Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

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Michanek
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Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by Michanek »

I am loosely associated with the translation of phpBB from English to another language. When I look at the original text I sometimes find inconsistencies, poor language and other flaws. That is a big problem for me.

I must then ask myself if I should be true to the original text or if I should strive to make the translation as good as possible. Should I let the imperfection be carried over to the translation or should I allow the translation to outshine the original.

I would say that it is beneficial to the users if the translation is made as good as absolutely possible. What do you think about this? How do other translators do?

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Rotsblok
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Re: Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by Rotsblok »

Of course can it be better.. If we (dutch community) translate it.. We can do it x different ways, each valid Dutch but sometimes nowhere near the original englisch text because that just doesnt make it understandable in Dutch..
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Andre Távora
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Re: Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by Andre Távora »

Michanek, welcome to phpBB.com.
In fact, the original text files have some parts that don't make much sense in other languages if you try to translate them according to the exactly way they were written.
Michanek wrote:I must then ask myself if I should be true to the original text or if I should strive to make the translation as good as possible.
:) You don't need to be exactly true to the original text, even because, as a said before, anything here and there won't be understandable as would be. It's sure you can (and I think have to) translate phpBB according to the reality and parameters for your own language, adapting the text to your users. The main point of a translation is to make phpBB good understandable to the users of a specific language, correct? So, you have to make it "understandable", and to do that, you can change something here, something there, but maintaining the idea of the context, sure.

Wich makes a good translation is the worry about the comprehension of his work. And I usually like to follow that objective in my translations into my own language too.
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Michanek
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Re: Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by Michanek »

So we seem to agree that you sometimes have to rephrase the original text to make it more understandable in another language. You can not translate word by word. You have to look at the meaning of the entire sentence or paragraph. That way you can make the text both readable and understandable.

But what if the problem is inconsistency? Let me take an example.

In the ACP you have several pages of settings to control different areas of functionality. Lets say that all of these pages start with a main setting to enable that area of functionality, but that this question is worded differently on the different pages:

Activate functionality X:
Yes | No

Allow functionality Y:
Yes | No

Functionality Z:
Yes | No

Enable functionality Q:
Enabled | Disabled

Enable functionality W:
Yes | No

Am I allowed to make the translation more consistent?
Can I have all the questions start with Enable?
Can I change the options to always be Yes or No?

What do you think about this?
How do other translators do?

Peter.
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Andre Távora
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Re: Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by Andre Távora »

Michanek wrote:Am I allowed to make the translation more consistent?
Can I have all the questions start with Enable?
Can I change the options to always be Yes or No?
Well, like i've said before. I think any changes would be acceptable since you maintain the original idea and context of the phrase you want to translate. On these cases you listed above, it's difficult to translate them in another way. It's because if you don't start your sentences within ''Enable'', for example, will be difficult to find another word wich make sense in the context. But it is possible, sure. About the second quest: If you don't put your questions to be aways "Yes" or "No", i really don't know within another word you can replace them :shock:

In fact, it's not a rule the translations have to follow exactly what is put in the original language, even because that is only a base for the other languages. At least in my translation, i like to follow the meanings of the original pack, changing only what i think is really need to be understandable to my users, who will use it, and who we have to think primarly.
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Re: Is a translation allowed to be better than the original?

Post by ameeck »

We are not limiting your translation at all, the only requirement is to keep the original sense of the sentence.

I'll give you a small example, in english you have the default "You were logged out successfuly". In our translation, we have omitted successfuly (as it is in every second phpBB confirmation message) and added "We look forward to your next visit". It has a very positive response among users.

Small changes in writing style are acceptable. Unification of terms is recommended. phpBB is not ideal in this matter, I agree.

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