translate

Translation is the process of rendering written or spoken content from a source language into a target language while preserving meaning, tone, and function. It contrasts with interpretation, which renders spoken language in real time, and with transliteration, which focuses on representing the original script. A translator aims to achieve equivalence, balancing accuracy with readability in the target culture.

Translation studies, dating back to classical antiquity and developing as a modern discipline in the 20th century, investigates theories of equivalence, textual context, and cultural transfer. Translators work across genres and domains—literature, science, law, technology—and may localize content to fit local norms and legal requirements. The field includes theories such as dynamic versus formal equivalence and functionalist approaches that guide translation choices.

Practices include human translation, where a bilingual expert renders the text, and machine translation, where algorithms generate a draft later refined by humans (post-editing). Computer-assisted translation tools and translation memories help reuse existing translations and manage terminology.

Quality depends on accuracy, clarity, and cultural appropriateness. Evaluations combine human review with automated metrics, though no single measure fully captures quality. Common concerns include ambiguity, idioms, domain-specific terms, and ethical considerations such as confidentiality and copyright.