When we talk about books and translation, we have to bear in mind that whoever translates a text needs to be completely clear about its meaning, and to give the text an interpretation that a literal translation simply cannot achieve.

Even so, it is often difficult to achieve that perfect translation, with that interpretation, with the magic of the original text. To make it a little clearer: there is a huge difference between watching a film first and reading the book afterwards, and doing it the other way round, reading a book and then watching a film.  Let us explain those differences:

When you watch a film you love and you know it is based on a book, reading the book makes you like it even more. The film, however, does not stop appealing to you; in fact, it is what made you read the book. On the other hand, when you read a book and it captivates you, you imagine the characters in a particular way, along with the settings and the situations… And when someone outside your own head puts it on screen, however good the result, it is going to disappoint you. Because the faces are not as you had imagined them, nor the voices, nor the clothes.

Why are we telling you all this? Because much the same thing happens with book translation. When someone adapts a book to make a film, they do it from their own interpretation. It may be the right one, or the one that works best on screen, but it is still their own interpretation.

Translation and interpretation

Something similar happens with books. Translators have to be able to capture the essence of what the author wants to convey. Because very often a literal translation of the text is not possible, and rendering it in another language requires the translator’s interpretation. That is why translators who work on texts, whether books, legal documents, blogs, e-commerce and so on, need to be good professionals with solid training.

At AlosIdiomas we are proud to say that we have a great team of professionals working to make your translations perfect and faithful to the original content. Get in touch with us for more information, and follow us on social media to keep up with all our news. You will find us on facebook, instagram and Linkedin.