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What are the most common translation errors people make when translating from Arabic to English?

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Question added by Dina Khatib , Brand and Communications Manager , Bayt.com
Date Posted: 2015/06/10
John Colangelo
by John Colangelo , Admin, Arabic Linguist and Procurement , Raytheon Technologies

The errors maybe syntactical. For instance, Arabic is a language where a whole paragraph can be made up of one sentence. In English, this is wrong. So you have to break down the Arabic in order to create good sentences in English.

Another error can be the vocabulary. You have to make sure that the words you are choosing make sense and correspond with the meaning of the Arabic original.

Dr Yasmeen Majeed
by Dr Yasmeen Majeed , Trainer and HOD

People often don't follow the lexical rules of the language.

Khaled Belgacem
by Khaled Belgacem , Teacher of English , Pioneer High School Gafsa

The two languages have two different linguistic systems, so if someone wants to translate into another language, they need to have mastered the target language before starting the translation process.Otherwise, the translation will be incorrect and the message will be distorted if not completely lost.

When people translate from Arabic to English they do not use correct grammar and they often have conjunctions mistakes They also do not capitalize when needed and sometimes they are not aware of how important punctuation is.

Fateh Guerdi
by Fateh Guerdi , Teacher of English language , Malek Ben Naby Secondary School

It is quite clear that a poor translation can not only lead to hilarity or to minor confusion, but it can also be a matter of life and death. Hence the importance of training translators, not only in the acquisition and command of languages and translation strategies and procedures, but also in specific knowledge areas and, what is equally important, in professional ethics. In fact, errors take place ifthe traslator lacks:

    • Reading comprehension ability in a foreign language
    • Knowledge of the subject
    • Sensitivity to language (both mother tongue and foreign language)
  • Competence to write the target language dexterously, clearly, economically and resourcefully.

Ahmad khalil
by Ahmad khalil , senior sales Engineer , Chuangshen Heavy machinery

The most common mistakes when translating from Arabic into English language is to use some of the words in the vernacular

First, let me say that my Arabic is poor (understatement of the year); nevertheless, after being around Arabs talking/writing in English, I can give a few examples:

 

"This is for her" meaning "This is hers" - Borrowed from Arabic where the preposition "li" indicates possession.

 

"I speak English Language" from "lughat arabiyah, lughat injliziyah". It amuses me the need to say "language" every single time :)

 

They use of "long" instead of "tall", since tawil means long and tall in Arabic - "She is so long" meaning she is so tall; "a long building" for  a tall building.

 

I have several other examples, but those above amuse me :))) 

 

 

Ahmad  AlMaghariz
by Ahmad AlMaghariz , English Translator , Erem news

AS A TRANSLATOR U SHOULD NOT THINK IN YOUR LANGUAGE ... IF U WANT TO TRANSLATE IN A PERFECT WAY U SHOULD THINK USING THE OTHER LANGUAGE

They write from left side in arabic too . Lol

Laith alsabbagh
by Laith alsabbagh , Waiter , DD’s Diner

they translate by the same sequence and same meaning in Arabic to English and this is the worst way ever.

Pushpa Raghavan
by Pushpa Raghavan , Trainer, IELTS, PTE, Employability and communication skills training , Credo Visas (A division of Credo Careers Pvt. Ltd)

I am sorry, I am a stranger to Arabic language, so I have no idea.

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