Translating a text riddled with spelling mistakes Автор темы: Maria-Jose Pastor
|
|---|
In translating a text that is riddled with mistakes - do we as translators translate what we the translator believes the author is trying to convey through context clues, or indicate there is a mistake? The text is from Spanish to English, examples would be:
Despues instead of Después / mas instead of más / le pego un puno instead of le pegó un puño
The translation is to be used in a court proceeding.
Thank you for your input.
| | | | Joseph Tein 
США
Local time: 01:42
Член ProZ.com c 2009
испанский => английский
+ ...
| You have to be very careful | Apr 8, 2021 |
This is an important question since the translation may affect the outcome of a court proceeding!
I would just say take each instance separately. If the meaning is clear even without the punctuation, just translate it. If it's not clear in any way, or ambiguous, I would add a comment that says something like "meaning ambiguous due to lack of punctuation." Alert whoever has assigned you the translation task that there are ambiguities.
Often, our less-educated Spanish... See more This is an important question since the translation may affect the outcome of a court proceeding!
I would just say take each instance separately. If the meaning is clear even without the punctuation, just translate it. If it's not clear in any way, or ambiguous, I would add a comment that says something like "meaning ambiguous due to lack of punctuation." Alert whoever has assigned you the translation task that there are ambiguities.
Often, our less-educated Spanish clients/witnesses write poorly. It's the best they know given what is often a horribly deficient educational system back home. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sabrina Bruna
Италия
Local time: 10:42
Член ProZ.com c 2013
английский => итальянский
+ ...
| What I would do | Apr 9, 2021 |
I would certainly inform the client about any spelling error or other issues present in the source text, to be sure that I have understood what I am translating. Moreover in such a way I would deliver a good service to my client, and my good standing would grow stronger.
| | | | Philippe SALMON
Великобритания
Local time: 09:42
английский => французский
+ ...
| Helping spelling can be good marketing | Apr 9, 2021 |
We translate a lot of engineering and technical stuff. When we look at the document if there are a fair few errors, we say to the client "If we notice any typos, do you want us to alert you? No charge!" The response is usually "Yes please, that would be great!"
A lot of people in the UK who go into technical careers weren't necessarily highly literate at school in the obsessive way us translators are. (My own brother is dyslexic, but he was in charge of making sure a petrol refinery didn't... See more We translate a lot of engineering and technical stuff. When we look at the document if there are a fair few errors, we say to the client "If we notice any typos, do you want us to alert you? No charge!" The response is usually "Yes please, that would be great!"
A lot of people in the UK who go into technical careers weren't necessarily highly literate at school in the obsessive way us translators are. (My own brother is dyslexic, but he was in charge of making sure a petrol refinery didn't blow up the locality..it's a different kind of clever!).
Having said that, if an error makes a big difference to the meaning (in legal documents) or in Health and Safety, if we need clarity we go back to the customer rather than guessing. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Peter van der Hoek
Испания
Local time: 10:42
Член ProZ.com c 2008
голландский => английский
+ ...
| Small mistakes | Apr 9, 2021 |
If these are the kind of mistakes you are talking about, it shouldn't be a problem. It seems the writer did not have the programme at hand to type Spanish accents, however, as far as I can see the context seems quite obvious in the examples you posted.
| | | | Kay Denney
Франция
Local time: 10:42
французский => английский
123Translations wrote:
If these are the kind of mistakes you are talking about, it shouldn't be a problem. It seems the writer did not have the programme at hand to type Spanish accents, however, as far as I can see the context seems quite obvious in the examples you posted.
I only have a smattering of tourist Spanish but it does look like the text was simply typed up on a non-Spanish keyboard. If misunderstandings are possible because of missing accents, it should be pointed out in a translator's note. If it's actually incomprehensible, you should ask the client to try to find out what the spelling should be.
| | | | Belen Lozina
Аргентина
Local time: 06:42
английский => испанский
+ ...
| It will depend on the mistakes | Apr 11, 2021 |
123Translations wrote:
If these are the kind of mistakes you are talking about, it shouldn't be a problem. It seems the writer did not have the programme at hand to type Spanish accents, however, as far as I can see the context seems quite obvious in the examples you posted.
I strongly agree with 123Translations here, in the example you gave the mistakes are not misleading and the typos do not produce a change in meaning in Spanish.
| | | | Paul Dixon
Бразилия
Local time: 06:42
португальский => английский
+ ...
Памяти | Ask the client | Apr 27, 2021 |
The best way is to ask the client.
There are two possibilities: mark each mistake with [sic] or translate them as they would normally be understood. Like después for despues, as stated. As this is a court case, so any mistake could be costly.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Translating a text riddled with spelling mistakes | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
