Dragoman Transcreation

Translating disabilities

Posted on October 6, 2020March 28, 2021 Editor Notes

According to the AP Stylebook and several other guides, when writing about people with disabilities; Avoid using terms such as “handicapped” or “cripple.” Clearly define the type of disability if you can. If this is not possible, you can use “people with disabilities” or “disabled people.” Example: Inappropriate: Services for the handicapped and their families Use: Services for people with disabilities and their families Avoid language that suggests pity such as “suffer from”, “afflicted with,” “victim of,” or “stricken with.” […]

Hyphen, En Dash or Em Dash?

Posted on October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 Editor Notes

Let’s clear up the confusion surrounding the use of hyphen, en dash and em dash. The hyphen (-) Dragoman follows the AP Stylebook, so we use hyphens to indicate ranges or to clarify that we are using a compound modifier. Please use no spaces before or after the hyphen. Examples: The first leg of the training was held in Şanlıurfa on May 22-23, 2019. Our state-of-the-art warehouse facilities are 80-percent automated. Each year, we endeavor to create a first-rate academic […]

The weakest sentence starter: “It is”

Posted on February 25, 2019June 27, 2019 Sentences

“It is considered that (…),” “it is probable that (…),” or even worse “it is of utmost importance that (…)” Do we really need these clunky phrases? Dragoman encourages translators to avoid one of the weakest sentence openers: “it is (…) that/to.” By doing so, you will not only eliminate redundancy but also have smooth and creative sentences. Let’s accept, it is a bit lazy to overuse “it is.” Wordy: It is critical not to enter into arguments with […]

Address your audience

Posted on January 24, 2019October 5, 2019 Sentences

If you wish to address your readers directly and captivate them, you should use pronouns, instead of using passive voice or “there is/are.” By using “you,” you make your sentences more relatable to your readers. Besides, they easily understand your point—and what should they do. Here are some examples: Source: Bir şirketi satmak için optimum tarihi şöyle belirlemeniz mümkün: Satış ve kar rakamı yüksek olmalı. Geçmişe dönük birkaç yıl boyunca büyüme trendi sergilenmiş olmalı. Translation: This is how to determine the optimal date […]

5 Redundant Phrases to Avoid in Legal Translations

Posted on January 21, 2019January 27, 2019 Editor Notes

“in light of the fact that,” “with regard to,” “under the provisions of…” These trite phrases often prevent your text to be clear and smooth. Translators are under the impression that legal texts require word-for-word translations. However, Dragoman prefers being loyal to the meaning, not to the cumbersome structure of source sentences. Here are five phrases that you can eliminate to improve your legal language skills: 1. “hereinafter referred to as” Just put the described phrase into parentheses and quotation […]