There are few greater achievements than writing a book. The next rewarding step is to enable an even wider audience to enjoy it! Book translation is the key to this, but what’s the best way of going about it? And how can you ensure your book is translated faithfully? Read on to discover the secret to preserving the unique essence of your story and allowing it to across cultures.
Selling a book to an international audience
The next step following the publication of your book is to create opportunities for it to be read – and why limit it to readers in its original language? Selling a book to an international audience opens up new and exciting possibilities to reach a wider readership, gain greater recognition and forge connections across cultures.
However, the book translation process involves more than simply translating the words on the page to a foreign language; achieving book sales internationally requires it to be adapted to your new market. This includes taking into account cultural considerations, such as how books are consumed. Are you expanding to a country that prefers eBooks or paperbacks? Working with local distribution channels, specialist book marketers or local reputable e-commerce platforms are important for reaching the international readers your book deserves! The initial step, however, is to guarantee that your book translation meets the highest standards.
Why a book translation must be high quality
Expanding your book’s reach means taking a careful look at how a different culture may respond to your work. Does it cover subject matter that may be considered challenging elsewhere? Are there references that are deeply embedded in your own culture that may require additional explanation?
It’s also crucial to reflect carefully on the type of translation you want. Do you want your book translation to stay as true to the original as possible, even if it means risking a less familiar tone for the target audience?
Working with an experienced professional translator allows you to liaise directly, communicating your own aspirations for the translation. You’ll be able to ensure the translator captures the essence of your message, with the scope to work together on the challenges it may present. Translators are not only professionals with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of both languages; They’re also experts in the cultural nuances and subtleties embedded within both cultures.
For instance, let’s say your book refers to a well-known TV show that wouldn’t require any explanation for an American. Do you want the translator to retain that reference, even though a reader in, let’s say, France, may never have heard of it? This would ensure the American context of your book was preserved, potentially appealing to a French reader keen on American culture and all its references.
Alternatively, the translator could look for a comparable French TV show that contains the same connotations as the one in your book. In this case, the book translation would include elements of transcreation. By working through these decisions together, you’ll ensure your book is translated in exactly the way you want, embodying the essence of its meaning and message in whatever language you choose.
In an age where tools like Google Translate can provide a cheap, quick fix, the expertise of a translation company is invaluable. Relying solely on automated tools is a surefire way to compromise the quality of literary works!
Subject matter: Literary translations vs. literal translations
If you need a legal document such as a contract to be translated into a foreign language, accurate translations are everything. With a work of fiction, language isn’t only working to convey a message. Each word is selected not only for its meaning but also for the way it expresses that meaning. For instance, if the author is describing the movement of a bird, they could, of course, use the verb “fly”. However, they might also describe the bird as fluttering, gliding, soaring, hovering, flitting or winging its way.
While all these choices express the notion of flight, each has a slightly different connotation that impacts how we perceive the bird. These subtleties also need to be worked into the translation, to ensure the same connotations are present in the translated work. Equally, the translator may decide there is a better way to capture the emotion, style or nuances of a story in the target language. This is the essence of literary translation. It’s the ideal way to translate a novel, poetry, a play or any work that relies on tone, character voice and emotion and enables the original impact of the text to be reflected in the translation.
A non-fiction book may have different considerations. In this genre, the aim is to stay as close to the original text as possible. In this genre, clarity and accuracy are paramount and cultural and stylistic considerations are less relevant. By selecting a professional book translation service with skilled literary and non-fiction translators, you’ll be able to rely on the expertise of your professional to make the right choice for your work.
How to find the right translation service
Given the challenges and complexities inherent in book translation, it’s crucial that you choose a service that has significant experience in navigating these obstacles – and with so many translation agencies to choose from, this decision can feel overwhelming. At Capital Linguists, we understand just how much work, thought, time, energy and deliberation goes into writing a book – and this should be evident to readers, whether they’re reading in English or another language.
Capital Linguists is a translation agency that works exclusively with highly skilled, accredited translators, who translate into their native language. Thanks to our unique approach, you’ll have a dedicated project manager overseeing everything from selecting the most appropriate translator, timings, budget and anything else that might arise. To find out more, don’t hesitate to reach out and request a free quote – we’d be more than happy to hear from you!
