taalvertaling

Taalvertaling (Dutch for language translation) is the process of translating written text from one language to another. It seeks to convey the original meaning, information content, and stylistic nuances such as tone, register, and audience targeting in the target language. Taalvertaling is distinguished from interpretation (tolkenwerk), which renders spoken language in real time.

Taalvertaling covers many domains, including literary translation, technical and scientific translation, legal and financial documents, media localization, and audiovisual translation such as subtitles and dubbing. Translators may work with source texts in diverse fields, requiring subject matter knowledge and terminology management. Modern workflows often involve computer-assisted translation tools, translation memories, alignment aids, and terminology databases to increase consistency and efficiency. Post-editing of machine-translated output is common for large-scale projects.

Key concepts in taalvertaling include fidelity versus naturalness, equivalence versus domestication, and cultural adaptation. Terminology management and style guides support consistency across texts. Quality assurance steps typically include linguistic editing and proofreading, terminology checks, and adherence to relevant standards, such as ISO 17100 for translation services.

Challenges include handling idioms, cultural references, humor, and specialized terminology; preserving authorial voice while meeting target-language expectations; and ensuring accurate localization for legal or regulatory contexts. The field has evolved with technology, from traditional human translation to modern workflows that integrate MT and CAT tools, expanding access to multilingual content across industries.