Translation services Cape Town

If you are in need of a certified translation service or an interpreter, then the Cape Town Translation Services category has you covered. Whether you need help conducting international business, you have documents, or personal reasons for needing a translator, you’re in the right place. Translations are needed more and more due to the internet being so widely language-diverse. Of course, there are online tools available, but if you really want to get an authentic translation, you will have to work with a translation specialist. If you are bilingual and interested in offering your services you can use Locanto’s classifieds to post an ad here for free. To find out more about translation services you can read some facts and tips below.

Purpose-focused translation

The most important and very basic rule of translation is to communicate the purpose of the original text instead of the exact words. You should never put word-to-word translations in front of purpose-based translations. Some words and phrases that make sense in one language may not have the same meaning in another. It’s more important that the meaning behind the words is conveyed rather than the exact words themselves. This is one reason why working with a bilingual translator is better than using an online translation tool because a person with real experience can understand what you’re trying to say and reiterate it in the best way possible.

Ideal translation

While an ideal translation sounds like the right thing to aim for, it can be difficult to measure. You want to make sure you get the most optimal translation that’s still purpose-focused and carries the necessary terms through the language barrier. You want to be accurate to the original language, but you should also adopt the clarity, authenticity, and cultural nuances that are needed for the ideal translation.

The tone of voice

When translating it’s really important to understand the tone of the original words or texts. Normally you can tell the basics - is it sad or emotional? Is the text meant to be funny? Is it informative or rather serious? These are usually pretty clear. But if there’s subtle sarcasm or a hint of playfulness in the text, it may be harder to identify and recreate the same effect in the translated language. Pay close attention to the tone of voice used so you can mimic it in your translation.