How do you say??

While it might not equate to trying to determine exactly what the meaning of life is, there are some perpetual questions in translation that just seem to have answers that elude all concerned. Let's have a look at the intricacies of translating words and concepts, and see why the clichéd expression ?lost in translation? can really ring true time after time.

Don't risk the misunderstanding ? leave your texts in the hands of translation professionals.

I've been engaged in the translation of some French texts into English for a company's website recently, or rather, should I say, in an effort to speed up the process, I've been delivered the texts in a mélange of French, English and the language that can only be termed as franglais. For all those who aren't familiar with this tongue, it's a specific blend of French and English, encouraged by the many faux amis or "false friends", which are words that seem to be similar in two certain languages, but really they have a totally contrasting, often conflicting and ultimately confusing other meaning. It's not just English and French either, and many students at an English school London from a variety of international backgrounds will confirm exactly the same detail.

When the message you want to spread isn't actually the one that you're conveying.

So we have that to consider for starters. If you're familiar with these faux amis it's a pretty simple issue to rectify. The next point is the translation of concepts and connotations, such as the translation of CV details. This is tricky, for even if you've studied in a language school London, you can't be sure that you're translating your qualifications into something universally understood when it comes to American English or International English. For instance, if you mention in a CV that you've attended l'Ecole Polytechnique, you might have prospective employers thinking " ...and so what?" when in reality, just the mention of this school would have almost any prospective French employer on their knees, or alternately shaking your hand and becoming all buddy-buddy because they've also attended this elite grande école of engineering. Like Oxbridge in the UK and the Ivy League in the US, the grandes écoles are the most prestigious French academic institutions, and the one held in the highest renown, you guessed it - l'Ecole Polytechnique. However, in many other countries throughout the world, polytechnic instead means secondary or vocational education, and at times general university education. Even if you've studied Business English or Business French, it's difficult to render these meanings accurately and effectively.

... and that's just the tip of the iceberg! Technical specifications, bureaucratic processes, cultural knowledge ? that's just all part of the day-to-day life of a translator!