Translation Blog

The world is becoming increasingly globalised, and many businesses translate English into other languages to communicate internationally. In fact, the languages translator market was valued at around $55 billion in 2022 and continues to expand. Currently, an estimated 330,000 translators worldwide help governments, businesses, and individuals translate language.

The Language Service Provider (LSP) industry is indeed a respected profession and a long-standing career choice. However, the language translation industry would never have scaled this rapidly were it not for the works of notable language translators throughout history. It’s time to recognise these professional translators for their contributions to society.

Nowadays, there are numerous lists and rankings of the “Most Famous Translators of All Time” and “Top Translators in History” to be found online. However, we would like to honour a small sampling of our favourite historic translators from the past two millennia. Each English translator on this list is no longer living, but their legacies live on each time we read their translated words.

1. St Jerome: “The Patron Saint of Famous Language Translators”

• Born: 347 CE
• Died: 420 CE
• Source Languages: Greek, Hebrew
• Target Language: Latin
• Famous Translation: The Vulgate (Catholic Bible)

The first languages translator on our list is St Jerome, famous for translating the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. His translation remained the official Catholic Bible for around 1000 years. It is down to him that we often see pictures of Moses with horns on his head. He used the Hebrew word “keren” as “grew horns” instead of “radiated light.” We all make mistakes, even saints!

Rather than translating word-for-word, St Jerome was the first translator to translate language “sense-for-sense.” This idea is still used by every good English translator today when they translate English. It helps text retain context and meaning rather than literally translating each word or phrase.

Thanks to St Jerome’s fantastic advance in the languages translator sector, enthusiasts worldwide celebrate International Translation Day on September 30th annually. This date marks the anniversary of his death in 420 CE and is also celebrated as the Feast of St Jerome.

2. Constance Garnett

• Born: 1861
• Died: 1946
• Source Language: Russian
• Target Language: English
• Famous Authors Translated: Chekhov, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky

Constance Garnett is the only female languages translator on our list. As a well-educated British female, Garnett had a rare talent in the late 1800s. As a native English speaker, she studied Latin and Greek at university. Ironically, she didn’t become famous for translating text into her main languages. Instead, the English translator became renowned for her ability to translate English into Russian.

Today, Garnett is famous for translating over 70 volumes of Russian literature into English. Because of her work, significant Russian authors now have their work translated into English for readers worldwide. We are fortunate she continued her passion for years, not retiring from her translation career until she was 73.

Like St Jerome, her ability to accurately translate language was not perfect. If she were unclear of the meaning of a Russian word, or phrase, she would exclude it from what she would translate into English. Therefore, her translations were, and still are, controversial.

3. Jorge Luis Borges

• Born: 1899
• Died: 1986
• Source Languages: English, Old English, French, German, Old Norse
• Target Language: Spanish
• Famous Authors Translated: Edgar Alan Poe, William Faulkner, Walt Whitman, Virginia Woolf, Rudyard Kipling, and many more

Jorge Luis Borges was a famous author and languages translator. From Argentina, this native Spanish speaker is a true polyglot and a well-respected linguistic master. He mainly translated works written in English into Spanish, which helped popularise many classics from literature, such as the works of those listed above.

Borges’ passion for converting text from one language to another began to translate language at a very young age. Impressively, he was only 9 years old when he was able to translate The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde from English to Spanish for a Buenos Aires newspaper. This made Borges perhaps the youngest English translator in history.

Although he did not have an advanced degree, he became a linguistic scholar, academic lecturer, and translator expert. Furthermore, he believed that translation is an art, not a science. Perhaps the industry can also thank Borges for the broadly recognised importance of localisation and transcreation, above and beyond being able to simply translate English to Spanish word-for-word.

4. Edward George Seidensticker

• Born: 1921
• Died: 2007
• Source Languages: Japanese
• Target Language: English
• Famous Authors Translated: Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, Yukio Mishima, Yasunari Kawabata, Murasaki Shikibu

Seidensticker and his older brother were the only two in his Colorado high school class that went to university. In the 1940s, the US Naval Academy expanded its Japanese Language Training school and moved it from Berkeley to the University of Colorado at Boulder. Seidensticker was admitted to a 14-month intensive training program which taught him to translate language professionally.

