Difference between revisions of "How to Tackle a Translation"

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== What is the job of a translator? ==
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== Translator's job==
  
A translator should always try to do the best job they can, and not leave any mistakes for the reviewer. Remember that if the translation is of poor quality, the reviewer can send it back to you to fix it, so do as best as you can the first time!
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Do your best the first time. Do not count on the reviewer to do your work for you. Remember that if your job is poor, the reviewer can send your translation back and that will mean more work for both of you.
  
'''The job of a translator is to make sure that:'''
 
  
* every line is short enough and can be easily read
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=Your most important job as a translator is to accurately express thoughts of the speaker. You should try to convey their style and personality. You also need to make sure that:
* the meaning is clear
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*the meaning is clear
* the subtitles sound natural in your language
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*the subtitles sound natural in your language
 +
*every line is short enough and can be read easily
  
Because of this '''a translation of a 15-minute talk can take about 5 hours''' - you have to think about every line and multiple ways to improve it.
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Do not rush! Translation of a 15 minute talk can easily take several hours. You need to think about every single line.  
The quality of the translation lies in your hands just as much as in the hands of the reviewer.
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Always keep in my mind your audience and the time they will spend watching the video. You want to provide them with the top-notch experience!
  
Always '''keep in mind the audience''', the people who will spend their time watching the video which you translated - you want to give them a good experience!
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Once you are done, wait for feedback from your reviewer. Discuss the necessary changes. Be open to suggestions for improvement. Remember both you are going to be credited for the translation, so make sure both of you feel proud about your work.
 
 
Translators should keep tabs on their finished translation and wait for any feedback from the reviewer to discuss changes made. Both of your names will appear next to the translated talk, so make sure that you can '''be proud of it''' :)
 
  
 
== Recommended workflow ==
 
== Recommended workflow ==
  
# Watch the talk to understand it thoroughly. If you do not understand something do some research.
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# Watch the talk to understand it thoroughly. If you do not understand something, do some research. You may consult other translators.  
# Start translating while keeping in mind the following things: Does it sound natural? Does it convey the meaning? Is it short enough?  
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# While translating keep asking yourself: Does it convey the meaning? Does it sound natural? Is it short enough?  
 
# Watch the talk and pause every time something looks strange or you don't manage to read the subtitles in the time given. Fix and shorten. See [[Compressing_subtitles|this article]] for tips on compressing subtitles.
 
# Watch the talk and pause every time something looks strange or you don't manage to read the subtitles in the time given. Fix and shorten. See [[Compressing_subtitles|this article]] for tips on compressing subtitles.
 
# Read your compleated translation again the next day with a fresh mind and do a sweep for common mistakes.
 
# Read your compleated translation again the next day with a fresh mind and do a sweep for common mistakes.
 
# Watch the talk without sound, only with subtitles on - if it's good, you can accept it :)
 
# Watch the talk without sound, only with subtitles on - if it's good, you can accept it :)
  
== Most common types of mistakes in translations==
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== Avoid common mistakes==
  
'''1. Spelling''' (Install a [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/search/?q=spell+checker&appver=8.0.1&platform=windows spell checker] for your browser, or if you have one, install a spelling [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/language-tools/ dictionary] for your language
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'''1. Spelling'''- (Install a [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/search/?q=spell+checker&appver=8.0.1&platform=windows spell checker] for your browser, or if you have one, install a spelling [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/language-tools/ dictionary] for your language
  
'''2. Line length''' - When you are done watch the talk without the sound. This will force you to focus on reading and seeing how fast you can read. If you fail to read a line twice then you should shorten it (another tip: make sure you can read the line and still have time to look at the video). This is very important because other people do not know the text like you do, and do not read as fast as you do, so they will need more time :)
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'''2. Line length''' - When you are done watch the talk without sound. This will force you to focus on reading and seeing how fast you can read. If you fail to read a line twice, you should shorten it (another tip: make sure you can read the line and still have time to look at the video). This is very important because your viewers do not know the talk as well as you do. That means they will need more time to read the subtitles than you do. :)
  
Ways to shorten the lines:
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Ways to shorten lines:
  
'''a)''' Remove fluff which does not add to the meaning, for example: Err, Well, very, Anyway,...
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'''a)''' Remove meaningless words, for example: Err, Well, very, Anyway,...
  
