Over on Copyblogger, a great reminder about getting back to basics by focusing on writing great paragraphs, something that also happens to make copy more translatable.
In French to English translation, two of the things that can easily throw me off track are redundancies (which are often disguised in French by using a variety of synonyms and related words to add emphasis or make a point…hard to render in English without being, er, redundant) and the mid-paragraph switcheroo (when the writer suddenly brings in a new idea leaving you scratching your head).
Following the common-sense tips offered up (stick to one idea per paragraph, cut out redundancies, include three to five sentences in each paragraph with occasional one or two sentence variations, provide “on ramps” and “off ramps”…) also boosts the chances of getting a satisfactory translation of your copy.
If your original copy is less than perfect, however (after all, we’re all human and don’t always hire professional writers for all of our copy needs), you should be able to count on your translator to point out issues like poor paragraph construction and offer to improve them in the translated copy.
If your translator has no comments, questions, or suggestions about your original copy, consider it a warning sign that your copy isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
But also consider it a golden opportunity to talk to your service provider about your expectations. You might be surprised at what they have to offer you!
