As far as translations are concerned, I object to that.
Even in today’s digital world, highlighters are part and parcel of any business. My clients use them, and so do I.
As it may assist my clients in comprehending the rationale behind the requirement for specific information from them, I would like to briefly elaborate on the reasons behind the highlights in the source text.
To lay the foundations for an efficient translation process and an excellent translation, I need to establish…
…WHY the translation has been commissioned;
…WHO commissioned the translation (in cases when I decide to work for a translation agency);
…WHAT the client needs specifically (verbatim translation, transcreation, pure text or formatting included, et cetera);
…WHEN the text is needed and WHEN it will be made accessible for the targeted readers;
…WHERE the text will be used (online, print, et cetera);
…WHO the text is meant for (the more specific the targeted readers can be defined, the more appropriate the translation results);
…WHAT background KNOWLEDGE the targeted readers have related to the subject matter.
Clients who want their texts to have the greatest impact possible will not hesitate to answer these questions. The way these questions are phrased allows the translator to understand the purpose of the text by focusing on the target reader.
The purpose of the target text, the translation, cannot be deduced by solely reading the source text. The purpose of the target text depends on the expectations and needs of the targeted readership.
There are critiques of this target-oriented focus of the translation. However, following a functionalist approach does not disregard the source text, though faithfulness to the very word is not the highest priority.
As with the standards, there are 7 questions a translator asks themselves and their client.
Any client answering them in their commission expedites the translation process for both parties.
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