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Writing for Translation
by Nancy A. Locke
Clarity and precision are essential to effective
writing no matter what the genre. Writing for translation requires
both, as well as a conscience effort to control word choice, syntax
and structure, and semantic content. Effective writing in a source
document is the key to superior translation; superior translation
makes for successful localization.
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source - the original document or file which forms
the basis for localization.
target - the language or region (locale) for which
the localized document is intended.
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Specifically, to write effectively for eventual
translation, you should:
- have a solid understanding of grammatical structure;
- keep the all elements of the text, starting with individual
words, short and simple, without "dumbing" it down unnecessarily;
- avoid homographs, i.e., words that are spelled the same but
have different meanings (e.g., right)
- avoid slang and neologisms;
- avoid metaphors and culturally specific allusions;
- consider the translator
You can find several useful online sources on
the subject of writing and writing for translation:
For help with basic grammar, visit Bartleby.com.
William Strunk, Jr.'s classic, "The
Elements of Style" is available there in its entirety. The contents
may seem meager at first glance, and the topics a tad dry: "Enclose
parenthetic expressions between commas." You will find yourself
returning to its pages, not only for the invaluable grammar rules,
but also for the spare, elegant style. Any wonder that the slim
volume has always been a "bible" of sorts for English writers.
There seems to be a consensus that writing for
translation requires clear, simple structure from the smallest element
- the word - to the integrated whole. The article by The
English Text Company (The Hague, Netherlands) reminds writers
to consider the reader and to rein in their vanity. The objective
is to communicate, not obfuscate or pontificate. The article proposes
the "KISS principle - Keep it Simple Stupid." To that end, the article
favors short words and short sentences geared towards the average
reader. You'll find a useful "The Ten Point Guide" at the end of
the article.
Fight
the Fog, published by the European Commission, offers more specific
hints and concrete examples. For instance, the EC suggests that
writers turn nouns back into verbs . So, instead of writing "for
the allocation of" write simply "for allocating." Instead of "conduct
a review," why not just the verb "review." Instead of the multi-syllabic
"employment opportunities," use "jobs." Humorous asides show you
how to exploit muddy writing to your advantage. The site also features
a "Tip of the Day", a "Howler of the Day" and a "Broken Rule of
the Day."
Last but certainly not least, I highly recommend
Susan Harkus' thorough article, "Writing for Translation,"
published on the Multilingual Webmaster's web site. Ms. Harkus starts
with grammar then continues with writing tips meant to improve translation
achieved using translation tools. She addresses both structure and
punctuation. For example, when writing for translation, avoid "phrasal
verbs, such as "set up" or "shut down". She advises against uses
dashes and slashes as punctuation, and counsels limiting the use
of parentheses. She sums up her article with three very useful checklists:
Writing Checklist, Mitigation strategies for locale issues and Document
management strategies for localisation.
Nancy
A. Locke is a freelance writer currently based in Colorado.
She works in the localization industry as a DTP specialist. She
has co-written a book on the subject, she also writes speculative
and literary fiction, and has published her short fiction in U.S.
literary journals.
Originally published by Suite 101 and reprinted with permission Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.
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