By the end of the programme, Seidensticker was able to read a Japanese newspaper and soon learnt to translate English text from Japanese. He lived full-time in Japan from 1948 to 1962 before returning to the US to be a professor. Over his career, he was also able to translate many works into Japanese language and became an infamous languages translator.

Some of the most famous Japanese literary works translated into English included The Tale of Genji by Murasaki and Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata. Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. Many believe that the award would not have been received had it not been for the English translator.

Languages Translator Services You Can Trust

At Renaissance Translations, we are delighted to have the most talented languages translators in our network. We specialise in various areas of expertise to offer our clients a diverse breadth of services. We also offer over 120 languages. Whether you need an English translator to translate English or a linguist specialising in another language, we are here to help!

In fact, we are confident we can find a resource to meet any needs and demand you may have. We translate language accurately and professionally, ensuring you receive the high-quality work you deserve. Your partnership with Renaissance Translations also comes with professional memberships such as ATC, so you can rest assured that you’re in safe hands. Contact us today to learn more about our language translator service and make your content available in multiple languages.

Translation, localisation and transcreation services are three different services offered within the translation industry. When hiring a professional company to provide translation or transcreation services, it is important to discuss your specific goals and requirements. If you are launching an international or multilingual marketing campaign, we advise opting for transcreation services over a more literal translation.

What is Professional Transcreation? 

Transcreation, also known as creative translation, is a high-level type of translation combined with copywriting, ideal for international marketing campaigns. A text or slogan is transcreated into a new language in a way that captures the meaning and intent of the message.

Experts offering transcreation services should consider the local context and the business needs of the campaign. Good transcreation examples have accounted for local history, culture, and folklore, as well as metaphors and idioms of the target language. It is important to think about and address unique references that are recognizable to the original audience but may not be clear to the target audience.

One successful transcreation example comes from the Pixar film Inside Out. In most versions of the film, the vegetable that baby Riley dislikes is broccoli, but in Japan, broccoli does not have a negative reputation amongst children; the Japanese version of Inside Out depicts baby Riley disliking green bell peppers. This small change conveys the same message to the audience, but in a local context.

Three Examples of Transcreation Fails

Poorly transcreated marketing materials can be disastrous for a marketing campaign. There are plenty of transcreation examples where companies failed to invest in transcreation services. This always led to poorly executed and embarrassing marketing campaigns.

• One well-known example featured Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) signs encouraging their new Chinese customers to “eat their fingers off” when first launching in China in the 1980s. The slogan “finger-lickin’ good” had not been contextually transcreated, with embarrassing results. Using professional transcreation services instead of a more literal translation would have mitigated the problems with this transcreation example.
• Another example of a company failing to use transcreation services was when the American Dairy Associationsent their iconic “Got Milk?” campaign to Spanish-speaking countries. When the phrase is directly translated to Spanish, it can be interpreted as “Are you Lactating?”. Needless to say, this slogan was both inappropriate and poorly received.
• Hiring high-quality transcreation services would have helped P&G when they launched the Pampers diaper brand in Japan. Instead, the product launch became one of many notorious transcreation examples online. P&G had successfully used advertising featuring imagery of a baby being delivered by a stork in the USA. Assuming that this imagery would resonate in Japan, they launched Japanese TV adverts that were similar to the American adverts. However, in Japanese folklore, babies are delivered on giant peaches floating down a river, not via stork.

In short, professional transcreation services can help you achieve the intended communication goals in new markets. You also need to consider the complexity of your content and differences in original and target audiences when choosing the services that are most appropriate for your project.

Renaissance Translations’ Professional Transcreation Services 

Your carefully designed product deserves a marketing campaign that will get a positive reception from the target audience. Don’t let your entry into new international markets become as iconic as some of the transcreation examples mentioned above.

