Common Translation Errors | langify
What to do when encountering Translation Errors?
How often do you read something in your own language and still not understand a word? That’s common, and it’s usually because it’s fairly easy to make translation errors.
Translating your store into another language is challenging for several reasons. There is more to translations that just words – you need context, purpose, and meaning to properly deliver a message. That’s why you need to pay close attention to all your translations and how they turn out.
Still, there is always room for error. Using a translation app with automatic and/or manual translations is a great tool to prevent such errors. With langify you can translate either way and always correct the results. Errors happen to the best of us. They can be classified into a few different types and we’re here to help you deal with them!
Translation Errors decrease sales
There are multiple reasons why translation issues can occur. You can narrow those down to a few essential factors. Some errors simply happen by accident, or they’re just due to a plain lack of attention to detail.
Another reason, is that exact, literal translations tend to miss the original meaning. Especially when describing the emotional part of a product to sell. As each language has its own unique way of conveying ideas. So a lot of ideas end up being “lost in translation”.
Considering all those reasons, one thing for sure: Errors in translation are a common challenge. Customers want an excellent buying experience! Hence, to convert sales, you need to set up your store into your customer’s native language. Offer payment in their currency, so it is easy for them to buy your product.
How to find & fix Translation Errors
Like any problem, the first step is awareness, isn’t it?
Don’t worry too much about translation errors. Work on avoiding them in the first place, and after that, review your translations addressing the important factors.
Our app and support team will guide and help you through the whole process.
We’ve compiled this straightforward list of what to do when you encounter any of these problems. Just come back to it the next time you’re translating content.
Accidental Errors
Accidental errors are the ones that happen – well – by accident. They’re the ones you make because you missed a certain step during the translation process. Or didn’t your translations have not been well when you finished. The three most common errors:
- Missing content
- Non-translated links
- Literal translations
This happens when some of your website’s content is translated and some isn’t. Can you imagine how that looks to customers? You’re basically exposing that 1) your website isn’t really targeted towards their country (or them!) and 2) you didn’t make that much effort to ensure they can understand everything on your site. You’re allowing them to miss out on certain content that is otherwise available for customers who speak other languages. On top of the lack of organization and professionalism which causes you to lose customers. A loss of SEO power would be the result. Since search engines won’t know which audience your website is meant for. Here’s why SEO is so important for international websites.
Non-translated links
Another error that hides in the details is when you miss translating links. Not translating the links means your website isn’t fully localized. Links are often embedded within your website content, so it is essential that these links direct your customers to the suitable page for them when they access them.
You’re less likely to make these errors when you use a translation app. When you download Langify and open your store through it, you’ll be able to see all your content with the translation box next to each. You can automatically or manually translate your content. And always correct and optimize the results in app. Once set up the URLs and redirects customers to the translated version of your site whenever a page is linked.
Cultural and language differences
One of the greatest challenges of any sort of translation is the discrepancy between the way different cultures use language and words. Many ideas or accurate content get lost when translating to other languages. Paying attention to these cultural and lingual differences ensures better quality translations for your site.
Literal translations
Translating every word into its literal alternative definition often just leads to a messy cluster of words with no accurate meaning. Your customers would be better off just translating it themselves! Even Google Translate and similar automated translation tools now have enhanced translation algorithms to make sure translations don’t interfere with the original meaning. Translation apps are the same. Machine translation doesn’t mean your words are taken as-is. The advanced algorithm used by apps like Langify incorporate different language trends and commonalities to produce the end translation.
Lingual inaccuracy
Sometimes you end up with inaccurate translations because of non-detected cultural and lingual specifics. For example, some words often have several different meanings in a given language. The translation tool or translator might then not be able to accurately determine which one was originally meant. Other errors might simply be because of language variations and different terms used in different languages.
The best way to deal with these mistakes is to have both an automated and manual translation resource. In other words, download a translation app (You can start your Langify trial here) but go over the translations yourself as well – or get someone to do it.
What’s the Solution for Translation Errors?
With so much room for error, you’re probably thinking translating your website isn’t even worth it in the first place. But rest assured, there are many things you can apply to make sure translation errors are less frequent in your website content.
One way to avoid making these mistakes is to use some tools for consistency. Having a glossary, for example, ensures that a type of word, phrase, or sentence is translated the same way across all the pages and different texts within your website. On the long run, you’re less likely to make mistakes since the work’s already been done. Another consistency tool is a style guide. Besides just being technically accurate, you want your language to accurately portray your brand’s style and tone. Your business is unique, and you need your language to portray that. You’d also ensure a constant style of voice across your website.
These are all made possible by having a combination of an automated translation system and a human translator. Essentially, the best way to ensure the best translation quality is reviewing your translations. By using the technical tools along with the practical approach of someone going over the produced translations, you’ve mastered most potential errors.
And honestly, when you have a translation tool like Langify, you barely have to give these errors a second thought. So, if I were you, I’d start with that. 7-day trail now to see how easy and straightforward your translating process can become!
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