This document discusses various translation problems and potential solutions. It addresses issues such as changing titles to be more commercially viable in other cultures, replacing words that have different meanings, maintaining an author's stylistic choices, translating regional dialects and colloquialisms, dealing with vulgar or offensive language, translating humor that may not translate, explaining culture-specific references, quoting other works, translating less common languages, finding compromises for works being published across cultures, and balancing faithfulness to the original work with adaptions for other audiences. The overall message is that translation requires creativity, cultural knowledge, and discussion between the translator and author/publisher to solve challenges in a way that best conveys the original work.

1. Translation Problems and
Solutions
By George Lasluisa

2. Titles
Titles
• are thought to
transmit the autor’s
idea and to be welll
comercialized.
Changes
• When the words literally
mean something wrong
in the target language.
• Whit something
attractive and closely
related to the target
culture.
Translator’s job
• To be creative.
• To discuss the
changes.
• To know culture and
social aspects.

3. Stylised Language
Problem
Antique texts like baroque style.
Purposeful akward style.
Solution
Ask for advice from the autor or adquire an artistic
licence.
Do not maintain awkwardeness, reffer when posible
and leave out some passages.

4. Regional Dialects
Regarding the use of
regional expressions.
“Él es una piedra en
el zapato”
Original
Text Can be changed to similar
options or an explanation
be added in an artistic way.
“He is really annoying as
having a stone inside my
shoe”
Translated

5. Strong Language
What
to
do?
Clean up vulgar language.
Try to investigate about equivalents.
Replace with low level strong

6. Colloquialism
The same recomendations of
Strong language section.
Consider timeliness: Are they
using teenage slang?

7. HumourComedianscandothisbetter.
• Replacement is more accepted than translating.
• Some humour definitely do not work, so it has to
ve avoided.

8. Untranslatable words and Culture-Specific
References
Assume the position of the reader.
Give explanations or add extra descriptive words.
Give a character more dialogue.
Provide a glossary.

9. Quotations from other sourcesQuotesand
They can
already
have a
translation.
They can
altered with
the
permission.
Leave the
original text
and add a
footnote.

10. ‘Difficult’ Languages
Languages with low relation or unpopular
worldwide that have not being practiced.
• Sometimes it is necessary to use English as an
• This adds an extra translator whose fee has to be paid.

11. A Transatlantic Compromise
Time to act fast, in advance.
• If a book is going to be published in two countries, try to use
language.
• Discuss with the editor.
• Instead of ‘Yorkie’ or a ‘Reese’s’, use ‘a chocolate nut bar.

12. A Healthy Balance
Try to do your best to keep the original essence.
Make changes in the hope of being faithful to the artwork.
Do not simplify important cultural aspects.