Challenges in Technical translation

Following the boom of globalisation, translation services are being more and more in demand by companies who want to relocate their business to new areas or want to propose their products to a wider public. Technical translation is, in its narrower sense, a specialised field of translation dealing with any texts related to technological areas. Such documents contain very specialised key terminologies. One could think that this type of translation would be the simplest one of all, arguing that each term is factual and represents exclusively one specific object or action invented by humans themselves. But actually, when I encountered the opportunity to translate technical documents and interpret manufacturing processes in a chocolate factory, with hardly any knowledge on technical translation, I though the same along with my boss. I was aware this would be a tough task, yet I agreed on this project. We did not know how wrong we were.

Where do the problems of technical translation (TT) lie?

• Misconception on terminology: TT is not just about terminology. The truth is that only 5-10% of the content represents specific technical terminology, while the rest is common language. However, this common language is often absent or incorrectly written due to the focus on technical terms, transforming the translator into an artist and a repairer of the source text. The translator needs to identify key words, understand the ideas behind them and create a whole new target text, comprehensible for the client and its culture.
• Cultural context: This leads us to the importance of the knowledge of cultures. Understanding differences in cultures is one of the 3 pillars of TT. You may be surprised how many cultural connotations hide inside a technical document. Measures, date formats or symbols need to be adapted, as well as safety information, warnings or cautions (each one meaning a different level of hazard in different cultures).
• Technical knowledge itself: Not only does TT imply a high level of specific terminology used, but it also implies subject knowledge. If the translator does not understand the main principles of engineering, chemical reactions or manufacturing for example, he or she will be lost in translation. The key is to understand how things work. A term’s deeper meaning needs to be understood in order to provide the client with precise and accurate translation.
• Internal company language: Even if you perfectly master technical terminology, another issue may confuse you. In the factories for example, every company has its own internal language, a type of slang commonly used at the workplace. Not even looking up the words in the dictionary will help you. Some parts of machines can be named by their product names and not by what they are in principle. Moreover, the translator needs to communicate with the company receiving the translation in the target language to find out which slang equivalent the workers use there in order to secure better understanding of the document.
• Faster speed of creation of new technologies: Along with the faster pace of development of new technologies comes the challenge of creating a terminology for them. We encounter new inventions every day in this globalised world, which requires us to keep up with this phenomenon by coming up with new terms. The challenge arises: how can translators keep an eye on new technologies and their terminologies every day while working 8 hours per day?
• Legal considerations: And finally, translator’s signature under the translation means responsibility for the document’s correctness. Errors in translation may result in real damages. Injuries can be caused by faulty usage of devices, leading to financial losses for the company.

Flawless and precise translation is crucial in the technical field. One incorrectly chosen word can cause misunderstanding of assembling processes or usage of the product. In the midst of the translation process, the translator balances between creative and exact worlds, using translator's language liveliness. Translators must be aware of a big number of challenges they may encounter over their careers. Technical translation requires a lot of time, patience and experience, but once you discover the fascinating fusion between art and science behind, you will never again long to change your job.

And what about you? Did you know about these difficulties? Is there something that surprised you? Or do you identify with this article? Feel free to let me know in the comments down below :)

Anezka T.

Sources:

• https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/challenges-in-technical-translation/
• http://octopustranslations.com/technical-translations-challenges-and-possible-solutions/
• http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/8492
• https://www.icanlocalize.com/site/2013/11/why-do-technical-texts-have-to-be-handled-by-a-technical-translator