6 ingredients of a good translation

What is translation?

Before identifying the ingredients of a good translation, it is necessary to define what translation is. Without getting too technical, translation is the process of transferring the meaning of written text from one language to another. For example, you might have a press release in English (the source language) that you need translating into Arabic (the target language).

A good translation consists of the following six ingredients:

1. Fitness for purpose
2. Linguistic accuracy
3. Cultural awareness
4. Subject expertise
5. Quality assurance

1. Fitness for purpose

Translations need to be fit for purpose, that is, they must achieve what you want them to achieve. What type of text do you wish to get translated? A press release, advertising copy, a brochure, web content, product instructions, a letter, terms and conditions, social media posts, certificates? Each of these will have a different style – some more formal, some less so, some more technical, others more conversational, and so on.

The style of writing is also directly linked to the target audience. Who will be reading the text? Is it written in language that will get the message across to them effectively? We will ask you about what you want the translation to achieve and who the target audience is; the more information you can provide, the better the finished product will be.

2. Linguistic accuracy

A good translation accurately conveys the meaning and nuances of the original text. To this end, translators have a strong command and understanding of the grammar, syntax (sentence structure) and vocabulary of both the source language and the target language. To acquire this, they will typically need a degree level education in languages and/or translation, will read extensively in both languages, and may have spent extended periods living in their source- and target-language countries.

3. Cultural awareness

Language is closely bound up with culture – just think of all the curious sayings you know in your own language and what they tell you about the history, mentality and social customs of your country. As such, a good translation will take account of the culture of both the source and target language so that it resonates with and makes sense to the reader.

As with linguistic accuracy, developing cultural awareness normally requires a translator to have spent periods living in their source- and target-language countries.

One buzzword in this context within the translation industry is localisation. Essentially, it’s about how the cultural dimension outlined above is taken into account in the expressions, vocabulary, date formats, currency units, punctuation and other elements employed in the translation to produce a text that sounds natural and appeals to a specific audience, whether an entire nation, a region or a local area.

Effective localisation helps to ensure that audiences identify more readily with your message, brand or service, which makes them more likely to buy from you or heed your call to action.

4. Subject expertise

A good translation will demonstrate subject expertise and good translators usually specialise in a limited number of subjects. Why is this? Well, think about it – would you be confident writing about every single topic in your own language? Maybe you’re a legal expert, but would you be comfortable producing an in-depth article on world religions? Or perhaps you really know your football, but how would you feel about giving a presentation on the latest technological advances in architecture?

It’s no different when it comes to translation. If your text is specialist in nature and needs to make a good impression on savvy readers in their own language, then the translation should be entrusted to someone with expertise in the topic at hand. Translators hone their subject knowledge over the years and undertake regular training to keep it up to date in their source and target languages.

5. Quality assurance

The final ingredient of a good translation is that of quality assurance. A high-quality translation will have been checked thoroughly by the translator themselves. It’s also advisable to have the translation proofread and/or edited by a second professional translator, on the basis that two pairs of eyes are better than one. This will of course factor in to the cost, but it’s a worthwhile investment, as the quality of the text will ultimately reflect on your company or organisation.

Another important question when it comes to quality assurance is how you as a translation buyer can be confident that your translator is properly qualified. In Australia, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) is the standards and certifying body for people working in the translating and interpreting profession. Our translators hold NAATI credentials (where available) and therefore will have met in prerequisite requirements set by NAATI and had to pass a translation examination/assessment.

Some of our translators, however, do not hold NAATI credentials. This occurs in very low demand languages and languages of new and emerging communities where NAATI testing is not available. These professionals undergo ABC Multilingua interview and reference checking processes to ensure their work is of a high standard.

A good translation is one that does what you need it to do and does so well. This requires that it is fit for purpose, i.e. that it is written in a style appropriate to its text type and takes account of who will be reading it (the target audience).

It must also be linguistically accurate, conveying the meaning, facts and figures of the original text in correct English.

In addition, it should be well written, so that people actually enjoy reading it or at the very least are not put off by awkward language.

A high-quality translation will also reflect an awareness of the culture of both the source and the target language. As a result, readers should be able to identify with any examples or references used in the text. If the translation is aimed at a specific market, then it must be localised properly to engage the target audience.

What’s more, a good translation will demonstrate subject expertise, using the right terminology and style for the topic in question.

Lastly, it will be quality assured, that is, it will have been checked thoroughly by the translator and, ideally, a second native-speaker translator to ensure that the spelling, grammar, syntax, facts and figures are correct, and that the text reads well.

A good translation containing all of the above ingredients can only be produced by a good translator, and a good translator will most likely be a member of a professional translator’s association like the Australian Institute of Interpreters & Translators (AUSIT).

Article by Matthew Popplewell for UK-based association Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).