A Guide To Japanese Translation Services
There is no denying that the internet has become a part of almost everyone’s daily life. And with that internet use comes increased social media usage across the world. Communicating with one another has never been easier, no matter what language you speak. However, there is still the issue of translating social media posts and blog posts, and articles from one language to another. Each translation carries its own set of issues, and Japanese translation services are no different. Let’s explore some of the issues that English to Japanese (or vice versa) translation services might run across.
Pay Attention to Grammar!
As with any professional translation, grammar most certainly does matter, and it is no different in Japanese translation services. Make sure to have a basic understanding of the grammar of both languages and apply that knowledge when you translate to Japanese. For instance, there are no plurals or articles in Japanese grammar. Hence, make sure to study how to make up for this difference when working on something that needs to be translated to Japanese.
There are also structural particles in the Japanese language that have no equivalents in the English language. This can be a little confusing to translate to Japanese for anybody who is not a native speaker or fluent in Japanese as their second language. Any Japanese translation service will want to hire a native speaker who will be able to accurately translate to Japanese.
Do Not Depend on Machine Translations!
Language is not universal, and neither are professional translations. Japanese translation services are no different in this aspect. There are many Japanese sayings that have no direct English translation, and it is easy for the message to get lost in a machine translation. If you do choose to use a machine to translate to Japanese, make sure to run translations by someone who speaks the language fluently. This person will be more familiar with slang words and will then be able to provide clear translation for native Japanese speakers.
Do Not be Afraid to Transcreate an English to Japanese Translation
Transcreation takes place when there is no direct English to Japanese translation of a saying or a message. With this professional translation, a fluent speaker can accurately render the message in the Japanese translation. Not only that, but the context and the intent of the message will stay as close as possible to the original. This can be quite hard to do. However, someone with an in-depth knowledge of the Japanese culture will have a much better chance at translating to Japanese.
For instance, let’s say that an American company has a slogan that depends on its audience’s knowledge of nursery rhyme. Now, this company would like to start selling in Japan. However, the Japanese audience has no knowledge of this American nursery rhyme and they need to translate to Japanese. This is when an English to Japanese translation needs professional transcreation. The company can now start making money in Japan!
Make Sure to Read Over English to Japanese Translations
As with any professional translation, always make sure to read over the English to Japanese translation when it is done. This is best done by a native speaker of the language or at least someone who is fluent in it. Even better is someone who is intimately knowledgeable about Japanese culture. This person can look at the Japanese translation and tell if the Japanese public would not understand the original message. This native or fluent speaker will know just what to do to make the message easier for the audience to grasp. Every Japanese translation service should have at least one person on staff that is familiar with the Japanese language and culture.
Conversely, if a non-native translator performs your English to Japanese translation, there will probably be some issues with it. The company may be left wondering why their sales are low in Japan as compared to other countries. But the answer could be in something as seemingly simple as an English to Japanese translation gone wrong!
Be Creative in your Japanese Translation Service
Sometimes, it is fine to not have a verbatim translation for your client; as a matter of fact, your client may be surprised and delighted at the initiative you took in getting creative with the translation. How do you get creative with translations, you ask? It is really quite simple. Start with a verbatim translation and decide what message the original is trying to convey. Once you have decided that, go on to try new ways to say it in Japanese, without losing too much of the original message. This is a crucial tip for your Japanese translation services.
As long as the tone and message remain close to the original, your client will not mind the minor tweaks. In any professional translation, the important part for your Japanese translation services is to get the clear message for your audience. Also, if that involves changing the wording or even the background story (if there was one used), then so be it. Your client will thank you for taking a more creative route in the long run.
There are certain tips that will help any Japanese translation services thrive. It is important to remember that sometimes a simple machine translation is not going to convey the message in the same way. Nothing can compete with human Japanese translation services.
Renaissance Translations’ Japanese Translation Services
Our professional Japanese translators are on hand to help you with your translation needs. We have been able to win the trust of thousands of companies thanks to our stringent quality control procedures. Contact us today to discuss your project.
