The majority of people have a misconception about the length of sentences in Arabic. This is why there tends to be a misconception that they are always longer than their English translations. The phenomenon of so-called text expansions does sometimes occur in Arabic translations, however it is not always the case. There is a very pertinent question now that we have to raise: what is the most appropriate standard of judging whether an Arabic translation is of high quality or not, or if it is of higher quality than other languages?
First and foremost, make sure that your work is as accurate as possible. Make sure that the Arabic translation does not end up being shorter or longer than the source text, as neither should be shorter nor longer than it. Definitely, we are not referring to the word count of the document here, but rather the message itself, the main body text and the sub-points that comprise the body of the article as a whole. Essentially, the translator’s job is to render the document in a different language. Due to this, there is very little room for creativity at the workplace, to the point that there is none to be found. Sometimes, the author of the document is actually the client, and in this example, he is likely to call the final shots.
As a matter of fact, switching from one natural language to another cannot simply be done by substituting one word for another. Culture and localization are always factors that should be taken into account when designing a product. As clients, we must take advantage of the translator’s expertise in expressing the same thoughts using different expressions in the Arabic translation in a way that enhances the interpretation. Alternatives might be a more effective way for a client to reach their target audience in a more effective way by implementing alternatives.
Secondly, it is a necessity to check the grammar and structure of the document. Any Arabic translator will not be able to do a satisfactory job if he or she fails to utilize the correct structure, as well as the correct grammar, in their translations. The translator is always faced with the challenge of balancing the differences between structural accuracy and the true meaning of the text in terms of the technical challenges involved. If you do not use adverbs correctly or place adjectives in the proper places, you may make mistakes in judgement about how you should use them.
In order to make your statements more impactful, I urge you to think about the potential effects of passive and active voices. I urge you to think about how they might affect the impact of those statements in terms of either weakening or enhancing them. For instance, structural considerations could have an impact on the message in a way that is opposite to what was intended. In the event that an unbiased translation agency is working with you, they will make sure that the problems mentioned above are corrected before delivering the final version of your translation to you. However, it is essential that the client has the opportunity to evaluate the translations that have been done for them. Basic knowledge of the language is a must.
Lastly, but definitely not least, consider the style and the language. These are more subjective issues, where translators actually have more control. However, this could also mean more traps to fall into. One example of a trap is being inappropriately creative when translating into Arabic. The Arabic language has classical and modern modes of communication, as well as colloquial varieties. There is the big question when translating as to whether the agency should preserve the style of the source or just use its own style. If the style of the source is appropriate, then it is better to retain it. Basically, this could make the entire Arabic translation process more stable.