 
'''b)''' Remove repetitions. If something is obvious from the context then there is no need to say it.
 
'''b)''' Remove repetitions. If something is obvious from the context then there is no need to say it.
  
'''c)''' Break the lines differently: move part of a meaning to the next or previous line which is shorter
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'''c)''' Break the lines differently: move part of a meaning to the next or previous line, if it is shorter.
  
 
'''d)''' Compress two lines into one and double it. In TED player similar lines show without blinking.
 
'''d)''' Compress two lines into one and double it. In TED player similar lines show without blinking.
  
'''e)''' Find shorter synonyms or find a more common, thus easier to process, synonym.
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'''e)''' Use synonyms; find words that are shorter or more common (easier to process).
  
 
More tips [[Compressing_subtitles|here]].
 
More tips [[Compressing_subtitles|here]].
  
'''3. Literal translation''' Most importantly: Would a native speaker say it like you just wrote it, or would they use a different phrase to explain the same meaning? Does it sound natural? Make sure not to mimic English word order.
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'''3. Literal translation''' - Ask yourself: "Would a native speaker say it like you just wrote it?" "Does it sound natural?" Make sure you do not "copy" English word for word.  
  
'''4. Punctuation''' Make sure to learn your language-specific punctuation rules. Make sure you don't follow the English punctuation by accident.
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'''4. Lack of clarity''' - Think: What does the speaker mean? Is the message clear? Could I explain it myself?
  
'''5. Line breaks''' Learn how to break lines [http://translations.ted.org/wiki/Transcribing_talks#Line_breaks here].  
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'''5. Line breaks''' - Learn how to break lines [http://translations.ted.org/wiki/Transcribing_talks#Line_breaks here].  
Rule of thumb: If a line could be used as an answer to a question on its own, then it is good, if there is an element which does not fit then it should be moved.
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Rule of thumb: If a line could be used as an answer to a question on its own, it is good;if there is an element which does not fit, it should be moved.
  
'''6. Language specific errors''' Navigate to your language in the sidebar of this page and see if there is a list of common errors available.  
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'''6. Language specific errors''' - Navigate to your language in the sidebar of this page and see if there is a list of common errors available.  
  
'''7. Meaning''' Think: What does the person speaking mean? Is the message clear? Do I understand? Could I explain it myself?
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'''7. Punctuation''' - Learn (and use!) your language-specific punctuation rules. (Do not blindly copy English punctuation).
  
'''8. Specialized vocabulary''' Do your research. Proper names are very rarely translated in a straightforward way. The easiest way to do it is to check the term in English Wikipedia and then navigate to your language. You can also try the [http://www.proz.com/?sp=ks KudoZ term archive], and ask a new question if you can't find anything in the available answers. Also remember that proper names (of people or places) may not be spelled the same way in your language as they are in English (for example, Istanbul in English, but Estambul in Spanish). To learn more about searching for terms, watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrXlCqPfr8 this video]
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'''8. Specialized vocabulary''' Do your research. Proper names are rarely translated in a straightforward way. The easiest way to do it is to check the term in English Wikipedia and then navigate to your language. You can also try the [http://www.proz.com/?sp=ks KudoZ term archive], and ask a new question if you can't find anything in the available answers. Also remember that proper names (of people or places) may not be spelled the same way in your language as they are in English (for example, Istanbul in English, but Estambul in Spanish). To learn more about searching for terms, watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrXlCqPfr8 this video]
  
 
'''9. Units of measurement''' Convert them to the ones most commonly used in your language, for example. miles to kilometers.
 
'''9. Units of measurement''' Convert them to the ones most commonly used in your language, for example. miles to kilometers.
  
 
'''10. Culture specific items''': Jokes, names of products, companies, famous people etc... Make them easily understood for your audience by either explaining them. So, not must Mr. X, but Mr. X a businessman or exchange the name for a category, so "Wendy's" into a fast food chain. Jokes and puns should still be funny, even if you have to achieve it by changing them a bit, you don't want the audience to wonder why everyone is laughing.
 
