Just as in every field, there are several translation problems in the translation industry; some are faced by the translators and some by the clients; while other ones may be considered structural problems because they pose a problem for translation itself.
Major translation problems and their solutions:
Structure of the Language
The structure of sentences in English and other languages may be different. This is considered to be one of the main structural problems in translation.
The culture practiced by the speakers of each language may also be vastly different. In many languages, certain terms may be completely absent… This is one of the most common challenges faced by a translator on a daily basis, and also one of the main reasons why translation is difficult.
Language is complex, vast, and ever-evolving. The translator has to know the exact structure in each language and use the appropriate structure, and they have to ensure that the translation is performed without changing the meaning as well.
Solution: Limit your Expertise.
Gain expertise only in a couple of languages that you are already well-versed with. Make use of grammar checkers, translation memory tools, and other techniques to ensure that you have maintained the structure in the target language without changing the meaning or sense of the source document.
Cultural Differences
The culture practiced by the speakers of each language may also be vastly different; Often, colloquialism is woven into formal language, making the translator’s task very difficult indeed.
The larger the region where the language is spoken, the more iDialects there are likely to be, and the more colloquial words you are likely to find – except in technical documents translations, legal document translations, or translations of medical transcripts.
Then the problem arises as to how to translate accurately without hurting sentiments or angering the target audience. Culture is also considered to be a structural translation problem.
Solution: Research and Investigate
Scan the internet to learn the most popular colloquialisms used in that language, and familiarize yourself with the most commonly used iDialects. This can give you a fair idea of when you need to translate.
Soak in the culture as much as you can through movies, TV shows, magazines, and books in that language. Movies and TV shows will be especially helpful in recognizing local culture and dialects.
Compound Words
A compound word is a combination of two or three nouns and adjectives. They could be closed of three forms – closed form, like a notebook; hyphenated like long-distance or open form, like a fighter pilot. Some compound words are pretty straightforward, and mean exactly what they say – like afternoon; some mean only half of the term, like say bellboy, and some mean nothing of their original words – for example, deadline. In such cases, it can get very tricky for the translator.
Solution: Focus your Knowledge
Any translator needs to choose their niche. You should not try to be a jack of all trades; select one or two subjects, and become an expert in them.
Familiarize yourself with the compound words most commonly used in your subject area, and learn the translations. Use translation memory and other software to make your job easier.
Lack of Technical Knowledge
Regarding technical knowledge, translators are, first and foremost, linguists; though they do have good knowledge of certain subjects, they are usually not the top experts in the field. In fact, it’s very rare that you find a say, a doctor, who is also an expert linguist. Translators frequently specialize in certain niches and gain subject expertise.
But sometimes that may not be enough for some types of specialized translation; some documents may be full of technical jargon or talk about specific procedures or activities in detail. This can pose a problem for translators.
Solution: Ask experts for help
If the matter is very technical, you may need a lot of time – more than usual, to complete the task. You could contact the client for some pointers if you’re stuck, or consult a local expert you know well and ask them for help.
You would also need to read up and educate yourself to gain deeper knowledge, or to keep in step with the new developments happening in that field.
Limited Time
Limited time is the most common issue that translators face every single day because most clients require the translated work quickly; they have no time to lose.
If it is a straightforward document, then you may be able to finish it within the deadline. But when it is a technical or legal document full of technical terms or if there is a lot of dialect and colloquialism involved, it could take longer.
This can be very stressful for you as a translator when your client is breathing down your back to get the translated documents.
Solution: Technology is your friend
Use as many technologies as you can – translation memory software, computer-aided translation software, and more, to speed up the process as much as possible.
Personal Challenges
Personal Challenges, as opposed to linguistic challenges, arise because of the environment around the translator. All the challenges we discussed above are linguistic challenges.
There are many benefits to being a translator, but sometimes some of those benefits may also bring problems. For example, being a translator involves a very independent working schedule. This means you can work anytime you want, even from home, but you still have deadlines and time requirements. If you do not handle your working time correctly, you might find yourself working 24/7.
Solution: Know yourself
There is no one size fits all translation solution for these difficulties. Know yourself, dissect the concerns of translation that we stated above, and face them one by one. You will need to figure out how to get around each of these issues and do your best to minimize them. As with many other concerns in life, it helps to be disciplined and establish a working routine and a schedule. Always remember that you can always ask someone for help!
Quality Vs Expense
The biggest challenge for the clients when facing a translation is to strike a balance between cost and quality. It is especially important in the case of translations of technical or medical manuals, or legal documents. You can barely afford to have any mistakes or near mistakes in such documents, as it could lead to misinterpretation by the readers and wrong usage and that could result in damage to the equipment, or harm to the user; which could, in turn, have even further ramifications, like loss of reputation for the manufacturer, legal hassles and so on.
Solution: Aim to be the Best Translator!
There is no easy answer to this problem! Translating is a hard job, but remember there are also a lot of benefits of being a Translator! Here are some things you can try, though: Do a comprehensive search online and shortlist a few providers. Get quotes from all of them and compare rates, experience, and previous customer reviews. Strike a balance between the two, and come to a decision. Another thing you could do is to use the same provider for all your translation work so that you have more bargaining power.
