Preserving Your Words in Translation

The day when a writer's article or book is translated into another language is cause for celebration. When your work is read by people of other cultures and languages, you know you've hit it big, but how do you preserve your words in translation? You've probably heard horror stories about translations gone awry, which could, at the very least, alienate potential readers.

Translations are notoriously difficult because even the correct translation of a word can strip it of its meaning. One only has to consider the differences in slang from the U.S. to the U.K. to know that one language doesn't necessarily mean universal understanding. The same goes for Spanish-speaking countries in which offensive language in one place can be a compliment in another.

Unfortunately, if you don't know how to read and write another language, you have to rely on someone else to preserve your words in translation. You won't even know if a mistake is made until someone who speaks that language brings it to your attention, and by that time your work is in print and thus unchangeable. Many authors -- including some of the more recognizable names in fiction -- have complained of poor translations, but they are still common despite recognition of the issue.

Your best bet when it comes to preserving your words in translation is to have as many translators look over the text as possible. Writers often make the mistake of allowing their editors to handle the translation of their articles or books, which means that the job is done with as little effort as possible. As a professional writer, you must be concerned about the interpretation of your work in all languages, regardless of the expense.

Freelance writer Bev Dickens says that she uses her own translators to preserve her words in translation. She lets her editor handle the initial job, but then takes the galleys to her own translators and has them apprise her editor of any changes that need to be made. Of course, not every freelance writer can afford to hire translators for their work, but this is a good option if you have the capital to have it done.

Another option is to become involved in the translation process from the beginning. Ask your editor about his or her translators and request a copy of their credentials. If they aren't impressive, ask about having a different translator look over the piece. After all, your credibility as well as the magazine's or publisher's is at stake, and you don't want to look like an idiot in every country but your own.

Writers often tend to be ignorant to the cultural differences when preserving their words in translation. Just because an article or book is properly translated doesn't mean that it can't offend the citizens of another country. For example, American business books do not translate well for Japanese audiences because our business practices are too course and oftentimes offensive for their culture. Make sure the translation is going to benefit the people of the language into which it is being translated.

It is also important to ensure that translators are well aware of grammatical differences in languages. For example, a word in Spanish can mean something different to an audience in Spain than it does in Mexico with the simple elimination of a tilde. Let your editor know that you are concerned about preserving your words in translation and that you are willing to put forth the extra effort to make sure that it is done correctly.