Sõnaotandina

Sõnaotandina is an Estonian term that translates literally to "word by word" or "literal translation." It refers to a translation that attempts to convey the exact wording and grammatical structure of the source text, often at the expense of naturalness or idiomatic expression in the target language. This approach prioritizes fidelity to the original form over conveying the intended meaning in a way that a native speaker of the target language would easily understand.

While a sõnaotandina translation might be useful for linguistic analysis or understanding the precise construction of a foreign sentence, it frequently results in awkward phrasing, unnatural sentence flow, and potential misinterpretation. The meaning can become obscured because the direct translation of words or phrases may not have equivalent connotations or usages in the target language. For example, idioms or cultural references are particularly prone to being mistranslated literally, losing their intended impact or even becoming nonsensical.

In contrast, a more idiomatic translation seeks to capture the spirit and meaning of the source text, adapting sentence structures and word choices to fit the conventions of the target language. This approach aims for fluency and naturalness, ensuring that the translated text reads as if it were originally written in the target language. Therefore, while sõnaotandina focuses on preserving the form, idiomatic translation prioritizes the function and naturalness of the message.