Art of Translation

Since the beginning of time members of Society, people of Culture, Politics and members of the King’s Court needed translation to convey their thoughts to their enemies, their friends and family members living in foreign countries.

Translation was always considered to be a complex task; since the translation of foreign languages does not mean, merely, an in-depth knowledge of two languages. It is necessary for the translator to be knowledgeable about how to convey the essence of what is being said, while at the same time adhering closely to the context and to the significance.

Translation was and still is a connecting factor and a bridge which must cross the differences in culture and language, as things that will be said in one language will not necessarily sound correct in the second language. It is the task of the translator to sometimes modify what is being said in the source language, while ensuring that the substance of the message being translated into the target language remains accurate.

Sometimes the translator must remain close to the source language, but at times it is necessary to restructure the entire sentence or paragraph so that what is being said will remain positive and inoffensive, as well as sounding right and flowing smoothly.

It is important that the person requiring a translation will respond to the questions:
▪ For whom is the translation intended ?
▪ For what reason is it being translated?
▪ Are there any instructions to the translator?

The answers to these questions can help the translator to understand the objective of the translation and, in turn, enable him to provide a precise, professional and rapid translation.

In today’s fast-paced business world, many people are tempted to translate documents or any other type of text by using automatic translation software that can easily be found on the internet..