Dragoman Transcreation

  Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (ca. 2000 BCE) into Southwest Asian languages of the second millennium BCE. Translation is...

In linguistics, branching refers to the shape of the parse trees that represent the structure of sentences. Parse trees that grow downward as speech and processing proceeds left to right are right-branching, whereas parse trees that grow upwards as speech and processing proceeds left to right are left-branching. Taking a top-down perspective, parse trees that grow down and to the right are right-b...

Interpreting equipment is a set of tools and devices required to perform simultaneous interpreting during meetings and conferences. Typical interpreting equipment package consists of a central interpreting management system, which manages all other equipment, as well as an interpreter booth, interpreter unit(s), audience units (headsets) and microphones. Intepreting equipment or system must be con...

Mobile interpreting equipment is a portable set of small devices used for tour guiding or interpreting purposes. Tour guiding devices are also called infoport systems. Mobile interpreting equipment is also called a simulport system because it is designed with simultaneous interpreting in mind. Pros Mobile equipment adds comfort to whispered interpreting tasks because the interpreter would not need...

Dragoman was founded in 2005 as an interpreting agency. In time, we evolved into a multi-language vendor of many services including on-site & remote interpreting, transcreation, app & games localization, and video subtitling & dubbing in 80+ languages. Today, we are happy and gratefull to serve over 500 Turkish and multinational corporations. Dragoman has several apps to give you accessibility, ou...

Dragoman prefers using gender-neutral vocabulary in its translations wherever possible. Inappropriate:      This small, soil dwelling, bacteria eating, unsegmented worm may be an important key in mankind‘s endeavor to explore space. Gender-neutral:   This small, soil dwelling, bacteria eating, unsegmented worm may be an important key in humankind‘s endeavor to explore space. Inappropriate:     In...

Dragoman uses AP Style, and AP no longer capitalizes the word internet. Incorrect:    The bogus article contained a software tool that could verify Internet addresses. Correct:       The bogus article contained a software tool that could verify internet addresses. You can further explore this updated writing style topic here.   Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/d...

Behavior is almost always a mass noun and it is very rarely used in the plural. Incorrect:  You must reflect on your behaviors if you want to avoid repeating your mistakes. Correct:     You must reflect on your behavior if you want to avoid repeating your mistakes. Behavior is used in the plural in the fields of psychology, social science, and education. Five behaviors could extend life expectancy...

We must always insert a semi-colon before and a comma after however to connect two independent clauses. Incorrect:    Japan was an expanding giant however it could not generate enough capital to support its rapid industrial development. Correct:       Japan was an expanding giant; however, it could not generate enough capital to support its rapid industrial development. Using however instead of ‘b...

Dragoman prefers “and so on” or “and so forth” to “etc.” (et cetera) to show that there are many other similar things or people that we can add. However, combining “such as” with “and so on” or “and so forth” in a sentence causes a redundancy. Incorrect:   Animals such as mountain lions, wolves and so on are carnivores. Correct:      Animals such as mountain lions and wolves are carnivores.      ...

If we begin by saying e.g., which means for example, it is redundant to add and so on or and so forth at the end. Incorrect:   Some EU countries (e.g., Italy, Belgium, Greece and so on) are largely dependent on gas imports from abroad. Correct:      Some EU countries (e.g., Italy, Belgium, Greece) are largely dependent on gas imports from abroad. Redundancy or wordiness is the enemy of clarity; ma...

Consist in something and consist of something have entirely different meanings. Consist in means to be based on or depend on something. Incorrect:   Patriotism does not consist of blind obedience of the ruled to their rulers. Correct:      Patriotism does not consist in blind obedience of the ruled to their rulers. Consist of means to be formed from two or more things or people. Incorrect:   The s...

Dragoman expects its translators to use correlative conjunctions correctly. The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar defines a correlative as a pair of elements that join two similar parts of a phrase, clause, or sentence. “Not only … but also” is one of the more frequently used correlative conjunctions that Dragoman translators use to translate Turkish copy into English. What you have to keep in...

