Literal translation: Translating content word-for-word without considering the cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions of the target language can lead to awkward or confusing text. It’s important to focus on conveying the intended meaning rather than sticking strictly to the original wording.
Not considering target audience: Understanding the preferences, expectations, and cultural context of your target audience is crucial. Failure to do so can result in translations that don’t resonate with the audience or fail to convey the intended message.
Ignoring SEO considerations: If your website relies on search engine optimization (SEO) to attract visitors, it’s important to ensure that translated content is optimized for the target language and region. This involves conducting keyword research and using appropriate SEO techniques for each language.
Inconsistency: Inconsistent translations can confuse users and undermine the credibility of your website. It’s important to establish consistent terminology, style guides, and glossaries to maintain coherence across your translated content.
Lack of proofreading and editing: Translated content should always undergo thorough proofreading and editing to catch any errors, ensure grammatical correctness, and improve the overall quality of the translation. Skipping this step can lead to embarrassing mistakes and unprofessional content.
Overlooking website design and layout: Different languages can have varying text lengths, which can impact the overall design and layout of your website. Neglecting this aspect can result in text that overflows from its designated areas, leading to visual inconsistencies and a poor user experience.
In 2005, IKEA released a workbench named “FARTFULL.” With the root word Fährt standing for “traveling in a vehicle with wheels” in Swedish, the name made perfect sense. However, in English, the word is a synonym for flatulence !!
Probable cause: Literal translation.
