| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Are there words you try to avoid using in your translations because you don't like them? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are there words you try to avoid using in your translations because you don't like them?".
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| | | | Mónica Algazi 
Uruguay
Local time: 11:30
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
| Specific acronyms | Sep 2, 2018 |
For example, there is an acronym in English that sounds like "disgust" in Spanish, so instead of reproducing the acronym, I write the full name of the scientific society and the acronym in brackets.
| | | | Katia Perry
Brazil
Local time: 11:30
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I avoid using anglicisms, even when they are acceptable in my target language, unless there isn't another word to be used or it's the term used by professionals in the field of the document I'm working on.
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I translate exclusively into European Portuguese and like others have said I avoid using foreignisms and undefined acronyms and abbreviations. I also avoid using new or modern words just for the sake of it. I deeply dislike words like “implementação” and “alocação”…
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 11:30
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
There are several words I avoid using in both languages I translate into. There is always a synonym or a different way to construct the sentence to avoid these words. I can't think of any specific word right now, but my answer is "Yes, several of them" for sure.
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For example, "impact" as a verb, "build" as a noun and other such modish and unnecessary formulations.
| | | | Jan Truper
Germany
Local time: 16:30
Member (2016)
English to German
Some words in German contain three of the same letter in a row (Schifffahrt, Balletttruppe, schneeerhellt, helllila, grifffest, etc.).
Eventhough it makes sense, I think it's ugly and I try to avoid them.
| | | | | Concrete, except as a building material | Sep 3, 2018 |
I had a wonderful text to proofread once, about urban oases and improving concrete green areas one by one as funds were available.
What's wrong with particular or specific?
There are others, but that is the first I can think of.
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| "I deeply dislike" | Sep 3, 2018 |
Like Teresa, I also avoid using a number of new or modern words. I don't like “empoderamento” for empowerment and never would use “realizar” for "becoming fully aware of"...
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not that I can think of right off hand, but now that the issue has been mentioned, I'll pay attention to it in future.
| | | | | No “no-words” | Sep 3, 2018 |
There should be no “no-word” for translators except for those that are not correct or somehow not indicated on a given language (the word “pode-se = pódice” comes to my mind in that context). Meaning, as a translator I should not avoid any valid word (such as not writingg “God” just because I am an atheist). Translation should be neutral and impartial.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 16:30
French to English
Irregardless!
Although I think I spend more energy on fitting words in. Words I particularly like, or that I have just learned, or whatever.
For example I have a translation on my plate for this week about coaching. The function of a coach is basically to empower people. "empowerment" is not a concept that exists in French*, so the text talks about it without actually mentioning it. I kind of think not using it would be rather weird for English speakers, yet I haven't ... See more Irregardless!
Although I think I spend more energy on fitting words in. Words I particularly like, or that I have just learned, or whatever.
For example I have a translation on my plate for this week about coaching. The function of a coach is basically to empower people. "empowerment" is not a concept that exists in French*, so the text talks about it without actually mentioning it. I kind of think not using it would be rather weird for English speakers, yet I haven't yet managed to find a place to fit it in. Fitting it in somewhere will probably make at least a third of the text redundant, so I need to tread carefully.
(*si un francophone me lit et connaît un terme approprié, je suis preneuse!) ▲ Collapse
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One word that I used to avoid but have given up on is the abbreviation of the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health, which is 'CLAP' in both Spanish and English. I can't tell you how many times it has elicited titters. I try to avoid anything that will distract the reader's attention.
Besides that, I have too many pet peeves to begin to list them. That's one reason (of many) why I don't like to "proofread" other colleagues' work. I keep telling mysel... See more One word that I used to avoid but have given up on is the abbreviation of the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health, which is 'CLAP' in both Spanish and English. I can't tell you how many times it has elicited titters. I try to avoid anything that will distract the reader's attention.
Besides that, I have too many pet peeves to begin to list them. That's one reason (of many) why I don't like to "proofread" other colleagues' work. I keep telling myself, "Just because I wouldn't use that word doesn't necessarily mean that it's wrong." ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 16:30
Spanish to English
+ ...
Quite a few. For example, in academic papers with an international readership, I tend to avoid using "since" to mean "because", just in case it gives rise to any confusion. I won't use "impact" as a verb. And I don't use the "for + -ING" construction across the board, only judiciously, in cases where I think fits. I probably have several other little foibles like this, but these are some that spring to mind.
"Dematerialization" is another one I'm not keen on using to refer to e-busi... See more Quite a few. For example, in academic papers with an international readership, I tend to avoid using "since" to mean "because", just in case it gives rise to any confusion. I won't use "impact" as a verb. And I don't use the "for + -ING" construction across the board, only judiciously, in cases where I think fits. I probably have several other little foibles like this, but these are some that spring to mind.
"Dematerialization" is another one I'm not keen on using to refer to e-business or e-invoicing, as the French do. As I see it, in English, dematerialization refers to securities or stocks and shares rather than simple invoices ("Dematerialization (DEMAT) is the move from physical certificates to electronic book keeping. Actual stock certificates are slowly being removed and retired from circulation in exchange for electronic recording").
[Edited at 2018-09-03 11:08 GMT]
It's actually just cropped up in a translation I'm starting right now, and I'm thinking about the best way to render it in the contxt.
[Edited at 2018-09-03 11:09 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I deeply dislike using unnecessary anglicism. There is also some words I don't like to use, so instead I use synonyms.
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