TRANSLATIONS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EASY
With LingvaText all you need to do is to send us your documents and the rest is on us. We will make sure that your documents are kept confidential and safe. Our translators and editors devotedly provide highest quality translations for companies and individuals around the world
PROFESSIONALS
Our translators only work with the projects that are tightly bound to their professional interests. Our team enjoys its tasks and you get the most precise results
PEER-TO-PEER
Our translation management system implies that projects are double-checked by different translators in order to keep the highest quality
CERTIFIED
Lingvatext works with translators holding professional certifications, such as ATA (American Translators Association) and NAATI (The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd). They have passed multiple language tests and hold university degrees in Translation Studies and Languages
A translation that meets the first criterion can be called a "correct translation"; a translation that meets the second criterion is described as an "idiomatic translation".
Translation quality
The purpose of the translation is to establish an equivalence relationship between the Source and the translated text; in other words, both texts carry the same message; despite the various obstacles that a translator has to overcome, a translation that meets two criteria is considered successful:
- Accuracy or truthfulness. It is characterized by how accurately the translation conveys the meaning of the source text; whether it does so by adding or subtracting something from the meaning, reinforcing or weakening any elements of meaning.
- Transparency. This is the extent to which a translation is perceived by a native speaker not as a translation, but as the original text in the target language that corresponds to the grammatical, syntactical and idiomatic norms of the language.
The purpose of the translation is to establish an equivalence relationship between the Source and the translated text; in other words, both texts carry the same message; despite the various obstacles that a translator has to overcome, a translation that meets two criteria is considered successful:
- Accuracy or truthfulness. It is characterized by how accurately the translation conveys the meaning of the source text; whether it does so by adding or subtracting something from the meaning, reinforcing or weakening any elements of meaning.
- Transparency. This is the extent to which a translation is perceived by a native speaker not as a translation, but as the original text in the target language that corresponds to the grammatical, syntactical and idiomatic norms of the language.
The criteria
The criteria used to evaluate the accuracy of translation vary depending on the subject matter of the text, the accuracy of the original content, type, function and use of the text, its literary qualities, social and historical context.
The criteria for evaluation of translation transparency seem to be simpler: non-idiomatic translation is silent, and word-by-word translation, which is done by many machine translation systems, often produces unrelated text.
However, in certain situations, a translator can consciously perform literal translations. For example, translators of fiction and religious texts often stick to the source text as much as possible. For this purpose, they deliberately "stretch" the boundaries of the translator's language by producing non-idiomatic text.
The notions of accuracy and transparency are treated differently in modern translation theories. The idea that an acceptable translation should preserve the idiosyncrasies of IT dominate in some cultures.
The notions of accuracy and transparency remain key in the West. They do not always have this status in other cultures. For example, the Indian epos of the Ramayana has many versions in different languages of India, and stories often differ greatly from one another. When you look at the words used to translate in Indian languages (Indo-Aryan or Dravidian), the freedom that the translator enjoys becomes evident.
If you need to assess whether a translator meets these criteria, one option is to analyze his or her key philosophy. Philosophy may be reflected in separate pages (mission, vision, values), but it is possible that this text only fulfils an aesthetic function. It is more reliable when the "philosophy" is reflected in references, goes through documents, etc. The best option is recommendations.
The criteria for evaluation of translation transparency seem to be simpler: non-idiomatic translation is silent, and word-by-word translation, which is done by many machine translation systems, often produces unrelated text.
However, in certain situations, a translator can consciously perform literal translations. For example, translators of fiction and religious texts often stick to the source text as much as possible. For this purpose, they deliberately "stretch" the boundaries of the translator's language by producing non-idiomatic text.
The notions of accuracy and transparency are treated differently in modern translation theories. The idea that an acceptable translation should preserve the idiosyncrasies of IT dominate in some cultures.
The notions of accuracy and transparency remain key in the West. They do not always have this status in other cultures. For example, the Indian epos of the Ramayana has many versions in different languages of India, and stories often differ greatly from one another. When you look at the words used to translate in Indian languages (Indo-Aryan or Dravidian), the freedom that the translator enjoys becomes evident.
If you need to assess whether a translator meets these criteria, one option is to analyze his or her key philosophy. Philosophy may be reflected in separate pages (mission, vision, values), but it is possible that this text only fulfils an aesthetic function. It is more reliable when the "philosophy" is reflected in references, goes through documents, etc. The best option is recommendations.
