10 Common Translation Mistakes to Avoid When Working Virtually

Translation is one of the most sought-after skills. People who have done their degree in languages have been opting for this career option as with the world going online, the number of jobs has been increasing exponentially. 

It is a great line of work that requires an intimate knowledge of both fields of work. Not only that, translation can get you good money these days too. It is not as easy it may seem, and it takes years before a translator gets comfortable with his/her skillset.

Here are a few common translation mistakes to avoid:

See also: Other challenges that a Virtual Assistant faces.

1. Don’t translate verbatim

Translating without context will lead to a translation that makes sense grammatically but does not convey the meaning of the text. Take into consideration the meaning of the whole thing before you start translating. Move the words around a bit so that the reader gets the best interpretation of the material. You do not have to be verbatim.

2. The Meaning

It is important that you convey the meaning of the thing as a whole and in context to what is being said. Just translating the source material won’t do the trick. This is because as a translator, it is your job that the meaning is also conveyed to the next reader.

3. Get it proofread by a native speaker

You will only know how good your translating skills are if you get your material proofread by a native speaker. They will be able to tell you whether the meaning comes across or not. 

4. Not creating a database of the glossary

One as a translator should create a little glossary of words and phrases that you use often. This helps when collaborating with other people on a project. 

5. Tone and style

The source material would have a certain tone or style that it is trying to put out to the audience. It is your job as a translator to make sure that when other people read that the original tone and style of the material comes across too. 

6. Get creative

Translating isn’t as easy as it might seem. Even the best of professors can make mistakes. It is your job as a translator that you must be familiar with the subject at hand too. For example, technical and medical sources are always hard to translate as you need to have prior knowledge of the things that they may be talking about. 

7. Keeping up with changes

Each language keeps changing, and one must be familiar with these changes for the best translation possible. 

8. Slangs and colloquial terms

There are a few phrases and words that sound great in one language but lack the same punch in another language. This is necessary to avoid disasters while translating. 

9. Numbers are important

Always double-check the dates, weights, or any number that might have been used in the source. There is a chance that they are suitable for the native audience, but in another country, they might have a different measuring system altogether. 

10. Different variations of the same language

Although spoken in China, Cantonese is very different from Mandarin, and the same goes for the variation of the English language. For example, whether it be American English or British English, you will have to pay attention to spellings and phrases. 

Translation has seen a large boom in recent times, and there has never been a better time to be a translator. It is a great job that helps you learn more about the cultures and inner workings of different cultures. Keep the aforementioned points in mind, and you will avoid these rookie mistakes. 

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