Language translation problems: 5 examples of roadblocks translators come up against

Language translation problems: 5 examples of roadblocks translators come up against

Sometimes language translation problems due to differences in culture or language can prolong a translation project. Idiomatic expressions, as well as dialects and a translator’s tone of voice can create a million different possibilities within a translation. Here are 5 examples of what we’ve seen that can cause a bottleneck in a project.

1. Names can be difficult to translate

It’s possible for a name in a given language to be spelled differently than in English. Here’s an example we’ve seen in our work:

A mother’s name is listed on the birth certificate as: Belavina, Elena Stepanovna. There is no maiden last name listed anywhere in the document.

  • The last name is “Belavina”

  • The first name is “Elena”

  • The middle name (or more precisely, paternal name) is “Stepanovna”

The paternal name is not a last name or maiden name. It is formed from the first name of the father, which in this case was Stepan, and a suffix meaning “son of” or “daughter of.”

This is unique to Russian names. It takes different forms for men and women: a man’s patronymic ends in -ovich or -evich, while a woman’s ends in -ovna or -evna. You can see how this could cause some confusion for a translator not accustomed to the cultural styles of names.

2. Idioms don’t always make sense

Because idioms, puns, poems, and rhymes vary from one language to another, using them, particularly in marketing copy, can be a challenge.

For example: in Tagolog, Makapal ang bulsa translates to “thick pocket” and is used to describe a person with a lot of cash in their possession. In English, we might say “flush with cash.”

Translations are easiest when we avoid idioms altogether, but that’s not always possible.

3. Transliteration is subjective

When you translate characters from one language into another, there are often many versions, and usually it’s up to the translator to choose the one he thinks is most correct.

For example, is it:

  • Mao Tse-Tung or Mao Zedong? (毛澤東)

  • Fyodor Dostoevsky or Feodor Dostoevskii? (Фёдор Достое́вский)

  • Moshe or Moses (מֹשֶׁה)

 Of course, only the original is correct, and the transliteration a matter of convention.

4. Dialects and language varieties are inconsistent

Many countries speak the same language, though some words or even entire dialects may vary. If you’re translating web copy into French, should it be that of France or of Quebec in Canada? Should product copy in Portuguese follow the Brazilian version or that of Portugal? Which character set should you use for US Chinese, traditional or simplified?

These are questions sometimes our clients can answer, but that’s not always the case, so we make sure to do the research we need to get it correct the first time.

5. File types aren’t always the same

Translators prefer working with editable files, since recreating files like PDFs or protected files takes time. Clients often don’t realize this, or don’t have editable versions of what needs translating, and so some projects take longer as a result. Being able to overwrite files saves time, preserves data, and can be accessed by computer-assisted translation tools.

Set up your translation project for success

The next time you work with a language service provider keep these roadblocks in mind. Provide all the information a translator will need to know, such as:

  • If there are multiple dialects, which should the translator use?

  • Are there any idiomatic expressions you require translated?

  • Are there any names with unusual naming conventions that could help the translator?

The more information you provide your translator, the less back-and-forth communication you’ll need, and the more expediently she can return your translated material.