Tükörfordítása

Tükörfordítása is a Hungarian term that literally translates to "mirror translation." It refers to a translation that closely adheres to the grammatical structure and word order of the source language, often to the detriment of naturalness and idiomaticity in the target language. A tükörfordítása prioritizes fidelity to the original phrasing over conveying the meaning in a way that sounds natural to a native speaker of the translated language.

This type of translation can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, it's a result of a translator's limited proficiency in the target language, leading them to rely heavily on the source language's syntax. Other times, it may be an intentional choice to highlight specific linguistic features of the source text or to create a particular stylistic effect, though this is less common.

The outcome of a tükörfordítása is often a text that is difficult to understand, sounds awkward, or even contains grammatical errors in the target language. It can feel stilted and unnatural, as if the sentences have been directly transposed without proper adaptation. While literal translation has its place, a tükörfordítása goes beyond that by rigidly mimicking the source's structure, often resulting in a translation that fails to effectively communicate the intended message.