Our experts offer professional transcreation services at affordable prices. We have transcreated documents and campaigns for many global brands. Your partnership with Renaissance Translations comes with professional memberships such as ATC and LSP Partner Programme. We can also guarantee to meet any tight deadline placed on us. Contact us to find out how our transcreation services could benefit your marketing campaign.

Looking for professional translation services? In the modern world, professional translation services are necessary for almost everything, from book translations to website translations for companies that operate globally. The importance of working with a reputable translating agency for these translations can never be emphasised enough. Only a professional translator service can produce accurate and coherent translations that maintain your message and consider the cultural nuances of your audience.

Simply put, the translations offered by machines, amateurs, or unreputable language partners are not enough! Here we take a closer look at the benefits of working with a professional translating agency. And why even native speakers aren’t capable of producing the results you need.

Why Use a Professional Translation Service?

Some businesses still rely on friends, colleagues, free applications, and machines to fulfil their translation service needs. However, it isn’t a wise decision if you are looking for professional results. This is especially if you offer products and services worldwide. Not working with a translating agency can cost your brand reputation and remove the opportunity of becoming a global success.

On the other hand, professional translator service providers are companies that employ qualified translators with a wealth of experience and training. They’re able to produce accurate and quality results, and here’s a closer look at why they’re the superior option:

1. Technology is Not Perfect

Even though technology is now more advanced than ever, it cannot do the job of a human translator service. This is especially true for technical content or regulatory documents, such as engineering translations or legal translations. Most language tools focus primarily on a word-by-word translation regardless if it makes contextual or lexical sense. Therefore, the translation could fail to render the same meaning as the source text, causing confusion or legal trouble in the worst cases.

However, linguists at a professional translating agency can handle polysemous words and homonyms. Hence, it is imperative for you to rely on a professional translation service provider, guaranteeing that the translation will not be inaccurate, incoherent or incomprehensible.

2. Friends, Colleagues & Native Speakers Are Not Skilled Translators

Before investing in a professional translation service, you may consider using friends and colleagues. And we get it! It’s tempting to ask your Spanish-speaking Mexican colleague to translate your social media post targeting food processors in Argentina. It will save you money short term, but it is risky. Your Mexican colleague likely won’t know the Argentinian nuances and dialect, nor will they necessarily understand the technicalities of your food processors.

A friend or colleague educated in a foreign language – or even a native speaker of your target language – is not the same as a professional translator service. A unique set of skills beyond fluency in the target language will produce quality results. A professional translating agency understands how to maintain cultural, social and political correctness in all translations. This ensures that the translated content is not only understandable, but also inoffensive to your intended target audience.

3. Guaranteed Quality & Protection by Professional Insurance

When working with a professional translating agency, you can ensure that you work is in safe hands. Many professional translation service providers cover their final deliverables with professional indemnity insurance to protect against claims made by third parties. They also protect your content through nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), so your content can never legally be reused without your permission. Plus, you’re given a quality and accuracy guarantee!

On the other hand, the terms of service of most online translator service tools are not the same. In most cases, they state that the developing party has the right to store, use, modify, host and create derivative works of your content. This might be okay when you’re trying to order a coffee in France and want to know the translation, but not when translating valuable business information.

Professional Translation Services by Renaissance Translations

If you need a professional translation service, we can help. Renaissance Translations is a trusted translation agency with a team of over 5,000 professional translators. Each panel member is qualified to offer translations with all the necessary skills, experience, and training. We can help you with all of your translation projects, regardless of the required language or industry.

Your partnership with Renaissance Translations comes with professional memberships such as ATC and SDL LSP Partner Programme. If you are looking for a professional translator service, our expert linguists will handle your project well in no time. Contact us to discuss your project today, and let us be your trusted language partner.

Translation mistakes can be catastrophic for a brand, especially for businesses expanding worldwide. When reaching a new audience, variances in customs, traditions, and colloquial expressions can lead to numerous translation mistakes. Bad translations can make no sense, and terrible translations can unintentionally offend or evoke the wrong emotions in the target audience.

