Japanese Translation Service: Getting the Technical Stuff Right

This article is about quality Japanese human translation.

Part of the article series Polishing Your Translation Style, this article focuses on the machinations of grammar.

Sounds like a grand, all encompassing ambition. But, rest assured, the objective is simply to highlight a few common errors that persist in professional translation products as seen from the CEO of a translation services company -- Nothing but a few Tips 'n Techniques to give shine to your style. And, if you happen to glean any pointers that will up your game, all strength to you!

(Regardless of whether you’re an aspiring Japanese translator or a client of English-to-Japanese translation services, there is something for you here.)

Let’s jump right in!

1. Run-on sentences do not translate well
   Run on-sentences should be reconstructed with a single idea or thought per sentence. Not only will the translation be easier, but it will read better. Don't be shy about taking the knife to unwieldy sentences!
   
   
2. Omitted words are not…translated
   There are numerous words, such as particles ("the") that are often omitted in English. Indeed, all languages have these grammatical "quirks" that are ill-defined. A simple rule to follow is that if you are not sure, do not omit it.
   
   
3. Acronyms can be misleading
   Where you absolutely have to use an acronym, provide the definition. Use an easy to understand format such as "Applied Securities Analysis Program (ASAP)."
   
   
4. Avoid abbreviations
   If I've convinced you that acronyms can be misleading, and therefore should be qualified with a definition in an easy to understand format, you'll have no problem in adopting the same format for abbreviations.
   
   
5. Do a double check on a double check!
   When deadlines are looming large and you're in a “balls to the wall” situation, it’s easy to confuse numbers, dates, and times especially when different formats are required. Develop handy cheat sheets - nothing fancy or complicated - to reference at a glance.
   
   
6. Consistency rules
   Acronyms and abbreviations should be defined in a consistent format throughout your translation work. If you've adopted a particular word or phrase for a term, ensure that you consistently use the same term throughout.
   
   

Summary
Adopting a translation style that puts you on a level by yourself is easy -- Follow the 6 simple steps above and apply these steps to your translation projects. Clients' will be asking for you by name, will lead to improved results as seen from repeat requests for your Japanese translation service

(p.s. Bookmark this page and keep checking back for new articles in the series.)