http://www.aptranslation.com | The purpose of this document is to quickly share some information on how language embodies generations of culture and understanding.

1. CULTURAL INTRICACIES OF
TRANSLATIONS
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2. INTRODUCTION
When most people think about translation they think about exchanging equivalent words in one language to
another. While it would be nice if it were that easy, it is far from the truth. Words have different meanings and
values depending on one’s culture.
Because cultures are organic it is often very difficult for translators to accurately express a source’s statement to
the intended audience. This is exactly why it is important to work with an expert level translation service that can
deliver authenticity, accuracy, and experience to their translations.

3. MATERIAL CULTURE
Culture is built upon generations of rituals, practices, experiences, and everything else that life has to offer.
Consider some of the holidays in your culture and everything that they embody: food, drink, music, decorations,
etc. When translating a text these sorts of details can be overlooked or misunderstood by the reader/listener.

4. GESTURES AND HABITS
All around the globe, people have (and continue to) develop unique ways of behaving or speaking
around the same types of gestures. For example, consider the everyday habit of sneezing. When
someone sneezes in the United States, they are often greeted with the cheery phrase “Bless you!”
Alternatively, if you sneeze in many countries in the world where they speak languages other than
English, you will often hear “Health!” (popular examples include German’s “Gesundheit!” or Spanish’s
“Salud!”). Gestures like this are all over the place, especially in medical or technical translation texts.

5. REFERENCES
Even if you comprehend the materials and habits of another culture, foreign language translation can be
difficult if you do not understand cultural references. These typically range from mentions of cultural artifacts
such as plays, songs or TV shows to allusions to political figures or past historical events. Poorly translated
references usually involve the sensation of a reader feeling as if they do not “get it.” How could you translate the
full meaning of a reference to a character in a Venezuelan soap opera unless you are intimately familiar with that
culture? Only those immersed in a culture for a significant period of time can quickly and correctly work for a
successful language translation service.

6. WORDS OF A WISE MAN
“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” – Mahatma Gandhi

7. CLOSING
There are many nuances and intricacies tied to language that often get lost in translation, this is why it is
important to have a team with a thorough background and understanding perform expert level translations.
If you are concerned about accuracy and faithful translations then we invite you to visit us at:
http://www.aptranslation.com/

8. CONTACT US
Translating technical material requires more than technical dictionaries. It requires
experience.
The Language Link of CT has teams of technical translators with backgrounds and
degrees in engineering and most important of all, experience.
http://www.aptranslation.com/

9. SUMMARY
The purpose of this document is to quickly share some information on how language
embodies generations of culture and understanding.