4 Common Problems in Translation Work

Translation is the act or process of expressing the meaning of one language in another language. It can be difficult and stressful. It is required for you to have a firm knowledge of the subject matter and reliable source material for researching the topic. Generally speaking, it's better to translate from your second language to your first language. 

Here are some of the common problems that a translator may stumble upon while working on translation.

1. Grammatical differences

The language structure of one language may be different from another. For example, in English, the adjective is placed before a noun, but in Indonesian the adjective comes after the noun. 

The difference in the structure of sentences is considered to be one of the main structural problems in translation. This is one of the most common problems in translation, and also one of the main reasons why translation is difficult.

Limit your expertise to a couple of languages that you are already well-versed with and focus on doing translation within your language expertise.

2. Cultural differences

Culture is also considered to be a structural problem in translation. The culture practiced by the speakers of each language may vary. For example, the British are famous for their dry, biting sarcasm, which is their brand of humor. However, this may not transfer well in translation. 

The translator must find a way to translate it in a way without hurting sentiments or angering the target audience. Understanding the peculiarities of a local culture is essential when translating it.

3. Accuracy & Ambiguity

Some words may have more than one meaning. For example, In Japanese, the words watashi, atashi, ore, oira, boku, washi, and uchi have the same meaning in English as "I" but carry different moods. Idioms also can be lost in translation and are frequently challenging to translate effectively.

Making an accurate translation that reflects the original language's meaning might be difficult without losing a bit of intentions, emotions, nuances, and connotations. 

Think of finding an appropriate word in the target language for the words or phrase in its entirety rather than attempting a literal translation.

4. Working/Translating with another translator

Every person has different development or acquisition of their first language understanding, let alone their second language. The thought process of each person when translating may be greatly different. 

The translation drafts done by someone else that you are supposed to rewrite might be incomprehensible and useless to you, and vice versa. 

Without a proper editor or supervisor who checks the group translation work, the finished work may be inconsistent and incoherent to the target audience.

Translation works are very demanding and hard. If you do not have proper knowledge of the topic and are unfamiliar with the language used in both source and target language, it will be very difficult to do translation work.