What measures can and should be implemented to ensure a translation doesn’t “read like a translation”? A professional translation bears the hallmark that it is a text that can stand on its own and that it is fit for its commercial purpose.
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| In the world of business, translationese tends to be seen in a negative light, so it is crucial that any translationese is removed before a translation is put to use (photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash ) |
Essential aspects of translation revision
To make a translation fit for its purpose, a crucial stage in my translation workflow involves printing it off so I can revise it at a place away from my office. On my printout I scrutinise the translation to check it is correct in terms of grammar, punctuation and idiomatic usage. I also check whether I’ve written it in a style and with the naturalness required for the text in question.
An essential aspect of the tasks performed by a translator is to ensure that a translation doesn’t read like a translation (that’s what machine translation may be good for). So when revising a translation I also check its content independently by reading it and continually asking myself: do the words on the page make sense? Do sections in the translation need to be rewritten? Is there any remaining “translationese” that needs to be removed?
The negative effect of translationese
What is translationese? Translationese is characterised by strange, literally translated phrases, as a result of which a translated text has a special awkwardness to it. The awkwardness of a translation can be down to various reasons, often because the translation clings too tightly to the original text.
Translationese may render a translated text unusable. It creates a bad impression: it is usually embarrassing and can be reputation-damaging. In the world of business, translationese tends to be seen in a negative light, so it is crucial that any translationese is removed before a translation is put to use. For this, a (human!) translator’s input will be required.
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| A different work environment enables me to look at my text from a fresh perspective and consequently make necessary changes |
The power of pen and paper in high-tech work environments
In my experience, revising a translation using pen and paper on a printout is an effective way to morph it into a piece that reads smoothly and can stand on its own. After all, you do “see” so much more on paper than you would ever pick up on a screen! A properly revised translation will be correct in terms of grammar, punctuation, terminology and idiomatic usage, and it will be phrased in an appropriate style.
The revision of translations also ideally is performed in a different environment from your office or the room in which the draft was created. A different environment will enable you to look at your text from a fresh perspective and consequently make necessary changes.
I sometimes combine the activity of revising translations away from my office with exercise and a trip to an atmospheric café, for example: if time allows, I love getting on my bike to head over to the charming Coffee #1 on the outskirts of Bath on the picturesque Bristol-to-Bath cycle track to revise a few translations there.
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| A translation needs to be correct in terms of grammar, punctuation and idiomatic usage and should be written in the style required for the text in question (photo by Elisabeth Hippe-Heisler: Coffee #1, Riverside complex in Bath) |
Proofreading your own writing: other tricks and techniques
Other tricks and techniques for proofreading your own work can be found in an article by Alison Quigley, which was republished on Belinda Pollard’s blog and includes many illuminating (and perhaps surprising) insights into proofreading your own writing. If you frequently proofread your own work, I recommend checking it out!
According to the article on Belinda Pollard’s blog the following proofreading techniques are, amongst others, recommended:
- reading your texts backwards
- using a blank sheet of paper or a ruler to cover up the lines below the ones you’re reading so you don’t skip ahead
- reading your work out aloud (or having your work read out aloud by an app)
- reformatting the text by changing the font, ideally to a completely different one, which is perhaps even difficult to read
In the world of business, clumsy or overly literal translations create a bad impression and can be reputation-damaging. I therefore revise my translations using pen and paper, and in this blog post explain why in my opinion this workflow stage should never be omitted.