'''10. Culture specific items''': Jokes, names of products, companies, famous people etc... Make them easily understood for your audience by either explaining them. So, not must Mr. X, but Mr. X a businessman or exchange the name for a category, so "Wendy's" into a fast food chain. Jokes and puns should still be funny, even if you have to achieve it by changing them a bit, you don't want the audience to wonder why everyone is laughing.

Revision as of 04:50, 15 August 2012

Translator's job

Do your best the first time. Do not count on the reviewer to do your work for you. Remember that if your job is poor, the reviewer can send your translation back and that will mean more work for both of you.


=Your most important job as a translator is to accurately express thoughts of the speaker. You should try to convey their style and personality. You also need to make sure that:

  • the meaning is clear
  • the subtitles sound natural in your language
  • every line is short enough and can be read easily

Do not rush! Translation of a 15 minute talk can easily take several hours. You need to think about every single line. Always keep in my mind your audience and the time they will spend watching the video. You want to provide them with the top-notch experience!

Once you are done, wait for feedback from your reviewer. Discuss the necessary changes. Be open to suggestions for improvement. Remember both you are going to be credited for the translation, so make sure both of you feel proud about your work.

Recommended workflow

  1. Watch the talk to understand it thoroughly. If you do not understand something, do some research. You may consult other translators.
  2. While translating keep asking yourself: Does it convey the meaning? Does it sound natural? Is it short enough?
  3. Watch the talk and pause every time something looks strange or you don't manage to read the subtitles in the time given. Fix and shorten. See this article for tips on compressing subtitles.
  4. Read your compleated translation again the next day with a fresh mind and do a sweep for common mistakes.
  5. Watch the talk without sound, only with subtitles on - if it's good, you can accept it :)

Avoid common mistakes

1. Spelling- (Install a spell checker for your browser, or if you have one, install a spelling dictionary for your language

2. Line length - When you are done watch the talk without sound. This will force you to focus on reading and seeing how fast you can read. If you fail to read a line twice, you should shorten it (another tip: make sure you can read the line and still have time to look at the video). This is very important because your viewers do not know the talk as well as you do. That means they will need more time to read the subtitles than you do. :)

Ways to shorten lines:

a) Remove meaningless words, for example: Err, Well, very, Anyway,...

b) Remove repetitions. If something is obvious from the context then there is no need to say it.

c) Break the lines differently: move part of a meaning to the next or previous line, if it is shorter.

d) Compress two lines into one and double it. In TED player similar lines show without blinking.

e) Use synonyms; find words that are shorter or more common (easier to process).

More tips here.

3. Literal translation - Ask yourself: "Would a native speaker say it like you just wrote it?" "Does it sound natural?" Make sure you do not "copy" English word for word.

4. Lack of clarity - Think: What does the speaker mean? Is the message clear? Could I explain it myself?

5. Line breaks - Learn how to break lines here. Rule of thumb: If a line could be used as an answer to a question on its own, it is good;if there is an element which does not fit, it should be moved.

6. Language specific errors - Navigate to your language in the sidebar of this page and see if there is a list of common errors available.

7. Punctuation - Learn (and use!) your language-specific punctuation rules. (Do not blindly copy English punctuation).

8. Specialized vocabulary Do your research. Proper names are rarely translated in a straightforward way. The easiest way to do it is to check the term in English Wikipedia and then navigate to your language. You can also try the KudoZ term archive, and ask a new question if you can't find anything in the available answers. Also remember that proper names (of people or places) may not be spelled the same way in your language as they are in English (for example, Istanbul in English, but Estambul in Spanish). To learn more about searching for terms, watch this video

9. Units of measurement Convert them to the ones most commonly used in your language, for example. miles to kilometers.

10. Culture specific items: Jokes, names of products, companies, famous people etc... Make them easily understood for your audience by either explaining them. So, not must Mr. X, but Mr. X a businessman or exchange the name for a category, so "Wendy's" into a fast food chain. Jokes and puns should still be funny, even if you have to achieve it by changing them a bit, you don't want the audience to wonder why everyone is laughing.