Tips for Japanese to English Translation

By: Petter Alex Posted on Mon, 05-07-2021

With the advent of globalization and digitization, language connectivity has become very important. For multilingual connectivity, localization platforms have shared their visions to turn the dream of connectivity into reality. Japan is an industrial-based growing economy. The audience around the globe does not want to miss its ancient cultural understanding. Owing to its importance, Japanese to English translation is the need of the hour to live in this global village. Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers. Both languages have different syntax and styles of writing. But due to digitization and globalization, language to language translation has become a crucial need. But the number of complex differences have made this an uphill task.

Here some tips are given below to note down the difference and translating Japanese into English.

Steps for Japanese to English Translation

Step 1: Selecting the Style and Tone

The Japanese language depends upon style and tone. It has three basic tones which include normal, polite, and honorific. Depending upon the context of the relationship, a respective tone is used. For instance, an informal tone is used with loved ones. In the business world, the tone with colleagues and customers also varies. When the Japanese address someone, they give more respect than usual or English language. They find it proper to use someone’s last name and attach a suffix (-san). Like: Hello, Mr.John=Hello, John-san. When translating this language into English, it is pertinent to choose a suitable tone to hit your target audience.

Step 2: Grammatical Difference

Apart from case complexities, the grammatical difference is also there between these two languages. One should keep in mind that grammatical differences that include the Japanese language have no definite or indefinite articles, its verbs come at the end of the sentence, the subject is not necessary sometimes for a complete sentence, plural nouns and future tense domains are absent. Moreover, Japanese structural particles have taken the place of prepositions and give assistance to verb meaning. So, these differences are highly important to note down while doing the translation

Step 3: Language Characters

Three types of characters are present in the Japanese language. Hiragana,Kanji, and Katakana. Hiragana is used for naturalized words, grammar rules, and structure. Chinese characters are adopted for replacing and combining the words with hiragana. Moreover, for scientific and technical terms, foreign words, and emphasis Katakana characters are used. Apart from this, while translating some company or product names it is better to remain in English. For instance, iPhone, MacBook, etc.

Step 4: Use of Translation Software, Glossaries, and Online Dictionary

The Japanese to English translation is an uphill task. It is highly advisable to use different translation tools or online dictionaries instead of relying on free platforms. Apart from this, human translators with high professional expertise should always be preferred because Japanese translation is largely based on tone and one can only distinguish among the polite or rough manner while translating the context.

Step 5: Translation Process: A Long Road to Go

The translation process is not a one-way step. It is a long road. You have to keep the details of context, language, style, and tone respectively. And when it comes to translating a complex language, it takes several steps to complete the process. Such as when the task of translating the Indo-European languages occurs, side by side with semantic analysis, breaking the sentences into smaller portions, analyzing the context before translation is necessary.

Here are the Top Five Japanese to English Translation Companies:

1. TransPerfect

In this competitive era of globalization, the Transperfect has managed to be on the top-rank, with an experience of over 25 years. It covers over 170 languages. This platform offers translation, localization, interpretation, and so on. In this perspective, this company covers eleven major industries that include e-commerce, legal documentation, Media and entertainment, software, and life sciences. As discussed above, the Japanese language has so many complexities when it comes to its English translation. To avoid any misinterpretation and delays in translation services, one can easily go for TransPerfect without having any ambiguity.

2. Lionbridge

Due to its unique and enormous services, Lionbridge has managed to be one of the leading industrial examples across the globe. Since its inception, this company has worked by leaps and is bound to translate the visions of people into reality. It offers services that include localization, global content management, and translation, etc., and covers almost 250 various industries. They cover over 350 languages by building a network of over 500,000 expertise around 5000 cities of the world. Translating Japanese into the English language is not a hard nut to crack for Lionbridge.

3. SDL

It is not an easy task to remain on the top rank. Although it is challenging, yet worth remaining. Another translation company has achieved this status after so many years of experience. SDL has been able to come up with its planning to ensure qualitative success. For this, their Global Content Operating Model (GCOM), able to merge the human skills and the perks of advanced technology to ensure services better than ever. Their services include translation, marketing, language localization, and testing. SDL is a 27 years old platform and covers over 100 languages.

4. MarsTranslation

Mars Translation is a well-recognized name in the global market. This company facilitates translation services in around 120 languages. Its efficient translation memory software with the help of its professional language translators produces qualitative and affordable results. It is offering its valuable service in the 22 major industries that include website localization, software translation, e-commerce, e-business, gaming, and Desktop Publishing. Apart from this, the sole objective of this company is to satisfy the clients’ needs. So, to get error-free services into the English language from Japanese one can easily get from this platform.

5. CCJK Technologies

One of the most acknowledged names in the relative industry is CCJK Technologies. It was developed twenty years ago with a promise of delivering efficient and qualitative localization results.CCJK Technologies serves the Japanese and English markets so well and satisfies the global customers who seek to enter the respective market. The company deals in website and software localization, e-learning translation, market material localization transcreation, edition, and interpretation. So, to get the Japanese services into English, CCJK is undoubtedly one of the most reliable sources.

Ending Note:

In a nutshell, the language translation is no longer a difficult task. All thanks to the recognized localization companies, that have made the human dream possible to merge culturally, socially, and religiously. Japan is an industrial-based leading economy. In this perspective, it is highly needed to understand Japanese culture and research literature. This requirement can be fulfilled by hiring any of the above-mentioned translation companies.

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