In life we sometimes encounter situations where we need a translation from one foreign language into another foreign language. In that case we have two options. We can rely on the help of a person fluent in both foreign languages, or use the help of two translators, each working within a different language. What should you pay attention to when choosing this type of translation? Is it worth having a translator render the text into Polish first, and only later into the second foreign language?
Double translation and errors
When translating between two foreign languages, we can opt for direct translation or double translation – from the foreign language into Polish, and then from Polish into the next foreign language. Choosing the second strategy can create problems related to differences in the structure and vocabulary of the Polish language. To illustrate this, we can use a simple example. Suppose we are translating a text about snow from Eskimo-Aleut into Norwegian via Polish. Due to the climate they live in, Eskimo peoples are able to distinguish more types of snow than Poles, and use separate words for this purpose. Norwegians, too, deal with snow for a large part of the year and are able to describe its types more precisely than we can. Because we are not able to precisely indicate the types of snow when translating from Eskimo-Aleut into Polish, the meaning of the text may be flattened, and it will be difficult to restore its original nuance in the second translation.
Translation between two foreign languages and domestication
How a text is ultimately translated largely depends on the strategy chosen by the translator. In some cases they may decide to apply domestication, i.e. adapting the content to the culture of the target language country. In a double translation, this can lead to a loss of the original meaning. Let’s take the example of the popular children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh. For most of us it is known as „Kubuś Puchatek”. However, there is also a second translation, in which the main character is called „Fredzia Phi-Phi”. In both translations the translators applied different strategies, which affects how the reader perceives the main character. Now imagine a translator who only has the Polish translations available and is translating the book into yet another language. They would have to guess what the author of the book meant and rely largely on intuition, which may differ from the writer’s original intent.
Certified translations from a foreign language into another foreign language
Although the strategy of direct translation between two foreign languages helps avoid many translation errors, Polish law prohibits this practice in the case of certified translations. A sworn translator, as a person of public trust, must comply with the regulations. And these only give them the ability to translate from a foreign language into Polish and vice versa. Even if a translator is authorised to translate into two foreign languages, every text must first be rendered into Polish.
The benefits of direct translation between two foreign languages
If you want to order a translation from one foreign language into another foreign language, always choose a translation made directly from the original, rather than via Polish. This way you avoid errors resulting from double translation and can be sure the meaning of the text has not been altered. The service will also be cheaper and faster, since the translator only has to perform the translation once. If you’re not sure whether a translation is being carried out directly within the pair of foreign languages, ask the person or agency handling your order. If you also need the text in Polish, order that translation separately.
