What are the best strategies for making your translations easy to read?

In my experience as a translator on a construction site, the most invaluable counsel I've received is a straightforward principle: simplicity is key. This involves the judicious use of language—opting for a single word when two are not essential. Additionally, it underscores the importance of self-education in the subject matter, utilizing specialized terms relevant to the field while consciously steering clear of unnecessary jargon. The advice extends to sentence structure as well, advocating for the avoidance of compound sentences. Lastly, if grappling with readability, a helpful strategy is to read the text from back to front.

Also, consider the client as a crucial stakeholder. They are the individual who wants the text translated for some reason, and understanding their motivation is vital. A publisher will have a book translated because they anticipate interest from readers in that language. An Austrian company's marketing manager commissions an English website because she wants her company's sales to expand beyond German-speaking regions. And the PR manager of a Spanish rail operator needs an English ticket shop to accommodate tourists and expats. Every translation request has a specific purpose and personal or commercial interest. Identifying the underlying reason is essential, you need to find out the why.

To enhance the readability of translations, employing clear and concise language is paramount. Choose words and phrases that align closely with the intended meaning in the target language, considering cultural nuances. Maintain a consistent tone and style throughout the translation to ensure coherence. Additionally, pay attention to sentence structure and flow to mimic the natural cadence of the target language. Adequate spacing and formatting are crucial for a visually appealing layout. Regular revisions and proofreading play a vital role in eliminating potential errors and refining the overall quality of the translated text.

Use common and simple words, simple phrases, simple sentences, simple structures, make it concise, follow how the locals express their ideas, place yourself as a reader, and if possible, have ordinary people read your translation and ask for their opinion.

I aim to use simple and clear language in my translations. This doesn’t mean simplifying the content but rather making it accessible. Complex sentences and jargon are often rephrased to ensure the translation is easy to read and understand.

This slightly depends on the target language. English speakers prefer simple, concise, and direct language, whether Spanish speakers expect more formal language that takes a (little) while to get to the point. Introductions are often longer and include more context in texts originally written in Spanish.

When it comes to technical writing and translation, the best approach is to always use concise and simple language, use the same terms, and avoid synonyms. You may fall into the trap of calling the same thing two or three different words, just for the sake of making it sound better. When it comes to technical writing, it's better if you choose and always use the same term throughout your document. Here's an example: blind call transfer, unattended call transfer, unannounced call transfer. When you're translating a technical document it's better to choose just one term and stick to it throughout this document.

That is one of the most important tips to apply today. As a member of @PLAIN Association, the importance of direct and clear language makes the whole difference.

As so many professionals have already added their expertise I would like to add just one simple idea: Read your translation aloud as if speaking to/teaching your target group...

Adhering to the stylistic norms and conventions of the target language is key. This includes understanding idiomatic expressions, cultural references, and linguistic nuances. My goal is always to make the translation sound natural and fluent.

Early on in my career I made the mistake of sticking to my source way too strictly instead of making my result sound authentic to the target language. Having gained experience by working in various fields and re-reading my own early works I realized that sometimes the result has more added value when worded clinging less to the original. To achieve this I had to realize that my audience won't see the original - that being the whole point - so my preference should be making my text flow while remaining accurate.

Grammar and punctuation are so important to make a clear translation and one has to find the equivalent on both languages without breaking the rules.

Following the rules and norms of the target language is key to successful translation. For this reason, the translator should have deep knowledge of the target language and its culture to be able to render a text that appeals to the target audience. Some translators apply the punctuation of source language to target languages which leads ultimately to a rather confusing text. On the other hand, the same word or expression may have a positive connotation in one language and a negative one in yet another. The translator shall also avoid using expressions that are not familiar in the audience culture such as "snow ball effect" when translating for people who are not familiar with snow in their environment.

I always say, keep the meaning in the source language and use the style and conventions of the target language. This avoids word for word translation and improves readability.

Self proofreading is good but not enough. Always use a second pair of eyes, preferably a native speaker who does not understand the source text. Many native speakers repeat the mistakes of the translator because they merge the meaning in their mind as they can read and understand both languages. However, if the editor only understand target language, i.e. English, they will immediately spot ambiguities and ask for clarification.

