Cultural differences lead to differences in oral and written communication from country to country. For example, there is a tendency to use passive voice more in English. On the contrary, Vietnamese will prefer active voice. Applying the translation techniques listed in this article will make your translation easier to read for native speakers.
It should be noted that translators often apply some specific techniques (instead of strategies) during the translation process, for example:
#1. Restructuring
Changing the “appearance” of the sentence in terms of syntax and word order ensures the translation conforms to the discourse rules of the native language. This technique may involve reduction or expansion of the sentence, depending on the combination and type of language.
#2. Putting information at the beginning of the sentence
Starting a sentence with new information is a common phenomenon in English. This beginning is often used to introduce people (e.g. New Tory Prime Minister Theresa May), which is the subject of the sentence. Such technique is a typical pattern in languages that easily form compounds.
#3. Converting negative statements into positive ones
Using positive language instead of negative language can make sentences shorter and more concise (for example: “not provide adequate information” > “provide inadequate information”).
#4. Vocabulary gap
It is not a rare phenomenon for a source language unit to have a broader meaning than the target language unit (for example: The Italian word “ricerca” means both “study” and “search” in English). Context is key to finding solutions in these cases.
#5. Generalization and specification
The translation practice from the source language to the target language sometimes becomes smoother as the translator rewrites the text in a more general or specific manner. This action may be aimed at “improving” the structure of the original text to increase the level of information adoption or increase/decrease the level of emphasis. It is necessary to notify in advance when performing this technique because it may cause omission or addition of information to the translation (adding information is also a form of omission because the core meaning of the original text may be “embellished”). This technique should be avoided when translating legal documents such as contracts or patents.