What is translation? (Complete guide + examples)

What is translation?

Translation is changing text from one language into another without losing its meaning. It’s about expressing the same ideas naturally in a new language, so your message is clear and easy to understand.

Almost anyone can benefit from translation, but it’s especially useful if you want to share ideas clearly with people who speak another language.
Businesses translate their websites, apps, or marketing materials to reach more customers worldwide. Organizations use translation to connect with diverse communities, and individuals often translate documents, stories, or messages to communicate with people who speak different languages.

How does translation work?

Translation starts with carefully reading the original text to fully understand its meaning, tone, and intention. The translator then finds the best way to say the same thing naturally in another language.

Translation isn't word-for-word because languages don't match neatly one-to-one. Each language has unique grammar structures, vocabulary, and ways of expressing ideas.

What are some translation examples?

German-to-English translation example

Let’s take a look at a simple German-to-English translation. It will help us understand why it’s not a good idea to translate word-for-word.

German is famous for its long, compound words that bundle several ideas into one. These words, like Fahrgemeinschaft (carpool) or Krankenversicherung (health insurance), cannot be translated without using multiple words.

Take this simple German sentence:

“Gibt es eine Fahrmöglichkeit?”

If you translate it literally word-for-word, you get something like:

“Is there a driving possibility?”

This sounds a bit weird and confusing. A more natural translation would be:

“Is there a way to get a ride?”

As you can see, the translator has an important task. They have to capture the original meaning, feeling, context, and nuances, and make sure the message makes perfect sense to someone reading it in their own language.

Japanese-to-English translation

Japanese has beautiful words for feelings or moments that don't have exact matches in English.

For example, komorebi (木漏れ日) describes the gentle sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees. Another one is kuchisabishii (口寂しい), that feeling of wanting to eat something, and not because you're hungry, but because your “mouth feels lonely”. 

Japanese is a great example of the fact that each language reflects the values, priorities, and even the character of its speakers. Words that exist in one culture but not in another can tell you a lot about what's important to the people who speak it.

What are the key translation approaches?

We can discuss key translation approaches from two different angles:

• By looking at the ways translators approach their work
• By looking at who preforms the translation

In the first matter, translators can either translate literally or lean into transcreation.

In reality, translators often blend both approaches to create translations that are both accurate and natural-sounding.

When looking at who’s preforming the translation, there are three main categories:

• Human translation: Human translators who deeply understand context, culture, and nuances carefully convert text from one language to another
   
• Machine translation: Automated software quickly translates text using algorithms, but often misses nuances, cultural references, and context
   
• Generative AI translation: Advanced AI translation tools translate text more naturally by understanding context and tone (though human review is usually still needed)

AI and machine translation can help you quickly test how your message resonates in new languages before committing to human translation. They also improve consistency across large volumes of content, which makes updates and translations easier to manage.

What types of translations are there?

The main types of translation are literary, technical, legal, marketing, software localization, and financial translation.

• Literary translation: Books, poetry, or stories that focus on emotion and style
  
• Technical translation: Manuals or guides requiring precise terminology
  
• Legal translation: Contracts or documents that demand accuracy and compliance
  
• Marketing translation: Ads, websites, or other marketing materials adapted to resonate with local audiences
  
• Financial translation: Reports or financial documents where clarity and precision matter most
  
• Business translation: Corporate documents, company presentations, emails, or internal communication between international teams and partners
  
• Software localization: Apps and software translated and adjusted to meet the expectations of local users

What translation methods are there?

Professional translators rely on either direct or oblique translation methods to take a message from one language into another. The right choice depends on the type of content, its intended audience, and how closely the two languages match. Let’s break them down.

Direct translation methods

Direct methods stick closely to the original text. You keep the wording, structure, and meaning as exact as possible. This works best when precision matters. Think technical instructions, legal documents, or scientific papers.

Some common direct translation methods include borrowing, calque (loan translation), and literal translation.

Oblique translation methods

Oblique methods are more flexible and creative. Professional translators use these methods to capture the meaning naturally, rather than strictly matching words. They’re great for marketing materials, literature, or any text that needs to feel natural and engaging.

What makes a good translator? 

A good translator does more than speak two languages fluently. They invest an effort to deeply understand the context, culture, and nuances behind the words.

Professional translators are also detail-oriented, patient, and resourceful. They take the time to research unfamiliar terms, double-check context, and keep up with evolving language trends. Above all, they always think about the reader first.

They can also be witty and funny, which is best seen in the way movie titles get translated. See some clever examples from the Reddit thread, below.

Sometimes, the translator might decide to completely recreate the movie title because they know what the local audience expects:

What type of translation technology do you need?

To translate efficiently and accurately, you typically need tools like translation management systems (TMS), computer-assisted (CAT) tools, and quality assurance (QA) tools.

• Translation management systems (TMS): Platforms like Lokalise help you manage, organize, and streamline translation workflows, especially when dealing with large projects or multiple languages
   
• Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools: These tools speed up the translation process using translation memories, glossaries, and termbases to maintain consistency and reuse previous translations
   
• Quality assurance (QA) tools: These automatically check your translations for mistakes, inconsistencies, or formatting errors before publishing.

You can also use machine translation tools like Google Translate or DeepL for fast, initial drafts, and then use human post-editing to refine your translation.

How do you ensure translation accuracy?

Translation accuracy is ensured by combining human expertise, helpful tools, and a clear review process. Here’s how to do it.

Work with professional translators

Accuracy starts with professionals who understand both languages and cultures (so, not just the words, but also what’s behind them).

Use translation tools wisely

Glossaries, style guides, and translation memories help you keep terms, tone, and style consistent across all content.

Review and edit

Every good translation needs to go through a second set of eyes. An editor or reviewer checks for mistakes, awkward wording, or anything that might sound unclear in the target language.

Run quality assurance checks

Automated QA tools help you spot small errors. Think typos, missing numbers, or formatting issues.

Get native feedback

When possible, local speakers should review the translation to make sure it sounds natural and that it makes sense to the intended global audience.

How can translation companies help?

Translation companies (also known as language service providers) make it easier for businesses and individuals to communicate across languages. They offer access to professional translators, editors, and localization experts, and conveniently all in one place. Here’s how they can help you.

Handle large or complex projects

Whether it’s a website, product documentation, or marketing campaign, language service providers (or LSPs) can manage translations at scale and across multiple languages.

Ensure quality and consistency

Translation companies use glossaries, style guides, and translation memories to keep your messaging clear and consistent.

Provide specialized expertise

They have translators with experience in specific fields (e.g., legal, technical, or medical translation), so you get accurate and industry-relevant results.

Speed up the process

They combine human expertise with technology (like CAT tools and QA systems) to deliver high-quality translations faster.

Take care of localization

Beyond translating words, they can adapt your content by taking into account cultural norms, so it resonates with local audiences.

Want to learn more about translation and localization?

At Lokalise, our goal is to be the go-to source for clear, practical advice on translation and localization. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your multilingual projects, our resources help you translate better, launch faster, and connect with your audience, wherever they are.

Check out our blog for more useful articles and our library for in-depth guides and webinars.