10 different types of translation

26 Jan 10 different types of translation

Posted at 11:48h in Language translation, Miscellaneous, Translation blog by admin

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(Last Updated On: October 13, 2023)

Translation, Translation, Everywhere!

Translation services are the hot talk of the town. Name any business, they need it. Talk about media, they have it. Social networks, they run on it. Entertainment, they have never presented to such a big audience before. There’s no exaggeration in saying that translation is everywhere, our digital well being is in danger without different types of translations. Tell us one way you can communicate with your French friend that doesn’t involve Google translate? don’t say another form of translation or translation services because that’s what basically our point was.

Google Translate

As you know that in the digital world when there’s something that’s needed, they develop tools for it. Translation software can now be seen in abundance. Google translate is not the only problem solver in the bigger picture. In current conditions, more and more technical assistance is being required in the name of language interpretations. Solutions are updated on daily basis. Language courses are one indication of how badly people want to communicate with those who reside outside their territory. And they need more, specified tools for that.

Is Machine Translation Going To Replace Human Translators?

Well, if you believe that we are going to be replaced by robots then maybe yeah. But the thing is, as long as we require official document translations, we are speaking our languages, we need our texts to be translated perfectly with correct formats, we need translation companies. Moreover, there are certain kinds of translations that require attention to detail, qualified skill, and a good sense of the translator himself. Tools are no substitute for man.

Machine Translations

It is also essential to keep in mind that no matter how advanced machine translations could get, they can’t follow the rules and techniques. Artificial intelligence tools may claim to be understanding the very nature of humans; translation types can be very particular at times. So in such events, you need the touch of an expert to complete your linguistic tasks. And for what it’s worth, this is a growing industry with the potential to expand more.

The translation is a multidimensional industry. Its branches are spread wide. Translation costs vary too. And if we look closely, we can understand that the concept of globalization is only real because of them. So how many translation types are there? Well, dozens but let’s just focus on the top 10 here.

10 Different Types of Translation

Certified Translation

This type of translation is mostly required for official purposes, such as immigration. The USCIS requires certified translations of legal documents from all the immigrants. These include birth certificates, medical reports, divorce certificates, death certificates, etc. A certified translation is a translation of the original document into the target language, along with the statement of accuracy signed by the translator himself. In the statement, he claims that he translated the given text to the best of his knowledge and it doesn't contain any errors. Any professional translator or translation agency can provide a certified translation, you don't require a certified translator for the task.

Technical Translation

When product descriptions, user manuals, instructions, software features, tools usage, equipment guidelines, medical device operation keys, and similar texts are translated into a target language from the source text, they are called technical translations. People who do this kind of translation are not just linguistic experts but are also proficient in the relevant field. They understand the technical terms, usages, and the language used technically. Tech giants such as Apple and Samsung use this service all the time. When a product is distributed to a country, the content is translated for their convenience.

Literary Translation

Translations of books, ebooks, articles, news, textbooks, academic material, online courses, or any other educational texts, lie under this category. In some instances, the translation process includes citations and references from source languages too. Professional translation of this type includes someone who is more knowledgeable in the area. Sometimes linguistic professors turn into literary translators and take up the tasks of doing literary translations for their universities. They translate the texts for the intended audience while keeping the original format of the book. This allows them to reach more students, both domestic and abroad.

Commercial Translation

The commercial translation is the translation of the source text to a target language for the purpose of sharing it with the intended target audience. Yeah, that spun around our head too. In simpler terms, when any piece of text that is used for commercial purposes such as brochures, pamphlets, social awareness, ad campaigns, social media posts, etc. is translated using human translation, it is known as commercial translations. If you have viewed a post in multiple languages, then this is where the brand has used a commercial translator. They take care of the cultural nuances of the target market and prepare the content with strict quality control.

Software Localization

App localization or software localization is more technical in nature than any other type of translation. The translation process involves a professional translator along with a software expert. With them working together on a translation project, they keep the settings and formats of the software the same while changing the original language of the texts into the target language. Well, this is what localization is all about. It's a technique to turn the original into another original. Not only do they translate it, but they also localize its user interface.

Financial Translation

Among the different types of translations, this is the most sensitive kind of topic. Legal translations include translation of documents such as a power of attorney, police records, criminal records, statement of a judge, acquittals, adoption papers, affidavits, property papers, clearances, and all types of Judicial translations. Since it has subtle elements, you want the best quality translations for this one, you can't rely on machine translation. Moreover, you need to make sure that the text is translated in an intended way without any changes or errors.

Legal Translation

Administrative Translation

Administrative translations include appointment letters, official letters, events' notices, quality control guidelines, public awareness messages, conventions notices, and a lot more. For this translation type, companies usually hire in-house or freelance translators. Since such materials are updated regularly, their translations are also required often. Other examples of administrative translations are menu of restaurants. Often in cities restaurants but also bars offering cocktail offer their menu or their cocktail assortment into different languages.

Medical Translation

Another one which is very crucial, even a single error can have consequences. National Institutes of Health consider it mandatory for all producers to put the right information on the medicines and medical devices. The ultimate goal is to keep the patient safe and well informed. There is a wide range of medical products, medicines, and medical devices that are distributed globally. Translation services never rely on machine translations for medicinal interpretations. They specifically focus on human translations as they can translate efficiently in a professional language suitable for medical usages.

Machine Translation

Although machine translation is used in many translation types, it is one of them too. Machine translation relies on translation memory. It is often used for projects which are meticulous and repetitive in nature. Case studies, documentaries, statistical analysis, databases are all tiresome tasks. Human translations are not meant for such tasks.

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10 different types of translation

10 different types of translation

26 Jan 10 different types of translation

Translation, Translation, Everywhere!

Google Translate

Is Machine Translation Going To Replace Human Translators?

Machine Translations