writing 2 translators

1"Traduttore traditore” Translators can’t help betraying the original text.

Translating a text from one language to another is not an easy job. Some people take it for granted that if you know or speak a foreign language that is enough to translate a text. Unfortunately, they are wrong. To be able to translate a text you need academic preparation. Moreover, you need to go to university to start with.

To begin with, to be a translator you need to have full command of your native language and be fluent in the target language you are willing to translate to. Furthermore, you should take a 4 year course at university if you want to be a professional translator and earn money by doing this. Then, you can choose which area you would like to specialize in and appoint yourself at the Association of Sworn Translators of the City of Buenos Aires.

The main objective translators have is to be loyal to the original text. They cannot say what the text does not say. Besides, they cannot invent a new translation or change the meaning of the original text. They have to try to translate the exact words to the target language. But sometimes, they may face the problem of having to “betray” the exact meaning of the sentence they are translating. The aim of translators it is not to betray the original text but in some cases they need to make some modifications for the translation to be accurate. By doing this, they are not betraying the original text. In a way, they are trying to solve a further problem which is called misunderstanding. To avoid misunderstanding, it is necessary to make some changes in translations.

In conclusion, translators try to do their best when they are translating but sometimes they can’t help betraying the original text. This betrayal benefits the translation because it makes it more comprehensible in some cases where there is not an exact translation for the term we are looking for. 

Iliana Furchi