| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: What's the first thing you do when you find words that are difficult to translate in the source? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What's the first thing you do when you find words that are difficult to translate in the source?".
This poll was originally submitted by Takako Shibuya. View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:25
German to English
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| Internet or dictionary search | Nov 12, 2010 |
I'll normally search on the internet or in a dictionary, depending on the nature of the word. It's normally fairly easy to tell if it's an everyday language word or a more technical one (by which I mean not necessarily technical, but belonging to a more specialised field).
If that fails, I'll highlight and leave it until I've finished the document. It's amazing how often a term is explained later in the document anyway.
If I've finished the rest of the translation and a... See more I'll normally search on the internet or in a dictionary, depending on the nature of the word. It's normally fairly easy to tell if it's an everyday language word or a more technical one (by which I mean not necessarily technical, but belonging to a more specialised field).
If that fails, I'll highlight and leave it until I've finished the document. It's amazing how often a term is explained later in the document anyway.
If I've finished the rest of the translation and am still none the wiser, I'll carry out a more detailed search. And if that fails, I'll flag it up to the customer and ask for an explanation or more information. But it very rarely gets that far. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Both, look them up in dictionaries | Nov 12, 2010 |
and write a tentative translation.
| | | | | The same here... | Nov 12, 2010 |
Mary Worby wrote:
I'll normally search on the internet or in a dictionary, depending on the nature of the word. It's normally fairly easy to tell if it's an everyday language word or a more technical one (by which I mean not necessarily technical, but belonging to a more specialised field).
If that fails, I'll highlight and leave it until I've finished the document. It's amazing how often a term is explained later in the document anyway.
If I've finished the rest of the translation and am still none the wiser, I'll carry out a more detailed search. And if that fails, I'll flag it up to the customer and ask for an explanation or more information. But it very rarely gets that far.
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Rebekka Groß (X)
Local time: 00:25
English to German
1. If there's a TM, I run a concordance search regardless of the nature of the term.
2. If it's a technical term I check the ProZ.com Term Search.
If it's just a general word I'm finding difficulty with in the context or because my brain's not working to full capacity I check LEO.
3. Internet search
| | | | C. Mouton
France
Local time: 01:25
Member (2007)
English to French
| similar for me | Nov 12, 2010 |
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:25
Spanish to English
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Er... probably all of the above?
Seriously, who actually quantifies these things? I'm afraid my usual modus operandi is "just do it" without thinking about my criteria, or whether this is the first or second option I've chosen, since I'm normally much too busy to be meta-analysing my own actions and procedures.
It also depends in the context or sphere of the term in question. In my experience the terms that are hardest to translate are usually either technical, in which case... See more Er... probably all of the above?
Seriously, who actually quantifies these things? I'm afraid my usual modus operandi is "just do it" without thinking about my criteria, or whether this is the first or second option I've chosen, since I'm normally much too busy to be meta-analysing my own actions and procedures.
It also depends in the context or sphere of the term in question. In my experience the terms that are hardest to translate are usually either technical, in which case dictionaries or proz are likely the first choice. ..
However, some simple cultural elements can be very difficult to pin down or translate too, for example "arrebato" in Spanish or "pochemushka" in Russian.
Google and similar resources are helpful when cross-referencing, especially for Latin vs common names of insects, plants etc...
So yes, all of the above... and, finally, thank heavens for the proz forums, kudos and shared glossaries, which are all especially helpful with legal and business terminologies from the different parts of the Spanish speaking world. For me, it's been a godsend to be able to compare, share and occasionally spar with colleagues when sticky questions come up, so I'll finish off with a tip of the old translator hat to everyone taking part.
Happy translating! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Textklick
Local time: 00:25
German to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Rebekka Groß wrote: 1. If there's a TM, I run a concordance search regardless of the nature of the term. 2. Internet search
Agree with those. http://www.linguee.com/ is a treasure in that it shows a variety of context options, rather than just suggesting one or two words.
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GeoS
Local time: 02:25
Greek to English
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| Any of those... | Nov 12, 2010 |
...but being more EXACT the very very first thing I do is this
| | | | | Intelliwebsearch | Nov 12, 2010 |
I often search all my net resources in one fell swoop using Intelliwebsearch.
Have it configured (it's pretty easy) so that I can highlight and press ctrl-alt-a and it searches: my favourite IT-EN dictionary, Google UK and IT, Kudoz, Google results containing the word "glossary"/"glossario"/"dictionary"/"dizionario", the EU websites.
Saves time opening new tabs, navigating to resources, copying and pasting etc., and it offers a wide cross section of results to really g... See more I often search all my net resources in one fell swoop using Intelliwebsearch.
Have it configured (it's pretty easy) so that I can highlight and press ctrl-alt-a and it searches: my favourite IT-EN dictionary, Google UK and IT, Kudoz, Google results containing the word "glossary"/"glossario"/"dictionary"/"dizionario", the EU websites.
Saves time opening new tabs, navigating to resources, copying and pasting etc., and it offers a wide cross section of results to really get behind a term rather than trusting one resource. Firefox/Chrome handle loads of tabs very easily and you can set other hotkeys for individual or combinations of resources when you just want to search one of them.
You can also configure it to search your "home-made" dictionaries, tms, glossaries etc., in txt, .doc etc.
I'm sure this is pretty widely known, but it is such a massive time saver I'm a bit evangelical about it!
http://www.intelliwebsearch.com/
[Edited at 2010-11-12 12:35 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Fahd Hassanein
Türkiye
Local time: 02:25
Member (2009)
English to Arabic
+ ...
| Dictionary search | Nov 12, 2010 |
I go first for electronic dictionary searches and then to internet search. I can say those two options solve the problem for me in 99% of the cases. I think I can only agree with leaving for later if precautions are taken so that they wouldn't be forgotten (like placing a comment on the word).
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:25
Spanish to English
| Voted for Internet search | Nov 12, 2010 |
However, should probably have voted other, as my first reaction is probably not repeatable in good company
It rather depends on the term in question. If it's not technical, then general dictionaries (I have three to hand) are the first port of call, and the problem will usually be solved relatively easily, which essentially means it's not actually that difficult to translate in the first place.
If it's te... See more However, should probably have voted other, as my first reaction is probably not repeatable in good company
It rather depends on the term in question. If it's not technical, then general dictionaries (I have three to hand) are the first port of call, and the problem will usually be solved relatively easily, which essentially means it's not actually that difficult to translate in the first place.
If it's technical, then I go straight to the Internet to try to find out what it means/refers to by searching Spanish pages. When I know what it is, I can start trying to find an equivalent in English. This might also include looking up terms in my technical dictionaries, but, in my experience, if it's tricky, it won't be in them. Internet search usually includes Google books, specialised glossaries and dictionaries, proz glossaries (but indirectly rather than visiting the site, as this throws up better results). I rarely ask KudoZ questions these days, mainly because I find it takes up too much time, and the answer can usually be found elsewhere. I'm also not averse to telling the client I haven't got a clue and asking for help. ▲ Collapse
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Gina W
United States
Local time: 19:25
Member (2003)
French to English
Internet AND dictionary searches. Then old translations if I know they're applicable.
| | | | Katia Perry
Brazil
Local time: 20:25
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
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| Most time, the same as Mary indicates above | Nov 12, 2010 |
but, depending on the subject, before asking the customer I search kudoz glossaries or ask a question in there.
| | | | | All of them ! | Nov 12, 2010 |
I totally agree with neilmac !
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