Each language is different, and with that difference comes specific translation problems. Find out what those problems are and how to fix them.

1. Translation Problems With
Different
Languages

2. Languages are unique
• There are hundreds of
languages in the world.
• Each language requires
a different approach in
translation.
• Unique challenges with
unique lingual
attributes.

3. Translation services or
independent translators
• Whoever you hire to do translation will have to
address the problems with the associated language.
• Be aware of problems beforehand so that you know
what to look for.
• Have some sort of quality assurance mechanism in
place.

4. Spanish problem 1
• Spanish verb conjugations work
differently.
• Verbs are in infinitive form in
Spanish, then conjugated.
• Works differently in English
Solution:
• Translation goes sentence by
sentence.
• Don’t always be literal.

5. Spanish problem 2
• Spanish word count is 25-30% longer than English
word count.
• Can cause problems with websites or documents with
limited word count.
Solution:
• Machine translation can help reduce wordiness.
• Quality control processes such as editing can reduce
word count.

6. French problem 1
• So much similarity between
French and English.
• Mistranslations can happen
when a similar phrase is
assumed to have the same
meaning.
• Meanings have evolved
separately, but have same
roots.
Solution:
• Don’t make assumptions.

7. Chinese problem 1
• Difference between sentence
structures.
• English is mostly SVO structure.
• Chinese can be OSV or any other
variation.
Solution:
• Understand when it’s more natural
for what part of the sentence goes
where.

8. Chinese problem 2
• Leaving out grammatical aspects of a Chinese
sentence is common.
• Different things are left to context in Chinese than in
English.
Solution:
• Anything that is left out in an English sentence should
be included in translation.
• Once translation is done, unnecessary words will be
taken out.

9. Japanese problem 1
• English uses a SVO sentence
structure.
• Japanese uses a SOV
structure.
• Translation will seem unnatural
to English speaker.
Solution:
• Know that the verb will appear
at the end of the sentence,
instead of the middle.

10. Japanese problem 2
• Japanese patent translation requires proper form.
• No prepositions are equivalent to English prepositions.
• Subject isn’t necessary for every sentence.
Solution:
• Know which instances require leaving a subject out.
• Know which particles function similarly to prepositions.

11. Bottom line
• Learn what you need to know about each foreign
language translation ahead of time.
• Hire a company that has excellent quality
assurance and control.
• Look for someone that has native lingual
experience.