Comments on: On The Difficulty of Translating Plant Names http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/2008/06/12/difficulty-translating-plant-names/ keeping it up in the translation/interpretation sphere Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:54:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: ilaria http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/2008/06/12/difficulty-translating-plant-names/comment-page-1/#comment-640 ilaria Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:31:47 +0000 http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/?p=332#comment-640 Hi Nadine and thank you for quoting my post! :) I consider myself lucky, in that when I had to translate a booklet referring to many plants used in aromatherapy, Internet helped me a lot. On the other hand, some previous knowledge of the field meant that I knew who to ask for more information. And yes, these challenges are very useful, if not because you are somehow forced to build your own glossaries, which save you much time in your future works! OT on a romantic note: this is the time when lime trees are in bloom and the smell is absolutely wonderful! In fact, April through June the air is dense with flower scents... :D ilarias last blog post..<a href="http://airy-eel.blogspot.com/2008/06/bilingual-dictionaries-yes-please.html" rel="nofollow">Bilingual dictionaries? Yes, please!</a> Hi Nadine and thank you for quoting my post! :)
I consider myself lucky, in that when I had to translate a booklet referring to many plants used in aromatherapy, Internet helped me a lot. On the other hand, some previous knowledge of the field meant that I knew who to ask for more information. And yes, these challenges are very useful, if not because you are somehow forced to build your own glossaries, which save you much time in your future works!
OT on a romantic note: this is the time when lime trees are in bloom and the smell is absolutely wonderful! In fact, April through June the air is dense with flower scents… :D
ilarias last blog post..Bilingual dictionaries? Yes, please!

]]> By: Nadine Touzet http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/2008/06/12/difficulty-translating-plant-names/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Nadine Touzet Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:11:45 +0000 http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/?p=332#comment-639 This doesn't sound like a problem you had with translating words, but presenting the culture of a country. Culture and language are intertwined, and when you write about something that has to do with culture, you run up against difficult translation, i.e. word issues; concepts such as the ones you are mentioning are the most difficult to translate. One solution --not necessarily the most satisfactory-- is to find an acceptable suitable translation, and to explain the concept behind it. But of course if you are a perfectionist, translating the word 'cake' or 'bread' is a problem, as I learned in my first year at interpreter's school. Also see this excellent post by Ilaria, an Italian translator, about 'hot chocolate': http://airy-eel.blogspot.com/2007/12/cup-of-translated-hot-chocolate.html This doesn’t sound like a problem you had with translating words, but presenting the culture of a country.

Culture and language are intertwined, and when you write about something that has to do with culture, you run up against difficult translation, i.e. word issues; concepts such as the ones you are mentioning are the most difficult to translate.

One solution –not necessarily the most satisfactory– is to find an acceptable suitable translation, and to explain the concept behind it.

But of course if you are a perfectionist, translating the word ‘cake’ or ‘bread’ is a problem, as I learned in my first year at interpreter’s school. Also see this excellent post by Ilaria, an Italian translator, about ‘hot chocolate’:
http://airy-eel.blogspot.com/2007/12/cup-of-translated-hot-chocolate.html

]]> By: Karen Swim http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/2008/06/12/difficulty-translating-plant-names/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Karen Swim Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:13:57 +0000 http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/?p=332#comment-638 Nadine, thank for you for sharing some of the challenges you face as a professional. I am terrible with botany in spite of my mother's attempts to educate me. I once ghostwrote a book for a UK client about France. I had to write it in British English, include french language and translations on La Secu, health information, driving, etc.. It was the most challenging project I have ever done. My rusty french was sorely tested and at the end I was barely able to speak or write US English! Karen Swims last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WordsForHire/~3/309804222/what-i-learned-from-bullies.html" rel="nofollow">What I Learned from Bullies</a> Nadine, thank for you for sharing some of the challenges you face as a professional. I am terrible with botany in spite of my mother’s attempts to educate me. I once ghostwrote a book for a UK client about France. I had to write it in British English, include french language and translations on La Secu, health information, driving, etc.. It was the most challenging project I have ever done. My rusty french was sorely tested and at the end I was barely able to speak or write US English!

Karen Swims last blog post..What I Learned from Bullies

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