Translation
Translation services have become an important part of multi-cultural, worldwide business operations.
This is true because while English is a widely accepted language which is frequently spoken in non-English speaking countries, that is not always the case. In addition, most Americans are not fluent in other languages and accurate communication is extremely important if the true meaning of thoughts and ideas is to be understood.
There are many translation services available
Today, thanks to the worldwide Internet that is the epitome of the global multi-cultural society, there are many translation services available online. These services generally employ translators from around the world, people who are educated and speak their native languages fluently. One service even claims to have over 14,000 worldwide specialist translators available, including those who are comfortable and competent in translating technical documents in the financial, legal, medical and marketing fields. They further advertise that their translators can work in more than 140 different languages. Many services online make similar claims and most offer translation tools (software), website translation, interpretation and proofreading services in addition to straight translation services.
Translation teams provide valuable outsource services
Few if any companies can afford to employ competent translators in multiple languages, and limit any staff translators to the primary language they need to translate or merely depend on bi-lingual employees to help. As a result, most business organizations elect to outsource their translation needs. This is one reason that has given rise to the large number of active and successful translation services available on the Internet.
In translation, interpretation can be important
Translation from one language to another is anything but a precise science. Literal word-for-word translations of documents are not always precise and often fail to present meanings that are rooted in cultural differences. For this reason, there has always been considerable debate as to whether translation is an art or a craft. Literary translators argue that translation is a teachable art. Translators working in technical, legal and commercial languages, consider it a craft subject to linguistic analysis and academic study. In any case, however, interpretation of a translated documents meaning can be an essential part of the translation process.
Translation experts deal with fidelity, transparency and equivalency
Fidelity and transparency are often competing qualities that translators must face. Fidelity is the extent in which any translation accurately renders the meaning of text without adding, subtracting, strengthening or weakening that meaning. Transparency is the extent of how a translation seems to a native speaker of that language and how it conforms to that language’s text, grammar, syntax and idioms. Literal translations are usually reserved for texts such as the Bible, certain scientific papers and historic materials. This is one reason, for example, why the Bible’s passages are subject to different interpretations by different readers. Equivalency is expressed as being either ‘formal’ or ‘dynamic’. Formal equivalence is the literal or word-for-word translation, while dynamic equivalence delivers the essential thoughts and ideas of the text.
Machine or software translation is only partially viable at this time. The availability of a “universal translator” such as that portrayed in Star Trek programming is a long-way off, if ever. Software programs have little if any ability to deliver dynamically equivalent translation. Competent human translators are still the best choice we have.
