Decoding 6 Myths about Vietnamse Translation

Because information, both real and misleading, spreads like wildfire in today’s digital culture, it might be difficult to obtain accurate, factual news. The same thing happens to Vietnamese translation which is misunderstood by many people who do not work in the field.

Thus, let’s decode some of the most common myths about Vietnamese translation that we have heard a lot from our clients and readers.

Myth #1. Any Vietnamese Bilingual Can Be A Translator

Many people think that Vietnamese bilinguals are born to be great Vietnamese translators. Although it is true that being bilingual is an added advantage for a Vietnamese translator, it does not guarantee anyone who has the ability to speak more than one language to become a reliable Vietnamese translator.

To become a Vietnamese translator, one must understand the Vietnamese linguistic features and culture of Vietnam, as well as specialising in a specific domain. They must be familiar with the concepts and terminologies of a field to be able to translate content related to it.

You simply can not give a technical document to a Vietnamese bilingual translator specialising in accounting and expect to get an excellent translation.

What’s more, a translator must undergo proper training to perform well on their Vietnamese translation task and have a good command of translation tools such as CAT Tools and QA Tools.

If you want to learn more about how to become a Vietnamese translator, check this post out.

Myth #2. Google Translate Is Enough

The translated content of Google Translate (and many other machine translation tools) is understandable, quick, and free. Why bother using human translators for your Vietnamese translation project?

We agree that the two best advantages of machine translation are fast and free of charge. But the accuracy is questionable. The quality of Vietnamese translation by machine depends on the complexity of the content, the source target, and more.

The most notable disadvantage is that machine translation can’t understand context and writing tones. For example. the pronoun you in English can have numerous equivalences in Vietnamese.

It can be translated as anh (if the addressee is male and older), chị (if the addressee is female and older), etc. As machine translation can’t read the context, it is impossible for it to choose the right pronouns in Vietnamese.

Thus, if you just need to have an overview of what a document means in Vietnamese, using machine translation is indeed enough. However, if you are planning for an important Vietnamese translation, you should always work with human translators and a reliable Vietnamese translation provider.

Myth #3. A Vietnamese Translator Can Handle All Content Types

As indicated in Myth #1, you cannot ask a translator to translate a random topic for your Vietnamese translation project, no matter how skilled they are. If you don’t want to waste a lot of money on a sloppy Vietnamese translation, your translators should be native Vietnamese and subject-matter experts.

Myth #4. Vietnamese Translation and Interpretation Are The Same

Translators, as you are aware, work with the written content. They employ tools and skills to ensure consistency and terminology compliance and deal with deadlines. As they work with written documents, they have more time to do research while translating and reflect on word choice.

Interpreters, on the other hand, translate oral messages between two languages. They are skilled in their field and are recruited for specific events or engagements. That’s why they spend time reviewing meeting briefs and deepening their understanding of the languages before a job.

Check out our detailed comparison between translators and interpreters here.

Myth #5. There Is Only Correct Way To Translate A Word Into Vietnamese

It is critical to consider the context of each segment to choose the best translation even when you are using a translation memory. Because one word can have multiple translations in Vietnamese if the context changes.

Translators may, therefore, wish to translate the same text differently, such as with alternative grammatical structures and synonyms. However, it does not mean translation memory does not contribute to your Vietnamese translation. Linguistic resources like translation memory, style guides and terminology glossaries ensure linguists adhere to client standards.

Myth #6. Only One Vietnamese Translator Is Needed

Here’s another classic myth to discuss. Because a translator can revise and check their own translated materials, there is no need to have the assistance of a second editor or proofreader. So, in essence, only one translator is required for the whole translation process.

When reviewing their own translations, translators might overlook mistakes or be unaware that they made a mistake. Some might be unwilling to make significant adjustments to their translations.

As a result, to ensure that the editing and proofreading processes are carried out objectively, your Vietnamese translation project should be entrusted to at least two linguists – a translator and an editor. Only in this manner can a polished, clear, and correct Vietnamese translation be obtained.

To Summarize

Now that we have debunked the 6 common myths about Vietnamese translation, we hope you have gotten better insights into the translation industry. This knowledge will surely be helpful when you have a Vietnamese translation project in the future.

If you need help from professionals, contact our team for a free 1:1 consultancy. Based in Vietnam, GTE Localize has the best resources for your Vietnamese translation project – high-quality and budget-saving linguists and support teams. We support all major language pairs and a wide range of content types.