Novel localization is indeed a complex task that goes beyond a simple word-for-word replacement. It requires a deep understanding of language, culture, context, and the ability to address numerous challenges. Why so? It’s equal to delivering accurate and appropriate output. The translators rely on creativity and problem-solving skills to ensure that the essence of the source text is faithfully conveyed in the target language. Here are six of the most common challenges and how they impact the translation process.

Figurative Language in Novel Localization

Figures of speech in novel localization turn into a cohesive unit. Even among countries sharing the same language, there exist unique expressions that might seem perplexing beyond their respective borders. For instance, Australians refer to traveling as “gone walkabout,” a phrase rooted in the Aboriginal, where male adolescents embark on an extended trip.

Considering the disparities even within the same language, it becomes apparent why translators might encounter difficulties when attempting to render a figure of speech into another language.

Among the kinds of figurative language, there are three of the most formidable challenges that should be executed well, as follows:

Idioms

It’s a sequence of words in a fixed arrangement that conveys a meaning distinct from the individual words themselves. For instance, the idiom “spill the tea” refers to the act of sharing gossip or revealing personal information. In a conversation, someone may say this idiom when others put up a spoiler regarding the discussed topic.

To provide accurate idioms translation, it’s essential for translators to acknowledge them as such. This demands a deep understanding of the target audience culture and the subtleties of its language. Word for word method of “a piece of cake” would often not make sense in another language. Instead, a translator should substitute it with a similar one. For example, in Mexican Spanish, people might use “pan comido,” which literally means “eaten bread.”

However, some idioms lack an equivalent phrase in another language. In such instances, a translator might choose to rephrase the idiom or retain it in the original language, accompanied by a footnote offering an approximate translation.

Irony and Sarcasm

Alanis Morissette, the Canadian singer, notably misused the word ‘ironic’ in her self-titled hit song. Why so? Upon checking, the entire lyric doesn’t represent the title and she discovered this later. This illustrates why translators often grapple with adapting ironic expressions into other languages.

Complicating matters further, there are three primary types of irony: situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony. Let’s focus on verbal irony, which arises when someone says one thing but means another. For instance, if a teacher poses a question, and no one responds, she might quip, “Don’t everyone speak at once.” She isn’t literally urging her class to remain silent but is highlighting the absence of answers.

Adding to the translation challenge, irony is frequently mistaken for sarcasm, which involves making a statement with the intention of expressing scorn or mockery. For example, someone can say “nice clothes” with a mocking tone to convey that they find the shoes unattractive.

Certain instances of irony and sarcasm may prove untranslatable, especially when they involve local expressions. In such cases, a translator may need to rephrase the statement to convey the intended meaning. While this might diminish the literary quality of the translation, it ensures that the reader grasps the message.

However, even if an ironic or sarcastic statement can be translated, cultural norms must be considered. An expression that appears lighthearted or playful in one language can come across as harsh or offensive in another. Striking the appropriate tone is vital when translating these figures of speech.

Metaphors and Similes

A metaphor involves substituting one word for another to imply a comparison. For instance, you can describe a new employee with great ideas as “a breath of fresh air.” Similes serve a similar purpose but typically use words like “like” or “as.” If someone is incredibly persistent, you might say, “he’s as stubborn as a mule.”

Just like other figurative expressions, metaphors and similes are often tied to specific cultures. This means that translators need to determine if a comparable phrase exists in the target language. For instance, the expression “stubborn as a mule” can be translated as “one’s head is stiff” in Japanese.

Regrettably, there isn’t always an equivalent expression in the target language. This is more likely to be the case when the two cultures have significant differences. In such situations, translators may need to be inventive and formulate a phrase that conveys the original meaning. Nevertheless, they must be particularly cautious to ensure that the translation remains culturally sensitive.

Translating Equivalent Tone, Diction, and Rhythm

These three represent an identity of any kind of writing work, even the modern one.They are tied to each other and can be identified through diction and rhyme, thus forming an overall output called tone.

The tone plays a crucial role in defining a brand. In simple terms, it's the consistent way of communicating with your audience, distinguishing your brand from competitors, and establishing a more personal connection with customers. This tone of voice encompasses elements like blogs, slogans, taglines, advertising campaigns, website content, and other customer-facing messages.

For translators to effectively convey a brand's message, they must meticulously reproduce the same tone in the target language. This involves carefully considering various stylistic elements, including:

Choice of words: Is the brand's vocabulary sophisticated or straightforward?

Formality: Does the tone lean towards being friendly or professional?

Speech flow: How words are structured within each sentence, and how this can be replicated.

In addition, elements like slang, humor, and cultural references can pose challenges, sometimes making it difficult or even impossible to replicate them perfectly. In such cases, a translator may choose to substitute colloquial expression, a joke, or reference with something that will be more readily understood in the target culture.

Meanwhile, for novel localization, translators must carefully assess whether the translated expression conveys a formal, informal, or slang tone, as this helps them decide on word selection and rhythm. For instance, are not angry (formal), aren’t mad (informal), and ain’t ticked (slang). Once they reveal which tone is used by the writer, they can easily convert it appropriately to the target language.

