FAQ
Fluent, Accurate, Qualified
One of the “Frequently Asked Questions” that we hear over and over again is this: What are the most important criteria for the quality of a translation?
Our answer is also FAQ – Fluent, Accurate, Qualified. Or rephrased in French: Fluide, Authentique, Qualifiée (the A of “Accurate” is necessarily lost in translation). In short, a translation is good when the natural flow of the language, the precision of the statement, and the confident handling of the complexities of cross-linguistic communication are in perfect balance.
Fluent
A smooth flow of language makes the translation expressive, understandable, and effortlessly readable.
- Every translation must convey the message convincingly in the target language.
- The translated text, when read aloud, must sound natural to native speakers.
- Just like in accounting, revision with a second pair of eyes is essential. For the reviewing native speakers, the text must not sound like a translation, but should instead read like an original.
Accurate
In translation, precision always comes first – and this applies not only to the content.
- The translated message must be understood exactly the same way as the original text.
- Grammar, terminology, and idioms must be used correctly.
- Tone, context, and style must be appropriately conveyed in the target language.
Qualified
Only truly skilled translators know how to navigate cultural and linguistic obstacles with finesse.
- Finding elegant paraphrases for untranslatable words or hard-to-communicate cultural nuances (e.g., a British English text that, by mentioning it's currently 5:00 PM, subtly alludes to the custom of taking a “five o'clock tea” at that time, without stating it explicitly).
- Masterfully rephrasing idiomatic expressions that have no direct equivalents in the target language. For example, a passive verb in English like “I was told to get a wiggle on” can be rendered with an active verb in French: “On m’a dit de me manier le train.”
- Transforming specific grammatical structures (e.g., in dialects or sociolects) into other common expressions in the target language.