Czech and English belong to different subgroups of the same language family which is Indo-European to start with. The subgroups are Slavic and Germanic, respectively. The translation from English to Czech or later to the former can pose great challenges if not handled strategically. The dissimilarities in their grammar, verb conjugation, pronunciation, and vocabulary are evident. Likewise, there are similarities as well. Considering the overall connectivity and digital world, seeking translation services has become a normal practice for businesses to expand their operations and tap foreign markets. Likewise, many English companies and setups look for certified Czech translation services to make their expansion process smooth and effective. However, the process can be challenging and could demand proper research about both languages, cultures, and business norms.
A few tips that can help people from both sides with both languages to have a successful expansion are;
Consider the grammar differences
Czech language has a complex case system which may include nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, locative, and instrumental. Being a Slavic language Czech grammar is fusional. Phonological processes modify the meanings and grammatical functions. It is also important to note that the Czech language is very hard and the Foreign Service Institute has categorized it as a level IV language. The sentences and verb conjugations in Czech can change according to the person and his mood and voice, unlike in English. This comes as a major difference in grammar which makes the English to Czech translation tricky. Moreover, it is also important to consider that word order is more flexible in Czech as compared to English which allows for greater emphasis and nuances in text.
Implement the right strategies to counter grammar complexities
Maintaining accuracy and precision while translating from English to Czech or vice versa can be challenging. Translating Czech into English is particularly a deal. Therefore, it is important that the team and translation agency hired for the purpose is experienced enough with native speakers who know the right approaches to navigate through such challenges. Breaking down the text into components helps greatly in the process. For the most accurate and professional Czech translation services, focusing on the words individually with the relevant context might also help. As Czech comes with a complex grammar as compared to the English language, so sentence structure in Czech is not that sorted and definite as in English. Therefore, this language might demand extra effort and hassle for quality and error-free translation.
Find the connection between vocabulary and loanwords
The English and Czech vocabulary also varies greatly. There are cognates between both languages due to the historical connections. However, there are many words that have distinct meanings and many other words come with no equivalents in other languages which often poses a great challenge for the translators, and for which they have to look for the appropriate alternative in other languages quite smartly in a way that it does not effect the overall narrative of the text.
The loanwords of both languages are present in each other. As both languages belong to the same family, so there are certain similarities that come due to the shared roots. There are borrowed words in both languages, and it often leads to major conflict in the translation process. Therefore, experts always recommend looking into the basics of the given language pair to avoid complications.
Do look into cultural differences
Cultural differences are the most important part of the translation process, and when it comes to English to Czech translation or vice versa it is extremely crucial to take into account the cultural appropriateness. English and Czech culture varies greatly. People in the Czech are formal. They prioritize their privacy over other things and barely smile until you give them a good reason to. The English people, however, have different practices. Moreover, according to the opinion of the people who have spent time in both cultures, the Czechs have a good sense of humor. All these cultural differences need to be reflected in the translation with the right selection of words to strike the right chord with a new audience.
Consider the technological help and relevant translation tools
Translations help people and businesses to look into each other’s culture and understand their target audience as a nation. Therefore, these need to be precise, accurate, and without mistakes. Working on a text and translating it into another language without compromising its quality, original meaning and context can be a tricky task which is why taking help from machine translation tools is also encouraged. While the translation engines and software could not be as accurate for Czech as these are for English, these are surely of great help. It is important to make wise use of technology when needed. With an overall accuracy of 82.5% Google Translate’s accuracy for the Czech language varies between 50-60%. Therefore, using it accordingly is important and machine translation text should be sent to human translators for editing and final review. However, if it is marketing content, you should opt for professional Czech translation services.
Conclusion
Czech is a tough language to learn and translate to and from as compared to English. Therefore, it poses great challenges in the translation process. However, considering certain tips and practices such as looking into grammar differences, working on strategies to deal with complexities, and a wise use of machine translation tools can make the translation process smooth.