Top 3+ Translation Rules You Need to Know

Applying the right translation rules is key to producing accurate and high-quality work. However, without enough experience, translators can make mistakes that may have a significant impact.

In this article, Thao & Co. breaks down the essential rules every translator should know – read on to learn more!

3 Basic Translation Rules for Beginners

Adhering to core translation principles can go a long way in guaranteeing a high-quality final work. If you’re new to the field, the following three rules can serve as a helpful starting point.

1. Be faithful to the source

This is arguably the most important rule in translation. Here are 3 key aspects of this principle:

1. 💡 Maintain original information: A good translation must be complete and accurate. Avoid adding, omitting, or changing any part of the source text. Even the smallest detail matters.
2. 💡 Stay neutral: Translators must avoid letting personal opinions or emotions influence the work. This is especially crucial when dealing with sensitive documents, such as political or religious texts.
3. 💡 Respect the author’s style: Translation isn’t just about relaying information correctly. It also involves reflecting the tone and style of the original writer.

📜 Read more: What is Faithful Translation?

2. Convey meaning naturally and clearly

When done well, a translation should read like it was originally written in the target language. To achieve this, keep the following points in mind:

1. ⭐ Use natural expressions: Choose vocabulary and sentence structures that feel authentic and commonly used in the target language.
2. ⭐ Prioritize clarity: Make sure the text is easy to understand. Simplify when necessary. However, it is important to keep the original meaning, tone, and nuance.
3. ⭐ Know your audience: Tailor word choices and phrasing to suit the target readers.
4. ⭐ Be flexible: Feel free to rearrange sentences or use synonyms to convey the same idea more effectively. However, it’s still crucial to ensure the meaning stays true to the source.

3. Ensure contextual and professional accuracy

Both context and subject-matter expertise are essential for a quality translation. Words can change meaning depending on the context, and industry terms always need to be handled with care.

1. 📖 Understand the full context: Always read the whole document before translating to get a clear picture of the overall message and tone.
2. 📖 Research industry terminology: Each field comes with its own extensive system of terms. Take the time to research and ensure your translations are clear and accurate.
3. 📖 Stay up to date: In addition to language skills, translators should continually build their knowledge of the specific industries they often work in.

📜 Learn more: What is literal translation?

4 Essential English Translation Rules

Every country has its own conventions when it comes to punctuation, symbols, writing style, and more. A translator must also have a solid understanding of these localized translation rules to deliver precise translations.

Here are some key English translation rules to keep in mind:

1. 🖊️ Punctuation and symbols: Generally, English punctuation rules such as the use of periods (.), commas (,), quotation marks (“ ”), colons (:), and semicolons (;) can be quite different in English and other languages. In English, for example, periods and commas are typically placed inside the quotation marks.
2. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Personal pronouns: For formal documents, the use of personal pronouns such as “I,” “we,” and “you” is often limited. In addition, opinions should be expressed in a neutral and objective way.
3. 🗓️ Date format: British English follows the day-month-year order, while American English uses month-day-year. Be aware of your audience to choose the correct format.
4. 📜 Formal writing style: In English formal writing, contractions (e.g. “don’t,” and “can’t”) should be avoided. Additionally, informal and colloquial vocabulary isn’t appropriate. Maintaining a polished tone is a crucial translation rule for professional documents.

📜 Bonus read: What is Idiomatic Translation?

Translation Rules in Specialized Fields

Each field has its own set of standards that translators must follow.

1. Legal translation

Legal document translation requires the translator to have in-depth knowledge and strict adherence to established practices:

1. ☑️ Ensure absolute confidentiality of all content.
2. ☑️ Perserve the original structure of contracts and other legal documents.
3. ☑️ Have a thorough understanding of different types of legal documents.
4. ☑️ Research and correctly translate the names of agencies, institutions, and legal systems across countries.

📜 Learn more: What is notarized translation?

2. Healthcare and medical translation

The medical field requires utmost precision in all aspects. So, when translating documents in this field, translators must:

1. ✅ Ensure complete accuracy and faithfulness to the original content.
2. ✅ Maintain strict confidentiality regarding patient information.
3. ✅ Have solid expertise in both the source language and medical terminology.
4. ✅ Take full responsibility for their translations and stay up to date with relevant developments.

3. Technical translation

When it comes to technical translation, the following rules should be noted:

1. ☑️ Preserve all measurements, units, and figures.
2. ☑️ Maintain the original document structure, including symbols and formatting.
3. ☑️ Keep elements like charts, diagrams, etc. intact, if present.
4. ☑️ Avoid overly flowery or lengthy translations of commands or technical instructions.
5. ☑️ Keep data secure and confidential.

4. Marketing translation

Unlike the above fields, marketing often requires significant creativity from the translator. But that doesn’t mean ignoring core translation rules:

1. ✅ Adapt wording as needed, but remain faithful to the original message.
2. ✅ Understand and consider the target market’s needs and trends.
3. ✅ Keep up with the latest trends in the target language.
4. ✅ Employ persuasive, compelling language that reasonates.
5. ✅ Maintain brand voice and core values.

📜 Explore: Marketing transcreation!

Key Takeways

Translation rules play a significant role in providing a flawless, high-quality translation. For beginner translators especially, adhering to these guidelines is the best way to avoid errors and ensure professional results.

At Thao & Co., every translation project is handled with precision and care, following established translation rules for each industry. This ensures that every document delivered to our clients meets high standards of quality and regulatory compliance.

We offer a wide range of translation services covering various industries and value-added offerings to help you save time and effort.

1. ⚖️ Legal translation
2. ⚕️ Medical translation
3. ⚙️ Technical translation
4. 🏦 Banking & finance translation
5. 🔊 Marketing translation
6. 💫 And more!

For more information about our services, get in touch with Thao & Co. via our 📞 Get a Quote form!