Below we will share some of the most prominent translation mistakes by renowned global brands. They’re so terrible that they’re almost funny! We also highlight how you can avoid these mistakes with the help of professional translation services so you’re not made a laughing stock.

1. HSBC – “Do Nothing”

Spread across 80 countries and territories worldwide, HSBC is one of the most popular financial services providers. They are certainly one of the few companies you wouldn’t expect translation mistakes from. However, they have one of the most infamous terrible translations!

In an attempt to expand overseas, the financial giant chose to use its triumphant American campaign tagline “Assume Nothing” worldwide. Unfortunately, this effort didn’t quite work out well for the company. In several countries, the slogan was mistranslated into “Do Nothing.” Unsurprisingly, the bad translations didn’t positively impact the brand and caused embarrassment for the company.

2. KFC – “Eat Your Fingers Off”

Another of the most terrible translations of all time is from KFC. KFC has over 18,000 branches in practically every country, making it one of the most popular fast-food giants worldwide. As unfortunate as it may sound, this status wasn’t enough to save the company from backlash due to translation mistakes when it started marketing to China.

The company translated its famous slogan “Finger-lickin’ good” into “Eat your fingers off” at one of the first branches of the restaurant that opened up in Beijing. This isn’t just an example of bad translations; it’s terrible! Their food sounds anything but appetising, with a nasty cannibalistic spin.

3. Electrolux – “Nothing Sucks Like Electrolux”

Swedish home appliance company Electrolux also made translation mistakes when trying to launch its electronics products in the United States. They created an advertising campaign highlighting the power and efficiency of one of their latest vacuum cleaners. For that, Electrolux created the slogan, “Nothing sucks like an Electrolux”.

The Swedish company failed to realise that “sucks” is used in colloquial speech as “terrible,” making it to our list of bad translations. Yes, the company succeeded in receiving increased brand awareness, reach, and engagement from its terrible translations, but for all the wrong reasons.

4. Ford – “Every Car Has a High-Quality Corpse”

When targeting audiences in Belgium, automotive giant Ford created a supposedly unique tagline that reads, “Every car has a high-quality body.” The reason for this is to shed light on the unparalleled manufacturing and quality of every Ford car. However, this resulted in yet another of the funniest translation mistakes and most terrible translations to date.

When the tagline was translated, it read as “Every car has a high-quality corpse.” This tagline not have portrayed the intended message, but it certainly got more than its fair share of embarrassing attention. After the humiliation, Ford was sure never to make bad translations again!

5. Pepsi – “We Bring Your Ancestors Back from the Dead”

Like KFC’s bad translations, the renowned soft drink and cola brand Pepsi had a terrible experience in China. They fell into one of the most common translation mistakes when they translated their slogan “Come alive! You’re in the Pepsi Generation” word-for-word. In Chinese, this literal translation reads, “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead.”

As a result, the slogan didn’t receive a very positive response for obvious reasons. However, it is arguably one of the most terrible translations of all time. Not only does it sound creepy, but a large part of the Chinese culture revolves around worshipping ancestors. Pepsi’s marketing campaign wasn’t only weird – it was rude and offensive.

Avoid Translation Mistakes with Renaissance Translations

These examples of translation mistakes are humorous in hindsight. However, imagine the stress these terrible translations caused the executives responsible for these overseas market penetration strategies. Besides, if corporate giants are not immune to translation inaccuracies, how will you protect yourself from bad translations?

Thankfully, Renaissance Translations can help. We have a team of expert translators who can help you with your international translation needs. Every team member is a qualified linguist, sure to avoid all potential translation mistakes and help your business succeed overseas – without becoming an object of ridicule in new markets.

Your partnership with Renaissance Translations comes with professional memberships such as ATC and SDL LSP Partner Programme. Whether you’re looking for proofreading services, transcription services, or localisation services, our skilled experts can help. Contact us today and let our team protect your brand reputation overseas.