In the Internet age, translation errors are commonplace. Some mistranslations can be unintentionally funny, but they can also have unpleasant consequences, such as, for example, making your brand go viral for the wrong reasons.
Let’s examine the most common errors that can change the meaning of a translation.
When errors change the translation
Below we present some types of errors capable of distorting the meaning of a speech when switching from one language to another.
Omissions
Omissions in translations arise in several ways. A tired translator may accidentally skip a sentence or paragraph in a large text. If you press the wrong key, a word processing system can delete several lines without warning. Such anomalies can usually be detected by careful proofreading.
Translation without context
Language cannot be interpreted or translated accurately without context. Throughout the world, each language has a unique interpretation based on the way of thinking, lifestyle and geographical location of its people. For example, the meaning of the word “desert” is completely different among the Mayans (an open field) than among the Palestinians (an arid, sandy area). Inadequate knowledge of cultural differences can lead to incorrect translations.
Incorrect translations
This type of error probably has the worst consequences. Language is so creative and there are many ways to express the same things. But sometimes a translator can misread a sentence, which leads to an incorrect translation.
This can happen due to the translator’s lack of knowledge in the subject area, homographs (words that are spelled the same but have different meanings) being read as the wrong word, or simple human error due to tiredness or distraction .
Spelling, grammatical and syntax errors
These types of errors fall into the “objective errors” category. They are recognized regardless of whether the reader is familiar with the original content or not.
Having spelling, grammar, and syntax errors in your translation will make your content look unprofessional and sloppy.
Lexical inconsistencies
It is equally important to think about the terminology you use in your translations. Maybe you’re in the home rental business and would like to market to Spanish speakers. You might decide between “hogar” and “casa,” which both mean “house,” but have distinctly different connotations. What do you want your readers to hear?
Once you have established the correct term, it is important to be consistent. Changing terminology along the way can confuse your readers and make your message unclear.
Jargon
Even if you hire a very experienced language service provider, most translators will not automatically understand niche topics. You should not expect translators to understand company jargon, internal terminology, or industry-specific acronyms. Overuse of jargon like this can lead to translation errors.
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A professional translator is required to present quality work. And that’s what LingoYou aims to do.
LingoYou is the translation agency that allows organizations around the world to communicate correctly in any language and by any means.
Marketing Team LingoYou
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