A common misconception about the translator is that he or she is a living dictionary, taking a text in a foreign language and turning it into something a little more accessible to the target audience. Some believe that anyone who can speak a foreign language well can excel as a translator but few realise the amount of time translators pour into their work, the endless hours of playing with words and nuance. While online translation engines are a popular tool for anyone needing quick results, these often translate word for word and are unable to identify set expressions, resulting in a stilted approximation which lacks the fluency and natural feel of a text produced by a human being. Translation, is much more than substituting words of one language into another; it’s an art.
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on Friday, August 24th, 2007 at 10:46 am and is filed under Translation News.
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