Translational problems arise from differences in vocabulary, idioms, grammar, and conceptual understanding between languages. Vocabulary equivalence is difficult when some languages lack words that others have. Idiomatic expressions like "raining cats and dogs" can be confusing to translate without understanding the idiom's meaning. Grammatical differences, like languages where nouns and verbs don't change form based on sentence location, challenge direct translation. Experiential and conceptual equivalence are nearly impossible when describing concepts that don't exist in another culture's language or experience.

1. TRANSLATIONAL PROBLEMS
James Crow

2. VOCABULARY EQUIVALENCE
A major issue in translation is the fact that some languages do not have certain words
that other languages have. This makes translating extrememly difficult.

3. IDIOMATIC EQUIVALENCE
Idioms are a way of saying something without having to actually say it. For example
“its raining cats and dogs”. It isn’t literally raining down cats and dogs, but for others
not used to the English language or those translating, this can be very confusing.

4. GRAMMATICAL EQUIVALENCE
When translating from the English language to another language, the nouns and
verbs must be switched. There are also many words in English that be a noun, verb, or
adjective depending on the location in the sentence. This is not the case when
translating to other languages. If you translate from Spanish directly to English this
sign reads “caution floor wet”

5. EXPERIENTIAL EQUIVALENCE
Imagine trying to describe a shopping mall to someone who lives on an isolated
island, and who speaks a different language. You couldn’t because they don’t have a
word for shopping or mall.

6. CONCEPTUAL EQUIVALENCE
In America we are the home of the free. Now imagine trying to translate the word
freedom to someone in North Korea who is under such strong dictatorship. They may
know the word but it has no meaning behind it.