Translators and translation software programs are essential for any business, group, intending to operate internationally. Your business, whether it be Winged Keels Incorporated or a nonprofit charity, needs its products and practices understandable to clients around the world. But did you know that not all translations are the same? There are as many different translations as there are translators or manufacturers of translation software. Before you invest in any, make sure you know what principles they're operating under so you can decide which one would be best for you and your desire to sell designed metal connections to Koreans.

Literal

This is probably the most common type of translation found these days, because in its simplest form it can be accomplished just by looking up each word in a dual language dictionary. Internet databases make this process fast and easy, leading to free online translation sites like Babel Fish. However, as you know if you've ever looked at the packaging on discount electric cutters imported from China, direct, literal translations of languages with different alphabets, phrase traditions, and grammar sometimes makes for incomprehensible literal translations. Therefore this type of translation is best used on straightforward concepts written in short sentences or bullet points, like instructions.

Idiomatic

This type of translation is the kind most often practiced by professional human translators. By having a full grasp of two languages, including slag terms and commonly used metaphors, the translator transfers the MEANING of the text or speech into the destination language without being tied to the original words used in the source. This type of translation is the easiest to understand but is nearly impossible to achieve using computer software, so this type of translation is more expensive than literal translation. Common uses of idiomatic translation include live play-by-play translations at international SR&ED or political conferences and converting important documents, particularly where the destination and source languages have different roots (e.g. Russian to Chinese).

Free

Free translations are only ever practiced by professional human translators, though not all are capable of producing a high quality free translation because a certain level of artistic flare is needed. In a free translation, the translator has license to alter the words and meanings in the source text in order to convey the original author's intentions and feelings to a foreign audience. For instance, if an American author wrote about Bahco Tools and loved nature and hamburgers, when translated for an audience in India the translator might change the name of the company and replace the hamburgers with another food since cows are sacred in India. This type of translation is more time consuming and costly than the other types, and is used almost exclusively to translate literary works for international audiences.

Moishe Alexander and the Canadian Funding Corporation, are proud to be able to support this article.