Russian Translation Difficulties

Russian translators across the world face the same problems while making their best translation stand out. It is not enough to merely "know" Russian grammar or Russian slang. Even being a native Russian speaker doesn't always guarantee the best-possible translations between Russian and another language.

The goal for any Russian translator or interpreter is to identify the appropriate cultural feelings so that the intended meaning, not just the word-for-word translation, can be conveyed accurately. Russian translators should understand the terms and phrases that are contextually appropriate, given the people and culture(s) involved.

It's equally important that an experienced English-Russian interpreter or translator understands the mindset of the people involved in the translation - the words and phrases they will expect and understand.

Russian, like every other language, reflects the world view of the people, their behavior, and stereotypes. Professional translators and interpreters comprehend these subtleties and apply them to their work accordingly.

Therefore, you cannot simply learn the Russian language and expect to fully understand its culture. To truly "feel" the Russian language, one must live in Russia. Like every nation, the Russian language has many concepts and unique words and phrases to express them.

For instance, English culture has words like "sense of humor," "gentleman," "freedom," and "home," while Russian culture has concepts like "soul" and "heart."

For a professional Russian-English or English-Russian translator, it is essential to capture the essence of the languages being translated and use the appropriate words and phrases to communicate the intended message. This ensures that translations are adequate for both Russian- and English-speaking people.

Unfortunately, many so-called Russian-English translators are not skilled enough to use these key words and phrases because they do not have the cultural background. Additionally, not every native Russian speaker can fully feel or understand the nuances of their own language. It takes a highly-skilled Russian linguist to produce an adequate Russian translation.