The Challenges of Translation: Navigating Non-Native Speaker Client Requests

Translation is much more than just substituting words in one language with another; it is an art that requires understanding, cultural sensitivity, and technical skill. When one works with non-native speaking clients, there are unique challenges that further complicate this process at times. In this article, we shall look at three specific issues that arise: rigid adherence to glossaries, competitive rather than collaborative reviews, and formatting decisions made without linguistic input.

1. Blind Adherence to Glossaries

Mostly, along with the style guide, clients who are non-native speakers dictate the use of a glossary with 100% match, without considering form changes when combined with other words. Whereas glossaries are very important tools in ensuring consistency and accuracy, sometimes they can be too prescriptive.

Suppose we have a glossary stating that “environment” should be translated as “បរិស្ថាន” in Khmer. Whereas “environmentally friendly” naturally would translate to “បរិយាកាសល្អ”, strict adherence to the glossary would give the awkward, less natural “បរិស្ថានល្អ”.

Educate clients on flexibility in translation. While the glossary is important, it must be treated as a suggestion, not as the law. Enable clients to trust the linguist’s judgment in order to make contextual edits that will let the flow and readability of the translated text to remain as fluent as possible.

2. Competitive Reviews

Another problem is when clients have two rival linguists compare each other’s job instead of getting them to cooperate. The approach usually causes undue clashes between the two and gives little or no unified final results.

A document is assigned to a second translator for review. Translator A has decided to translate some of the phases out of personal preference. Translator B insists on different terms. This can go back and forth, until you have a final product that is very inconsistent and truly may not be a reflection of the best translation that could have been done.

Establish a collaborative environment. Inform the clients that both linguists should start working to completement each other, not against each other; once the preliminary results are ready, they can discuss and agree on any discrepancy. In these ways, one can make certain that the deliverable is complete and aligned between the two linguists: They can assemble their knowledge and experience.

3. Decisions about Formatting in the Absence of Linguistic Input

Some clients try to cut desktop publishing (DTP) cost by leaving out the linguist from the process. They often make formatting decisions that can be non-consultative to the linguist, creating problems with the final translation deliverable. Text expansion or contraction, cultural differences in formatting, and even text alignment may impact the legibility and proper functioning of the translated document.

Since it is an English document with numbered points in it, translated into Khmer, the client does not bother the linguist with maintaining the same format as in the original. The thing is that Khmer text is longer, and the bullet points now look crowded and difficult to read.

Engage the linguist in formatting decisions. Educate your clients that, when it comes to translation, it’s not only about words but presentation as well. If the client is allowed collaboration with a linguist on issues of formatting, this gives them a translated document that ensures it will be accurate and also appeals to the eye and can be read easily.

The most common problems arising when working with non-native speaker clients are flexibility with the application of glossaries during translation, the ability of linguists to collaborate, and the need for linguists to edit formatting. By enhancing these areas, the quality of the translators’ work will improve, and client satisfaction will Increase. It requires communication and education—they will respect these practices to a greater degree if the intricacies of the process are explained to them, and they will understand same.