Terrible technical translation – Obvious signs and simple preventative measures

 

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There are very few sounds as disconcerting as the groan of a translation reviewer when seeing a disastrous text that essentially needs to be rewritten. The feeling it expresses goes beyond the pain of the knowledge of the time that will require to correct the mess and captures the anguish of the knowledge that somehow neither the translator nor the agency (or company) is probably aware of how bad it is. What is even more exasperating is that the signs of incompetence are quite clear and the preventative measures require little effort. Specifically, in technical translation, if the translated text is literal, inconsistent and inaccurate, it is not professional. On the bright side, there are simple steps translators can take to avoid such results.

One clear sign of lack of confidence is extreme loyalty to the word order of the original text. This dedication to the original syntax is like using the handrail at an ice-skating rink, not a sign of great confidence. The reason is that no two languages have the exact same syntax, often differing in terms of word order, verb tense, noun/verb choices and/or article usage, to name a few elements. Therefore, if the source and translated text completely share the exact same word order, something is most probably awry. The easy check is to have a native speaker read the translation out loud. Even if the actual mistake is not clear, any discomfort on the reader’s face signals inappropriate syntax, i.e., “We don’t say it like that”. Translator and buyer – beware.

Maybe to compensate for the previous sin, some would-be technical translators love to show off their rich vocabulary and use a variety in words for the same concept as if they were writing a story. Unfortunately, technical translation, especially medical and legal, is about precision, not beauty. For example, in law, if there are two similar words for the same concept, only one is used unless the writer intends to create a contrast between two terms, which must be defined. Two (and more) are definitely a crowd in technical translation. The easiest ways to ensure uniformity are to use CAT (Computer Aided Translation) tools, which suggest previous word and sentence choices, and QA tools that can identify multiple translations for the same source sentence. The customer may challenge the term choice but at least the translator is consistent.

The most dangerous trait of poor technical translation is inaccuracy. At best, it creates confusion and a poor marketing image while at worse it leads to legal issues and even death. A quick glance by a knowledgeable person in the field can quickly identify when the content of a translated text is incorrect in terms of content. Professional translators recognize what they understand and don’t understand. If the latter is limited to a few phrases or paragraphs, it is possible to research through the Internet or consult experts in order to attain the understanding required to create a proper translation. While it may add time to the process, this knowledge can be useful in the future. On the other hand, if most of the text involves uneducated guesses, translators should inform the buyer as soon as possible that, after review, they realize that they are not capable of producing a proper translation. Of course, the buyer will not be happy but this admission is a far better option than submitting an unprofessional result. The best option is to avoid such situations but almost all translators have mistakenly taken on such assignments in the past and lived to regret it. Think before you accept.

There is a rule of 80/20, which states that  the first 80 percent of the result takes 20% of the effort while the last 20% of the result requires 80% of the effort. Focusing on the first element, translators can produce a decent technical translation by avoiding extreme loyalty to the source syntax, using a CAT or QA tool to maintain consistency and making sure they only translate texts whose material they understand. Such basic steps not only contribute to a flow of business but also improve the mental health of all those that have to read their translation.

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