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TRANSLATION SUBJECT MATTERS
LingvaText provides translation expertise in a variety of professional areas. We strive for the most precise and quality translation solutions
Software localization
We provide a wide variety of language and localization services for IT companies striving to conquer the whole world by localizing their IT products in different languages.
Biomedical translations
Whether you need to translate technical sheets for a new drug manufacturing factory or looking for a Korean to English translator with PhD in Biology, you can always rely on Lingvatext!
Website translation
Hundreds of thousands of new websites and internet portals are born every day all over the world. Let us connect your online business with your potential customers speaking different languages.
Cryptocurrencies & Blockchain
This new industry has so many promises of our borderless financial future starting from the ability to store value digitally to micropayments. We understand and value your work in this fast changing environment.
Legal translations
Lingvatext translators are qualified responsible professionals who can provide certificates of translation accuracy which you may need for translation of some legal documents.
Education & Scientific Research
Lingvatext serves a multitude of companies starting from early education institutes to established scientists and R&D companies in the US and other countries.
Books & Literature
We take pride in translating not only business related materials, but also fiction and non-fiction books on such topics as zen buddhism, city guides, manuals and even books about indigenous hunting.
Engineering & Construction
Lingvatext loves translating complicated engineering and construction technical sheets. It may sound strange, but all we need is a glossary if you have one and off we go!
Marketing & Advertising
If you sell anything, then you need proper marketing and advertising. Our professional translators would be happy to help you get your word to your potential customers in Korea, Russia, Ethiopia or any other country!
Translation process
Translation process
During the translation process, regardless of its form (oral or written), the following basic steps can be distinguished:
1. Decoding or understanding (reading, listening) the text in the source language,
2. Direct translation,
3. Coding (recording, pronunciation) of the received text in the language of translation
To decode the meaning of the text, the translator must first determine the unit of translation, i.e. the text segment (word, phrase, one or more sentences) that will be considered as the unit of meaning. Often, translation is required both at the phoneme level (below the word level) and the level above the paragraph (complex syntactic whole).
During the translation process, regardless of its form (oral or written), the following basic steps can be distinguished:
1. Decoding or understanding (reading, listening) the text in the source language,
2. Direct translation,
3. Coding (recording, pronunciation) of the received text in the language of translation
To decode the meaning of the text, the translator must first determine the unit of translation, i.e. the text segment (word, phrase, one or more sentences) that will be considered as the unit of meaning. Often, translation is required both at the phoneme level (below the word level) and the level above the paragraph (complex syntactic whole).
Behind the process of translation is a complex thought operation. To decode the full meaning of the source text, the translator must consciously and methodically interpret and analyze all its features. This process requires knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar of the source language.
The translator must have a good command of the target language in order to be able to correctly decode the meaning.
It is here that practical differences between interpretation and translation become apparent. Translators know that a written text of sufficient complexity (e.g. fiction) must be translated by a native speaker of the target language. The fact is that not only a specialist, but also any trained reader can easily recognize the translation into their native language, made by a foreigner.
The opposite situation is observed in interpreting (of sufficient complexity - simultaneous or consecutive translation). In this case it is more convenient for the interpreter to work in a foreign language. Often, both participants of a bilateral meeting come to negotiations with a personal interpreter, whose task is the fullest possible transfer of the speaker's words into the language of translation. This phenomenon is usually explained by the fact that, when translating into a foreign language, the translator automatically uses the learned structures, and when translated into the native language is lost in the variety of possible options and is forced to stop at a solution far from the optimal.
It is extremely important to know the subject matter in the text.
In recent years, research into cognitive linguistics has led to a significant step in understanding the thinking side of the translation process.
The translator must have a good command of the target language in order to be able to correctly decode the meaning.
It is here that practical differences between interpretation and translation become apparent. Translators know that a written text of sufficient complexity (e.g. fiction) must be translated by a native speaker of the target language. The fact is that not only a specialist, but also any trained reader can easily recognize the translation into their native language, made by a foreigner.
The opposite situation is observed in interpreting (of sufficient complexity - simultaneous or consecutive translation). In this case it is more convenient for the interpreter to work in a foreign language. Often, both participants of a bilateral meeting come to negotiations with a personal interpreter, whose task is the fullest possible transfer of the speaker's words into the language of translation. This phenomenon is usually explained by the fact that, when translating into a foreign language, the translator automatically uses the learned structures, and when translated into the native language is lost in the variety of possible options and is forced to stop at a solution far from the optimal.
It is extremely important to know the subject matter in the text.
In recent years, research into cognitive linguistics has led to a significant step in understanding the thinking side of the translation process.
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