Details please

Since I just barged in with a “ButterSpider is back”, I think it is time to better describe what ButterSpider actually does. I’m going to take one service at a time, explaining it in every update. Let’s start with the old services.
Language is important in communicating just as visuals are. It can also be misunderstood and misinterpret if used the wrong way, again, just like visuals. I’m not going to go on about what language is and why it’s important – I’ll leave that for another time if anyone really wants to know that. I’m just going to explain what we do with the service we provide. For now I’m doing translation.
Translation is more than just taking a word in one language (source text) and putting a word of another language in its place (target text). A lot of thought must go into every word and sentence construction. You need to know about both cultures. Know the sayings. Know about the subject of the text. Understand the meaning of every word. Know what to say and what not to say. Know the context. Know who the readers are. Know what the readers would want. You’re not just changing the language; you’re making sure the text is suitable for the readers of that language. When translating, your world is the text, the readers, the client and the author(s). That is where your interest falls.
You get enveloped by the text. You interpret the text and only then when you understand it, can you decide on a way to approach the translation (there are different ways to translate and the way chosen depends on the type of text, meaning of the text, the goal of both the source text and the target text, the readers and more). This is why it is important to analyse the text thoroughly and to have a clear understanding of what is expected of the text.
If I was to explain more or even just half of what translation is and what needs to be done to create a good translation, this blog would be too long. Just know that a lot of thought, effort and research go into a translation and that this and more is what happens when we do your translation.

Blogs about translation worth looking at:
About translation (just look on the right for things on translation quality and such)
Translation journal
Translation times