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Subject:Re: Working with translators From:Bill Swallow <swallow -at- USERTECH -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 15 Jul 1998 11:03:36 -0400
I worked in a translation shop for about a year, and we frowned upon what we call "step translations". The translation from language A to B, and then from B to C lends itself to more errors that from A to B and C. With the former, you are lending your C translator all of the possible mistakes the B translator made.
Just for kicks, some big translation oopsies:
English to Chinese:
GE: We bring good things to life --> GE: We bring your ancestors back from the grave.
English to Japanese: (Nike)
Just do it. --> Copulate.
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Bill Swallow - Team Leader
Usertech - Norwalk CT
phone: 203.851.4328
fax: 203.866.4685 mailto:swallow -at- usertech -dot- com http://www.usertech.com
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From: M. Hunter-Kilmer[SMTP:mhunterk -at- BNA -dot- COM]
Sent: Monday, July 13, 1998 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Working with translators
"Robert E. Garland" <robert -at- JTAN -dot- COM> wrote:
> I am also working on a project where the finished product will be
> translated. In my case this is from English into Hebrew, then from
> Hebrew into Russian.
We have never translated our products at my company, but you never
know when we'll start. So I'm wondering -- why would you translate a
product will be translated from Language X into Language Y and from
Language Y into Language Z? Why wouldn't you translate the product
from Language X into both Languages Y and Z? Seems to me the
potential for error is greater with the procedure Robert cited. But,
as I say, I've never done this, so what do I know?
TIA for the illuminating tips I know y'all will post.
Melissa Hunter-Kilmer
mhunterk -at- bna -dot- com
(standard disclaimer)
