I can’t ignore this issue, because I am a translator myself. So I want to help my new/future colleagues a little. This doesn’t mean that I am all perfect and consider myself entitled to point out others’ mistakes. I made many of them myself when I started working. I remember how offended I was by the editors who mercilessly corrected my creations. But then I realized that this was a wonderful opportunity to learn how to write correctly. So don’t be offended, because this article is based on my own mistakes, among other things.
1. Spelling errors.
Whatever the reasons are for which a translator does not check their work, this is a sign of unprofessionalism. And these are the mistakes that the client is able to notice literally immediately. No matter how busy you are, no matter how urgent the translation is, try to always check your text for spelling errors.
2. Errors in the translation of proper names.
Just a couple of days ago, I was correcting a file where, in many places, it was printed “Stütt gart ”, while the correct spelling is Stüt gart. It is necessary to check the spelling of proper names in the target language. You can use dictionaries of proper names for this, or you can Google it. Just don’t forget that illiterate speech is often found on the Internet, so rely only on authoritative resources. For me, one of such authoritative resources for the correct spelling of proper names (in particular, geographical names) is Wikipedia. I also have regular dictionaries of proper names, which I willingly use.
3. Copying grammatical structures and word order of the original text.
This is a very common mistake. In theory, it is clear to everyone that not everything in a foreign language can be translated word for word. However, in practice, this axiom is often forgotten. And this is what happens:
Original: Das direkt am Strand liegende Seeheilbad ist eingebettet in einen herrlichen Mischwald und bietet vielfache Gelegenheit zur Entspannung und Erholung.
Translation: A seaside resort located right on the coast in a magnificent mixed forest, offering numerous activities
Corrected translation: Situated right on the coast among magnificent mixed forests, this seaside resort offers excellent opportunities for relaxation and recuperation.
This is, of course, not the only way to correct this text. The translator tried to translate the original word-for-word. At the same time, he forgot that the text should be translated not only accurately, but also correctly. The translated text should be easy to read and sound as if it were originally written in the target language.
4. Copying syntax from the original TeX
First example: in translated texts, for some reason, a comma is often found before the conjunction “and” between homogeneous members of a sentence in cases where “and” is used for the first time. For example: “Dad, Mom, a nd Vasya went to the forest to pick mushrooms.” This example is very simple and obvious, but literally a couple of days ago, I had to correct a similar error.
The second example is a very sore subject for me, since I often have to correct this very error: copying signs from the original language that highlight direct speech. The rules for highlighting direct speech in writing in Russian and English are fundamentally different. You often see sentences like this: Dad said, “Mom, Vasya, I want to invite you to the forest!” But according to the rules of the Russian language, a colon is required between the author’s words and direct speech in this case, but not a comma. And when a dialogue begins in the text, then … the translator seems not to notice it. In the English original, quotation marks remain, and he design almost does not change. But in our case, direct speech and dialogue are simply highlighted in writing differently!
How do I check myself?
1. I reread my translation and correct all sentences that sound even a little “not Russian”. Along the way, I correct spelling errors, but I don’t focus on them.
2. If I work in Word, I always turn on spell checking.
3. If I don’t work in Word, then my school teacher’s advice helps me check my spelling. She advised checking the spelling of words one by one, moving from the end of the text to the beginning. For example, the spelling of words in the sentence “Dad, Mom, and I are a friendly family” is done in reverse order: “family, friendly, me, and, mom, dad.”
4. I reread the entire text from beginning to end to make sure that I haven’t missed a single mistake.
