Translation traps: tips for clients
Some translators don't really think about or fully understand the meaning of their source material. This can lead to misunderstandings, confusion and poor readability. If you already have translated material and would like to assess its quality, check it for these and similar mistakes.
Does your translator always:
- maintain the same sentence and paragraph length as the Italian original?
- use the exact same formatting as the Italian original?
And do they always translate:
| Italian | English | Why it might be wrong | |
| infatti | as | in fact | Infatti, when used for emphasis, should be translated as indeed or actually |
| informazioni | as | informations | Information is always singular in English. Always. |
| conveniente | as | convenient | The Italian conveniente translates as suitable, reasonable or good value. The English convenient means comodo or vicino. |
| garantire | as | guarantee | Garantire can sometimes be translated as assure, ensure or even provide. |
| assicurare | as | assure/ensure | Assicurare can also be translated as provide |
| eventuale | as | eventual | Eventuale refers to something that may possibly happen. Eventual refers to future time. |
| con lo scopo di ridurre | as | with the aim to reduce | With the aim of requires the gerund or "-ing" form. Not the infinitive. |
| energetica | as | energetic | The English energetic (energica) means "full of energy". In phrases such as "la politica energetica" ("energy policy") energetica translates as energy: noun used as adjective |
| attuale | as | actual | Attuale translates as current or present. The English actual means real or true (apart from specialist financial texts, where it may indeed mean current) |
| paragone | as | paragon | Paragone translates as comparison or example. The English paragon means "a model of excellence or perfection" |
| possibilmente | as | possibly | Possibilmente translates as if possible. "Can you do this translation urgently, if possible by 9am tomorrow?". Possibly means perhaps (forse) or is used for emphasis: "Possibly, if it isn't too difficult", or "I couldn't possibly finish it by 9am" |
| novità | as | novelties | Novelties refers to new gadgets, toys, objects. It should not be used for policy. In this case innovations or new developments are better choices. |
| domanda e offerta | as | demand and supply |
Demand and supply isn't technically wrong. But English-speakers generally use supply and demand. Reversing the order runs counter to expectations, so users might think you're deliberately stressing "demand" as opposed to "supply". |
| un numero speciale di «Architettura» | as | a special edition of «Architettura» | Quote marks need to be translated too. The correct English version would be: a special edition of "Architettura". |
If your translator always translates like this, you have a problem. They aren't doing a professional job and they're making you look unprofessional too. If you'd like some advice on the quality of your translated material, please contact us for a "translation health-check".
A word of advice
Selecting your translation company through test translations – and even tenders, unless they're carefully designed and worded – is no guarantee of quality. Many agencies hire skilled professionals for test translations. Then, if they win the contract, they sub-contract to second-rate or inexperienced translators who make the sort of mistakes described above. Be warned!
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