Even the most professional translators make common mistakes in legal translation. So, any sort of document translation is a technical and complex task that requires precision, skills, and an outstanding command of written language in two languages at least.
It involves an outstanding understanding of terminologies, idioms, and syntax, and even the region’s culture where a particular language is used. Therefore, it is true whether it is a translation of a transcript or any other.
Translators usually find it difficult to do an excellent translation job either they are not completely aware of the job’s requirements or they are still new.
Some Common Mistakes Translators Make In The Legal Translation:
Ineffective communication
If your communication with the client is not good, then there can be misinterpretations from both sides. There is a possibility that they might not be able to understand your constraints, and you might not get their effective requirements properly.
However, it is tremendously important that you should maintain a good communication channel with the client, and you should not hesitate to get all of your queries clear. It will assist you in doing a good legal translation job.
Word-to-word translation
This job demands translating the source document into the target document without changing the text’s meaning, not doing a word-for-word translation. Therefore, when you do word-to-word translation, the resulting text might not make much sense.
In some languages, every syntax or sentence construction has its style, the adjective’s placement might be different; the rule of subject-verb agreement might differ; in other ones, those objects that are non-living are assigned gender, which can’t be done in English; there is a possibility gender allotted in 2 languages which can differ as well.
For example; In German, it’s not motherland – it is the fatherland, and so on. Therefore, if you are translating word for word, then you need to deal with idiomatic expressions very carefully, it is also possible that it might not mean anything close to the real one.
Use of incorrect words
Usually, it happens with inexperienced translators; mostly, they use words in the wrong context. So, particular phrases, jargon, and words simply have no equivalence in the target language; in these cases, it is good to leave the real term as it is rather than create something because you feel every single word should be translated!
Exaggeration of word meanings
Normally, translators are attracted to go over the best in making an effort to look diligent. However, it is not necessary when the documents that have been translated are sprinkled with technical and complicated terms, and particularly, it is not appreciated. In conclusion, it is essential to understand what the client actually requires and then proceed exactly according to that.
You have to keep the language as simple as you can if it is going to be used for personal use or if it’s a manual or a guide. Further, if it is a literary work and it has to be published then ask for guidelines as to the standard of publishing demands.
Incorrect use of style and tone
It is tremendously essential to know that every sort of document or file has a particular style of scripting. So, if you are unaware of the suitable style, then a translated document can be a disaster.
For example, You cannot translate a medical transcription job and a movie script or a legal document in the same manner. Each of these consists of its different styles. As a result of this, if you do not use the suitable style then the translated document will look lifeless.
The right tone is tremendously essential. Even from language to language, punctuation can fluctuate as well. It is tremendously essential to understand the variations of every language to do the work appropriately.
Another important thing you have to keep in mind is time and date formats. These things might look small but they can make a big difference.
Using a language, you are not an expert in
You have to be an expert in the language you are going to translate from and translating to, to do the work appropriately. If you accept some work for a translation centre in Dubai Discovery Gardens or from a language you know very well but are not an expert in, you will make some translation mistakes. Moreover, it will affect your future opportunities and your reputation as well.
Accepting more work than you can manage
On average, most expert translators can manage about 2000 words per day; this number can vary based on the time required for the research. Meanwhile, there is no justification for accepting plenty of work and then not being able to provide its delivery as decided.
It is always important to over-deliver and under-promise rather than vice versa. Therefore, your health will suffer as well apart from your work suffering, you will be exhausted and you might even get stressed as well. Further, it can lead you to irreversible translation errors or mistakes.
Accepting documents that are not in your specialized field
This is tremendously important.
For example, A heart specialist will not accept patients with say eye problems. Therefore, just like that, a translator should accept only that work which is under the topics you are aware of. So, experience leads you to proficiency and it will let you do outstanding work in the topics of your specialization.
Some people may specialize in legal documents, others in literary works translation, perhaps in technical documents, some in medical transcripts, and others in film scripts. So, you require specialization in plus subject and accept work only where you have specialization in both.
Not maintain yourself
Just like technology which develops all the time, language is developing as well; new terms, idioms, catchphrases, or words keep on making their appearances. It is essential to stay well informed about these developments so that you can use them in your translation work in a suitable way.
Constant learning is essential for translators so that they do not face any difficult situations when they see an unknown word. Moreover, knowing the drawbacks assists you in avoiding them. So, you have to concentrate on where you can do anything wrong, and you have to make sure you don’t make any mistakes in your translation services.
