"Even if you know a thousand things, consult only one", German translation We wanted to have a chat with a friend of ours who graduated in German translation.
We had a short chat with a translation expert about German. He answered the questions you wondered about German.
Much has been said and written on translation for years; however, it is clear that translation needs clarification at many points. We wanted to talk about German translation with you. We know that you have been translating into German since your student years.
- What do you do before starting a translation?
In fact, translation involves a process called preliminary preparation. This step can vary depending on which field we are translating. For instance, when I translate a literary work, I first do extensive research on the author, the work, the period the work was written, and the type of work.
Then, I read the text in its original language several times and analyse it.
After creating a draft and making the corrections, I do a final reading.
I pay attention to issues such as scanning the literature and terms, determining which translation tools to use, and protecting the background and format of the text.
However, before starting a translation in any field, it is critical to create a work plan based on the deadline, set a daily goal according to the type of text and the complexity, and stick to these goals.
- Which fields have the highest need for German translation?
German translation, like all other languages, is needed in nearly every area. I can say that technical translation, especially in the automotive field, literary translation and legal translations are required the most in Turkey. Besides, there is a very high demand for German translation in medical translation, translation for corporate companies and European Union texts.
- It is indisputable that there is a direct relationship between the source language and the target language in translation. What is your opinion on the relationship between culture and translation? When translating into German, what do you focus on to give the most accurate equivalent of words?
The relationship between culture and translation is a comprehensive and significant issue; moreover, I can say that it is at the core of this profession. That is why we mainly focus on the text instead of individual words. That is to say, the role of the word within a text is more important than the meaning it has on its own.
When determining which word to use, we pay attention to specific points such as the genre of the text, the target audience, the author’s choice, and terms within the field.
For instance, if we are translating in the medical field and our target audience is the general public, we prefer to use common medical words instead of their terminological meaning.
Similarly, in medical texts whose target audience is scientists or scholars, we use more specific terms like “myocardial infarction” rather than “heart attack”.
- Do you believe that German translation or the translation industry will become more valuable day by day, or will translators decrease in value because of machine translation?
One of the most debated topics today is undoubtedly whether technological advancements will replace human labor with machines and artificial intelligence. Speaking for the translation industry, I can say that there has been an incredible transformation in this area, especially over the last decade. Thanks to various programs and platforms known as CAT Tools (Computer-Assisted Translation Tools), we can now work more efficiently in less time and produce more consistent and well-structured texts. Of course, with changing circumstances, the role of translators has also evolved. Particularly in technical and specialized translations, the job now involves not just translating the text but also reviewing and editing it, effectively taking on a translation editing role. I don’t believe that 100% automation in translation is possible. Especially in the translation of flexible, aesthetic, creative, and emotion-driven texts like literature, subtitles, marketing, and advertising, the cultural context cannot be overlooked, and human input will always be necessary. From this perspective, I view the advancements in machine translation positively, as they enhance the productivity and consistency of translators.
- What do you think about the difference between the original and second languages while translating, especially in classical text translations? What effect does this have on the reader?
There are varying opinions on this. However, I feel it is more suitable to translate directly from the source language rather than using a second language – especially with literary translation into German.
In literary works, the author’s language and preferences are at the forefront, so the translator translates the text with this in mind.
The text has traces of the author and the translator in the ‘translation of a translation’. So, I believe that loss in translation is greater than when translating directly from the source language.
This may create different feelings and thoughts in the reader about the author and the work compared to those of readers in other languages. So, in my opinion, we should translate the source language directly.
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