Translating general texts

Translating general documents is often considered to be the easiest type of translation, as the texts don't go into technical details, and the translator doesn’t usually require prior subject-matter expertise.

Translators handling general texts – language experts

Even though general texts don't require prior specialized training on the part of the translator, this doesn't mean that anyone can do it – not by a long shot.

Translating non-specialized general texts still requires a proficient language expert and, even more importantly, a cross-cultural intermediary. What this means is that besides knowing the language, these translators also need to have a good grasp of the cultural setting in which their working languages are used. Cultural aspects may be highly prominent in some texts, and less competent translators may fail to recognize the cultural aspects of the language and make mistakes.

The most common general texts

General areas of translation include documents such as:

• Tourism materials

• CVs

• Motivational letters

• Websites

• Menus

• Blog entries and newspaper columns or other types of texts with a very distinctive style.

The translator has to be faithful to the style of the source

When it comes to translating pieces with a distinct style, it's imperative that the translator remains true to the meaning as well as the stylistic aspects of the source. It's the translator's job to reproduce the style of the original text, otherwise the translated text will fail to have the same effect on the reader.