Besides, the tone is also about positive and negative impressions. For instance, pruning the bushes (positive) and slashing at the bushes (negative). Addressing the target language, which one is better to proceed with better localization?

How to Deal with Untranslatable Words?

It’s common that a novel localization process faces a situation when the word or phrase lacks a direct counterpart in the target language. For instance, the Danish term “hygge,” which encapsulates feelings of togetherness, warmth, and coziness, and has no exact English equivalent. It originates from the tradition of prioritizing self-care and quality time with loved ones, especially during the winter seasons.

*How to deal with that situation?*The translators might opt for adaptation rather than a literal translation. For instance, “American Thanksgiving” is frequently rendered as the “Day of Gratitude” in other languages. In other cases, translators can simply use the borrowing technique, so iit naturally belonged to the target language. Besides, there are other examples, such as karma, déjà vu, schadenfreude, bona fide, and that’s fine.

Executing Compound Words

A compound word is formed by combining two or more root words to create a new term. Some compound words, like “football” and “sometimes,” are straightforward to translate since their meanings are literal. However, take a look at “butterfly” and “carpool,” they cannot be translated literally. A “carpool” isn’t a pool with a car in it, and “butterfly” has nothing to do with flies made of butter.

In some cases, a compound word may have an equivalent term in the target language. For instance, in Spanish, “butterfly” can be translated as “mariposa.” Nonetheless, for words like “carpool,” no direct translation exists, so the translator must convey the meaning instead.

To execute compound words well, the translators need to possess a strong understanding of how they are used in both languages. For instance, in Chinese, they can combine nouns and verbs, while in German, you can keep combining nouns almost indefinitely. Indeed, the longest German compound word comprises 63 letters!

How to Handle Cultural Nuances?

Translation may not encompass all the cultural subtleties that warrant consideration. In such situations, your output must undergo a localization process, which entails tailoring the entire user experience.

Despite the additional effort involved in localization, it stands as the most effective means to ensure your project embodies a “native” appearance and atmosphere. This, in turn, facilitates higher engagement and fosters brand loyalty in the target market. When localizing your website, social media accounts, and marketing materials, it's not only the words you should take into account, but also the influence that colors and images can have on your target audience. Simply put, cultural nuances are just about translating a word.

In Western cultures, the color red often symbolizes excitement, passion, love, or danger. Meanwhile, it’s in contrast with China, where red signifies happiness, good fortune, and prosperity, or can simply say it has positive connotations. Besides, in South Africa, red is associated with mourning and the bloodshed during the country’s struggle for independence.

Moving to Europe and the United States, purple often represents magic and mystery, with a connection to wealth. Nonetheless, in numerous cultures, purple is the color of death or mourning. For instance, in Italy, where purple is strongly connected to funerals, wrapping a gift in purple paper is considered not okay, and wearing this color to an Italian opera is considered bad luck.

On the other hand, it’s essential to exercise caution when selecting images, as specific visuals have the potential to offend people in various cultures. Countries where Islam is the majority religion find pictures of bacon or pork products offensive, as it’s considered prohibited. It’s similar to images of people in swimwear that would be controversial in many Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, grounded in both religious and cultural norms.

Overcome Further Translation Technique

A technical translation involves the conversion of technical documents, such as proposals, reports, instruction manuals, and software specifications, from one language to another. This type of translation presents two significant challenges:

Specialized Vocabulary: Technical documents often contain industry-specific terminology related to tools, features, and processes that can be challenging to translate. Sometimes, there may be no direct equivalent word in the target language, necessitating the use of descriptive phrases to convey the information accurately.

Text Length Discrepancies: Different languages have varying levels of consciousness. As a result, a concise instructional manual in one language can expand into a significantly larger document in another language if not carefully managed. Maintaining text brevity while retaining essential information demands expertise in both translation and the subject matter.

To ensure precision, translators rely on a translation glossary that defines commonly used terms. Collaboration between the document's author and the translator is particularly beneficial in developing such a glossary.

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Pro Tips to Cope Novel Localization Challenges

Translators are required to possess a deep understanding of language and culture to effectively address common translation challenges. While machine translation technology is continually improving, it still struggles to account for idiomatic expressions, tone of voice, and other cultural nuances within language. In contrast, human translators can leverage their experience and expertise to devise creative solutions for issues like untranslatable words.

Thankfully, a hybrid approach provides a solution that balances cost-effectiveness with maintaining your novel localization. Here’s how it functions: human translators handle nuanced content where context plays a vital role, while machine translation is employed for less brand-sensitive content where word choice is not as critical. This approach combines the strengths of both methods and proves especially beneficial for projects such as website translation.

While technology continues to advance, human translators are expected to remain essential in surmounting language barriers. When assessing your translation needs, it's vital to determine whether the project demands an appreciation of tone of voice, specialized terminology, or cultural distinctions. If these elements are critical, collaborating with experienced linguists is likely the most effective path to attain the desired translation quality.

At Digital-Trans, we leverage cutting-edge technology in conjunction with a network of highly skilled human translators to tackle any translation challenge. Whether it's website localization or the creation of high-quality multilingual content, we ensure that your brand message is effectively conveyed in any language. Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to discover more about our innovative translation solutions.