’s intention, the
context of the work, and the culture in which it was produced. The
translator needs to understand the social context of the piece so they
can accurately convey the message. These are translations for novels,
poetry, etc.
3. Legal Translation: It is used in legal and government sectors. There’s a
variety of legal documents that need to be translated. Such as:
 contracts, court judgments, certificates, laws, etc. This is a highly
specialized type of translation where ambiguity is not accepted and
requires specific training.
4. Technical Translation: It’s important for industries like engineering,
science, or health care. These industries have very specific terminology
and documentation formats that need to be translated accurately.
Typically used for documents that require translation only once.
Examples of it can be products, recipes, instruction manuals, etc.
5. Communication Translation: It is usually performed when it is necessary
to communicate information to audiences and only for short, one-time
use. Such as: marketing materials, social media posts, product launches,
etc.
6. Scientific Translation: It is a sub-branch of technical translation which
focuses on scholarly materials, including journal articles, academic
theses, research papers, etc. Besides, this specific type of translation is
always directed to peers within the same field of study.

What to consider when translating?

• Grammar, Spelling and Punctuations: One of the most important things

in any language is grammar. For instance, French has double gender
nouns for an inanimate subject whereas English doesn’t have such
nuances. Similar spelling and punctuations among language dialects
have different variations. Ensure that you get the grammar right while
translation.

• Cultural Differences: A critical aspect when translating between

languages is to understand the cultural context of the target language.
Every country has a unique culture; even a great translation might harm
the sensitivities of the target audience, if culture isn’t understood
properly. Again, religious text and literature requires care when they are
being translated.
• Idioms and Phrases: Certain idioms and phrases need to be handled with
care; a seemingly unassuming piece of text can take a totally different
meaning when translated into another language and can do more harm
than good.