Yes, they should, but… A good translation can mean the difference in a business transaction. Readers can properly understand the meaning and context of the source text when it is properly written in the target language. To achieve professional translators are aware that certain expressions, sentence constructions and rules of grammar are unique to the source language and that they should not necessarily be reproduced in the target language. The translation should convey the meaning of the original text and not just a word-for-word equivalent in the target language. The meaning must be identical but the writing in target language must follow the conventions of the target language.
What happens when the original document has mistakes and is not properly written? The answer depends on how the translation is going to be used.
What happens when the original document has mistakes and is not properly written? The answer depends on how the translation is going to be used.
If the client needs to review the quality of the source document to detect possible mistakes, we recommend that the translator reproduce the poor writing in the target language. This is especially advisable in legal translations or highly sensitive texts.
If the purpose of the translation is to understand the meaning of the source text and the source document is poorly written, our policy is to make sure the translation is in fact well written, even if we have to edit the translation to read well. When the translation team has to make an educated guess to achieve this, they will insert comments to alert the reader.
Translation is an art in the sense that the translator must communicate the intent and ideas of the original text by deconstructing and rebuilding the content of a document, basically creating a new document. It is a science because it must be done following language rules and accuracy benchmarks.
If the purpose of the translation is to understand the meaning of the source text and the source document is poorly written, our policy is to make sure the translation is in fact well written, even if we have to edit the translation to read well. When the translation team has to make an educated guess to achieve this, they will insert comments to alert the reader.
Translation is an art in the sense that the translator must communicate the intent and ideas of the original text by deconstructing and rebuilding the content of a document, basically creating a new document. It is a science because it must be done following language rules and accuracy benchmarks.
RSS Feed