Whether it's to reach a new audience or to satisfy the needs of a new community, a good translation is essential to reach the target.
But what defines a good translation?
In this article, we discuss 5 key features to keep in mind when it comes to making a good translation. Let's get started!
- Preserving Both Meaning and Purpose
An accurate translation ensures that the meaning of the entire text is preserved. To achieve this, it's essential to choose words carefully in the language of the translation, so that the nuances of each sentence are maintained in the new language.
It is also very important that the overall purpose of the text is preserved in the translation. This includes the purpose behind the text and the associated objectives to be achieved. To produce a high-quality translation, it is therefore essential for the translator to understand the essence of the message to be conveyed and to choose the right words.
2. Respecting the Rules of the Target Language
Of course, it's essential that all translations are flawlessly written and devoid of errors in the target language. This may seem obvious, but it's absolutely crucial to ensure the quality of the resulting translation.
Indeed, a reader who spots an error in your translation may have a less favorable perception of your brand, associating your company with a lack of rigor. Having this in mind, it's very important that both your translation and your text in the original language are error-free, and that they comply with all the grammatical rules of the language in which they are written. Learn more about the art of proofreading by reading this article.
3. Employing Idiomatic Expressions Specific to the Target Language
To achieve the best possible translation, it's not enough to translate texts word for word: you also need to take into account the specific meaning of the idiomatic expressions. To do this, it is essential for the translator to identify and understand the idiomatic expressions used and the nuances of meaning associated with those idioms in the original language. Once the expressions have been identified, the translator must choose the right idiom to preserve their meaning in the target language, either by using an idiomatic expression that preserves the intended meaning or by using another equivalent formulation.
To translate idiomatic expressions correctly, it's not enough to translate each word individually, as this would result in a loss of meaning. It's important for your translator to be able to not only spot the idiomatic expressions, but also to choose the right equivalent idiom in the target language.
4. Using the Most Relevant Vocabulary
It's important to choose the right keywords and jargon for the essence of the text to be properly translated. This is vital to ensure that you reach your audience in the target language. By using the right vocabulary, you can make sure that you're speaking the same language as your audience. By doing so, you can achieve the desired impact in your community.
What's more, the choice of keywords is very important when it comes to search engine optimization. By choosing the right words in your texts, you can address questions or topics that are often searched for by your audience, enabling you to reach a wider online public.
5. Maintaining Style and Tone Throughout the Text
To achieve an accurate and precise translation, you also need to take into account the style and tone used. This helps to retain the essence of the message to be conveyed, and also to communicate the corresponding emotions to your target audience.
Furthermore, to maintain your brand image, the style and tone of your texts are important. Whether it's a more corporate style or a more friendly tone, your translation must retain the emotions and intent behind your text in the target language. This will not only ensure that your translation is faithfully rendering your original text, but it will also allow you to better reach your target audience in the language being translated to.
In Brief
By providing a first-rate translation, you can optimize your ability to reach your audience in the target language. As discussed in this article, the characteristics of a good translation include preserving the meaning of the text and the expressions used, respecting all the grammar rules that apply in the language of the translation, and choosing the right vocabulary and keywords for your target audience.
At Linguistique MM, we always make sure to deliver a high-quality translation on every project, thanks to our thoroughness and attention to detail. If you have texts to be translated into French or English, feel free to contact us directly to get a free quote for a professional translation!