How to Translate Your Book
This is a special post for those who translate their books themselves, just like me. :) It can be a hard job, but know that if you don't practise, you will never achieve high level in translating.
First tip when translating your own or other person's book: be as close to the text as possible. Some people like reading stories in original language, as there they sound more beautiful and natural than in translated texts. Don't make it happen! Translate all idioms and expressions in target language as precisely as possible, even if it needs you to look into hundred dictionaries (after all, every translator needs to look into a dictionary, it's essential when translating even a simple text. Don't feel embarrassed if you have to look into a dictionary, on the contrary, feel proud you're learning something new during your translating experience).
Second tip: Always find a good editor. People don't like when book is badly translated, so my tip would be, find a good editor to edit your translations. Preferably the editor would be experienced. They can correct all the little mistakes we make when translating a text in other language. :)
Third tip: Work with your editor. Remember, you should work with your editor in order to make them understand what you have written and also, know how they're changing your book. We all know that one single word can change the whole energy of the story, and therefore, determine if it is good or bad, so pay attention on how your editor picks the words, does it really suit to the original form? Is it what you meant in the beginning? Is it going to change readers' mood as you wanted to? This is very important.
Remember, picking an editor is a must, as when we work, our brain works on two languages, and when editor looks into our story, their brain works on just one, so they can better understand the language they're working in, than we, who sometimes mix the two languages in each other, together with their grammar rules and expressions. Editor can better see our little mistakes than we can, and their sharp eye can notice every single detail, so it is important to pick an editor to work on your book, not only when translating, but also when only writing. Writers can also make mistakes when working on a story.
Have fun, and good luck in creating masterpieces! ;)
First tip when translating your own or other person's book: be as close to the text as possible. Some people like reading stories in original language, as there they sound more beautiful and natural than in translated texts. Don't make it happen! Translate all idioms and expressions in target language as precisely as possible, even if it needs you to look into hundred dictionaries (after all, every translator needs to look into a dictionary, it's essential when translating even a simple text. Don't feel embarrassed if you have to look into a dictionary, on the contrary, feel proud you're learning something new during your translating experience).
Second tip: Always find a good editor. People don't like when book is badly translated, so my tip would be, find a good editor to edit your translations. Preferably the editor would be experienced. They can correct all the little mistakes we make when translating a text in other language. :)
Third tip: Work with your editor. Remember, you should work with your editor in order to make them understand what you have written and also, know how they're changing your book. We all know that one single word can change the whole energy of the story, and therefore, determine if it is good or bad, so pay attention on how your editor picks the words, does it really suit to the original form? Is it what you meant in the beginning? Is it going to change readers' mood as you wanted to? This is very important.
Remember, picking an editor is a must, as when we work, our brain works on two languages, and when editor looks into our story, their brain works on just one, so they can better understand the language they're working in, than we, who sometimes mix the two languages in each other, together with their grammar rules and expressions. Editor can better see our little mistakes than we can, and their sharp eye can notice every single detail, so it is important to pick an editor to work on your book, not only when translating, but also when only writing. Writers can also make mistakes when working on a story.
Have fun, and good luck in creating masterpieces! ;)
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