A second pair of eyes is essential. Someone else will see things that you do not, and a fresh pair of eyes sees the text in a new light. In the event that you do not have someone to proofread your translations and need to read over your own translation, then ensure you do so with fresh eyes (leave the text overnight and look at it again the next morning).

Sleep on it. Always. However much you would like to send that job off and be done with it, put it aside till the next morning, or better still - do something else completely, to disconnect from the subject. Then come back the next day and look at your text with a fresh eye. You will spot the errors you were incapable of seeing the day before. As an added benefit, you will be able to recognise what an amazing job you have done when you put some distance between yourself and your creation.

Estaría bien que LinkedIn se aplicara el parche y le echase un vistazo a la traducción desastrosa (hecha por una IA, hay que tener valor...) que han publicado de este artículo. :) Zapatero, a tus zapatos.

To compare and proofread your translated text, there are online translation tools for this purpose, and you can also give it to "translation experts" who have relatively high linguistic knowledge to comment on your translation. If the translated text is only approved by you, it will not have much chance of popularity, unless you are a professional writer and translator in your field that many translators know as a professional expert. For some complex terms, several dictionaries and glossaries can be used simultaneously to select the most appropriate meaning for translation.

If you are a professional cook, guests should comment on your food. Therefore, before publishing the translation, it is better to share it with a group of people who have acceptable language knowledge and ask them to rate it on various aspects such as clarity, accuracy, completeness, relevance and attractiveness. Getting help from a professional editor can be a good idea in this field. As said, after receiving the feedbacks, you should analyze them and make the necessary changes in your translation or translation process.

Feedback from native speakers or peers is invaluable. I often test my translations with a small group from the target audience to gauge comprehension and ease of reading. Their insights help in fine-tuning the translation.

Oh dear, all sorts of confidentiality issues related to this "getting feedback point"! I would advise consulting with your client before taking such a step. The client might have an internal reviewer (in-country, in-house) and that brings to bear all sorts of other issues such as the competency of her reviewer, etc.

Friends are important, even if they are your competitors. Offer your services as a sounding board to some of your colleagues, and they can return the favour. You might even form a professional partnership. And, let's face it, nobody can give better advice than a specialist. Just ask them not to spare your feelings!

I value feedback from native speakers or individuals familiar with the target language. Testing the translation with this audience provides insights into how well it aligns with their linguistic expectations. I am open to constructive criticism to enhance the quality of my work.

One way to assess a translation once the entire work is completed is to check for ethos-pathos-logos the three aspects of text. The logic, emotion and the authenticity is conveyed and expressed at the same length, depth and punch. Many local expressions may not find right word in target language then due compensations need to be made. What the author intended to do through the source write-up needs to be achieved even by the translated text. If the author wanted to Kindle and stoke a particular emotion in the readers or drive sensitivity towards an aspect, commensurate impact must be generated by the translation of the text too.Translator's emotional quotient is tested. In the end, translators with best sensitivity and sensibility win!

Keeping up with changes in the target language and staying informed about the latest trends in translation technology can also contribute to making translations more readable. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in the ever-evolving field of translation.

I believe these10 points are useful to optimize content for easy-to-read Translation: Write With An Active, Not Passive Voice. Stick to Standard Sentence Structure. Use One Term to ID a Single Concept. Avoid Acronyms. Local Keyword Research. Utilize Relative Pronouns. Keep Sentences Brief. Avoid Slang and Humor.

5 Ways to Optimize Content for Easy Translation: 1. Write With An Active, Not Passive Voice. 2. Stick to Standard Sentence Structure. 3. Use One Term to ID a Single Concept. 4. Avoid Acronyms. and 5. Local Keyword Research.

To ensure translations are easy to read, maintaining clarity and flow is key. Start by understanding the nuances of both languages involved. Use simple, concise language while preserving the original meaning. Pay attention to context, idioms, and cultural references, aiming for naturalness in expression. Break long sentences into shorter ones for readability, and employ appropriate formatting, such as headings or bullet points, to organize information. Always review and revise to ensure coherence and accuracy, considering the target audience for the translation. Consistency in terminology and style throughout the text further enhances readability.