What is needed to make a quality translation
The translation and the translator should make the forms and content of all kinds of codes, messages, document and materials accessible. Otherwise the communication will not take place. The conclusion on the quality of the translation is made according to the efficiency level of the communication and in no way according to the modality and mood of the translated expressions. In Kyiv translation agency we have come to conclusion that the quality translation should be:
Veritable: contents of the translation should correspond to reality and interpretation within the limits of specific sphere or specialization. The translation should not contain ANY error, neither semantic, technical, nor actual, if only the same error is committed in the original.
Sensible: it is not enough just to replace the code; it is necessary that the old contents inform about something and “the something” should be conserved while transfer. Notions, concepts and their characteristics vary in compliance with the culture and when the culture changes, it appears that the contents or the notions of the primary message:
- cannot say anything and should be simplified;
- cannot be apprehended anymore, as being meant in the primary message and this subaudition is lost with the change of culture and language;
- should be accompanied with the explanations;
- change their meanings or transfer an incomprehensible meaning or sometimes even dangerous or abusive meaning.
Transparent: those, who will use the translation, should have a possibility to have effective unrestricted access to the contents while communication. This can force the translator to readapt the contents and expressions depending on the technical competence of the ultimate users of the translation. As any other communication support, the translation should be intelligible, consistent, logical and, if possible, well-written or well-worded.
Effective and usable: translation should perform its function of communication. Ready translation should perform all intended functions and nothing but intended functions, and ready translation should be used easily in the cases it was aimed at or in the cases in which the ultimate users should use it.
Besides, the quality translation should correspond to the linguistic and cultural communities of communicated people, correspond to all the requirements of the determinate order, guidelines, materials and naturally applied functions.
In comparison with the customer and the translator or its authorized person protection of interests, besides the application of the principal of good faith, the translator, as appropriate, is the person, who provides a service and/or employee and/or adviser and/or partner.
For the benefit of the customer, it stands to reason, that the translation should perform expected functions (convince, help, make clear, authorize to use, inform, force to buy, force to sell, calm, capture etc.) and in no case not to provoke untoward reaction (irritate or anger the user that didn’t understand, how to use the product; provoke laughter instead of agitation).
The translation to be suitable and to be accepted by the customer, and also to impress, the translator should adapt forms and contents:
- to the culture value system inside of which the forms and the contents will be apprehended and interpreted;
- to the value system of the receivers;
- to the systems of reasoning, presentation, organization of the contents in accordance with the stated ultimate objective;
- to the rhetorical and stylistic standards, accepted in the receiving culture;
- to the stereotypes of the acceptable means of phrasing (terminology and phraseology standards conduct).
Moreover, the translator, especially interpreter, should never lose from the field of vision such requirement as communication effectiveness and economic feasibility of the cost of his service. The types of translations that re-imagine radically the current view concerning translations can be suggested: no to translate one or another fragment; to summarize the tens of pages in two lines; to add the paragraphs to represent necessary information to the ultimate users of the translation; to expand the translation of two pages into five, and to get the translation of five pages in two; to extract from the translation only necessary information; to link together all the documentation etc. All these things require the first-class competence.