| By :
Jamie Simpson
Translation is a huge industry, because making sure your clients understand you regardless of where they are is one of the essential keys to becoming an international business force. As internet technology has become more widespread, however, translation has increasingly been left up to online tools and automated processes that accept inputs in any number of formats and return text in the desired languages. These translation services are not always able to handle everything you throw at them though, and the results they generate often seem awkward and ill-phrased to native speakers. Here are some of the top mistakes people make when using online translation tools to increase the reach of their message. Word Choice Errors Translation services usually use a one-to-one word translation algorithm or a meaning recognition program to determine how to say something in a different language. When users fail to edit their text as if they were writing professionally, and rely on heavy use of idioms and casual language, they set themselves up for failure. All too often, expressions like "a turn of phrase" are literally translated into something that makes little sense in the target language. It's important to remember that expressions, while they may have analogues in other tongues, are not universal in usage, phrasing or meaning, so it's wise to say what you mean without using them if at all possible. Technical Vocabulary Translation services are usually intended for use with moderately conversational speech; if you have specialized technical jargon in that report or business briefing, there's a high likelihood that the translation will be somewhat inaccurate. The best way to clear this up is to use a translation service that has a specialized dictionary of terms relating to the subject you're dealing with, if possible. Remember to Check Your Work One of the top mistakes people make with online or other computer translation services is that they don't check their work. Proofing your translation results so easy that there's no excuse for not doing so. All you need to do is put your result (in the desired language) back into the same translation program you used to generate it. See how it turns out when you translate it back to the original language. If the meaning is not the same or very close, you might need to start over from the beginning and try to be more clear with your wording. Another good, yet oft-neglected way to check your work is to have someone who speaks the language you're translating your words to tell you what your results mean to them. This can clear up any technical vocabulary problems caused by lone troublesome words and sentence fragments. It's also a great way to ensure your tone comes through loud and clear; this is especially helpful for adverts and high profile commercial articles. Translation tool mistakes don't have to occur, so above all, make sure that you're using a reputable service, and always aim for meaning accuracy over exact word choice, especially if you're unfamiliar with the language.
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