If you are only localising content into English, your marketing efforts are wasted for 80% of the world population. Researches suggest that people feel more comfortable to buy when they read information in their native language. Do you really want to become a global brand and easily sell your products and services? Contact Dragoman today and let us guide you in multilingual localization. Localizat...

Although warranty and guarantee have similar meanings they cannot be used interchangeably. Dictionary.com defines warranty and guarantee as follows: A warranty is “a promise or guarantee given.” A warranty is usually a written guarantee for a product, and it holds the maker of the product responsible to repair or replace a defective product or its parts. It is only used as a noun. A guarantee is t...

Wikipedia’s entry on sex and gender distinction reads as follows: “The distinction between sex and gender differentiates a person’s biological sex (the anatomy of an individual’s reproductive system, and secondary sex characteristics) from that person’s gender, which can refer to either social roles based on the sex of the person (gender role) or personal identification of one’s own gender based o...

Although only and alone have similar meanings, we cannot always use them interchangeably when translating into English. When we use alone to mean without including anything else, it comes right after the noun it modifies. Incorrect:   Minnesota only exports more than $2 billion in soybeans annually, with China as the state’s top export market. Correct:       Minnesota alone exports more than $2 bi...

The AP Stylebook recommends avoiding excessive use of contractions. Yet, it all depends on the context. If we are translating formal documents such as contracts, financial reports, user guides, journal articles and so on, we must never use contractions. Incorrect: The Parties agree that they shan’t discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, sex or...

Turkish to English translators frequently confuse invitation (davet) with reception. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines invitation and reception as follows: Invitation:   A written or spoken request to someone, inviting them to go somewhere or do something or a card inviting someone to attend a party, wedding etc. Reception:  A large formal party to celebrate an event or to welcome...

This is our second piece on how to write headlines in English. Please read the following examples carefully and get back to ask if you have any further questions.  4. Headlines use infinitives to refer to future events. Incorrect:  TRUMP WILL VISIT FRANCE Correct:     TRUMP TO VISIT FRANCE 5. Headlines often contain a string of nouns. Incorrect:   LOCKOUT IS DECLARED AT A CAR PLANT OVER A LABOR DI...

Do not capitalize disease names or medical terms. AP Style suggests that: “Do not capitalize arthritis, emphysema, leukemia, pneumonia, etc. When a disease is known by the name of a person or geographical area identified with it, capitalize only the proper noun element: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Ebola virus, etc.” Capitalization is tricky even for native speakers. You can learn why...

Dragoman and Associated Press (AP) Stylebook prefers e-mail over email. We use a hyphen with other e- terms: e-book, e-reader, e-commerce. Source: AP Stylebook Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dragoman-transcreation--4083088/support .

Dragoman prefers over, not above to talk about ages and to mean more than. I know this may sound like a minor detail but for us Dragomans, the beauty is right there in the details. Incorrect:  There are above 60,000 screaming fans in the stadium this afternoon. Correct:      There are over 60,000 screaming fans in the stadium this afternoon. Incorrect:   You have to be above 35 to run for presiden...

Press releases and headlines account for a big part of Dragoman‘s daily business volume. Headlines are written in a style of their own, and we have to know how to translate them. 1. Headlines often leave out articles and the verb be. Incorrect:  MAN LANDS ON THE MOON Correct:      MAN LANDS ON MOON Incorrect:  U.S. SANCTIONS ARE UNJUSTIFIED SAYS ROHANI Correct:      U.S. SANCTIONS UNJUSTIFIED SAYS...

English writers and translators often confuse when and how to use a definite article. We have several tips for translators on our knowledge base and We precede any country with “the” whose name is plural or includes state, union, republic, and kingdom. Incorrect:   The Dutch famine of 1944–45 is known in Netherlands as the Hongerwinter (literal translation: hunger winter). Correct:       The Dutch...