The German novelist, playwright and poet, Günter Grass, wrote: “Translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes.” This is not as simple as it sounds. If you want a translation that’s accurate, natural, and culturally appropriate, there’s are some simple strategies that tend to beat the “type it into a translator and hope for the best” approach.
There are, of course, different ways to translate text into another language: online translation sites such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator are good for quick understanding, single word translations and first drafts but might miss nuance, tone, idioms and cultural references.
Languages don’t translate word‑for‑word. It is a good idea to think about:
- who will read it (children, adults, customers, friends)
- the tone (formal, friendly, humorous)
- the purpose (instruction, greeting, slogan, teaching material)
English has several words that look simple on the surface but shift meaning depending on context, tone or even grammar. They are exactly the sort of thing that can trip up learners and translation tools alike. These words are known as polysemous words.
Consider a word like “set”. Depending on the context, this might mean any of the following:
- to place
- a collection
- a TV set
- to solidify
One English word can be expressed by several foreign words, depending on the intended meaning. It is, therefore, unwise to insert the word “set” into an online translator or to look up the word in a dictionary and to copy down the first translation that is given. Instead, you will need to find a translation which uses the word “set” in different phrases, allowing you to select which phrase aligns most closely with your intended meaning.
A site that does this well is Reverso. This is a free site found at https://context.reverso.net/translation/ and is also available as a free App. Several languages are available on this site including Catalan and Vietnamese. I would always advise entering a short phrase rather than a single word to view examples of the word in different contexts.
Let’s consider translating the word “run”. This can mean the following:
- to jog
- to manage
- to operate
- a ladder in tights
Now let’s complicate the issue further by including idioms:
- run a business
- run late
- run out of time
Idioms are often completely different in another language and need to be treated as a complete phrase rather than on a word-by-word basis.
A further consideration is the grammatical function of the word. Imagine that we wish to translate the word “present”. We might be talking about the noun (a gift), the adjective (current or in attendance), or the verb (to give, award). Translation is a mine-field and being aware of and avoiding the possible pitfalls will help you secure the best possible outcome.
Back-Translation is Essential
An unmissable stage is to back-translate. This means that you need to translate the result you have found back into English to see if the meaning is as you intended. This gives you the opportunity to adjust your translation if required.
Finally, you might consider community translation sites, where native speakers contribute translations collaboratively. Sites such as Duolingo forums, Reddit language communities and fan translation groups are effective for gaining information about informal language, slang and culturally specific expressions. Please remember, however, that the responses are by members of the public and might need further refinement.
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