The Top Five EN>PL Translation issues So Far!

Wow, what a week! Last Sunday seems like a long way away, and since then it’s been a non-stop Sajgon on all fronts – hence the lack of new material this week. So, in time-honoured tradition, it’s time to re-heat and re-serve some previous meals in the Bad Microwave. 

To this end, here are my top five issues that have featured on the blog so far. If you’re new to the Article, or have missed a few weeks etc, then just reading these five things will be a shot in the arm for your translating armoury. (Wow, talk about a mixed metaphor). 

Here we go then – five of the most thorny issues in PL>EN translation, as featured on the Bad Article so far (this doesn’t excuse you from reading everything else, top-to-bottom ;)

1. Using in the case of, when in case of is what you want,
2. Mixing up since and from when describing elapsed time,
3. Over-punctuating around brackets,
4. Using persons when people is more appropriate,
5. Over- and mis-use of appreciate and cooperate.

I know it’s a bit tragic doing this kind of thing, but, it’s also quite useful. As our readership increases over time, it can be handy having a look back at previous work. Well, that’s how I rationalise it anyway. Don’t despair though, fresh bułki are on the way!

appreciate - cooperate

appreciate

1a) The movie has already been appreciated by both critics and cinema-goers.

1b) The movie has already been acclaimed by both critics and cinema-goers.

1c) The movie has already been lauded by both critics and cinema-goers.

1d) The movie has already been applauded by both critics and cinema-goers.

Much like offer, appreciated is one of those all-purpose, one-word-does-all jobs that is over-used in our En translations. Possibly it is a much more flexible and versatile word in Polish, but in English it is rather more specific and has a much more limited use, particularly as here, in its past-tense form. (1b, c, d) are all great synonyms, but note that (1c) can (but not strictly) have a slightly more official meaning, in that our film may have won some prizes or something.

cooperate

An old favourite, and as with all these funky things, it can never be repeated too often or stressed too much: cooperate is over-used, and also has certain undesirable connotations. ‘You will cooperate with us Mr. Proofreader. We know where your family lives...’ Fortunately, it’s really easy to fix:

2a) As the leading Polish manufacturer of aerospace components, we cooperate with the biggest spaceship factories in the USA.

2b) As the leading Polish manufacturer of aerospace components, we work with the biggest spaceship factories in the USA.

3a) We guarantee the high quality of our cat flaps by cooperating with only ISO-approved flap component manufacturers.

3b) We guarantee the high quality of our cat flaps because we work with only ISO-approved flap component manufacturers.

4a) We welcome you to/for cooperation!

4b) We're waiting for your call! / We welcome all enquiries / etc etc, itd, itp, blah blah...

OED Definition

1- (mass noun) the action or process of cooperating.¹

2- Cooperate: (v) work jointly towards the same end (also ¹); assist someone or comply with their requests.

Note: If you ever find yourself writing (4a), you should strongly consider sitting down with an English dictionary and a bottle of wine, and not getting up again until one or both are finished... ;)

(although I have a book of Polish verb tables that, if I spent more time with it and less time with bottles of wine, I might actually be able to make more sense in Polish... :D)