subject: The Translation Of Language [print this page] For many people the concept of language is not fully understood. Indeed, some people do not always have a full grasp of their own language. All languages have a particular structure, a bit like the mortar between the bricks. Without the mortar the building would fall down. The basic structure of language lies in its grammar, verbs and nouns. Each language carries its own rules as to how we phrase sentences and how we put our message across. This is why translation of languages is not just a simple task of converting one word for another. The business of translation is emerging as one of the most essential components to commerce, government and all disciplines throughout the world where so many languages are used.
One thing that many people do not understand is that each language has its own nuances from region to region in each country so that dialect and language structure will represent different meanings. Again, this poses a challenge for those choosing to go into translation as a career. Language is specific to a country or region. Spanish for instance is spoken in Spain of course, and it is also a language spoken in South America, but as any good translator will agree, the language differs considerably so that the translation must be localised to the region. Portuguese is another language used in different parts of the world and can vary considerably. Across the continent of India, the peoples speak different languages and have variants within each language spoken. Language is always changing, even over a few decades new words are introduced to a language and the translation has to adapt to the changes. This is why translation services across the globe are becoming big business since over the past twenty years the need for communication and the increase of commerce into foreign countries is an essential item with so many different languages to deal with.
As previously commented upon, the challenge posed for translation of languages lies in the formation, structure and variants of languages. It will be clear therefore, that anyone thinking of going into translation must have a thorough understanding of language itself, how it works, how it holds together and manifests itself into the spoken word. This then leads on to the other major challenge for someone choosing to go into the translation of languages and that is the written word. A good translator will not only speak the language they will also have excellent skills in transferring the word into writing.
