SOLUTIONS

1.Using tools like chatgpt has helped me to know what certain idiomatic phrases mean when translating. To put the right message.

2. Calm my mind and understand that I can't translate more than 3 pages a day, in that concretizing myself in translating little by little but constantly is more functional 6 It generates less pressure for me.

• transposition technique

• to modulate to the T.L. some idiomatic expressions

• Limitation in finding the author´s biography on the internet.

Solutions:

• I investigated more to analyze the transposition technique.

• search on internet an equivalence or modulation for those idiomatic expressions.

• I asked directly the author about his biography.

Challenges

• Getting the book was a big challenge, because I didn't know how to start looking for it and I didn't know any author and didn't know how to contact one.

• It was difficult to apply the source language text parallel to the target language, because when I tried to do it, the target language text moved by itself.

• It generated a lot of headache for me to spend a lot of time sitting and watching the screen while I was thinking.

  
  

  Solutions

• One of my classmates fortunately got in touch with a friend who knew an author and provided us with the book to start our final project.

• To keep both texts parallel, I have to fix it manually so that it does not move unintentionally.

• I have organized my time to translate little by little in order to provide an adequate translation while maintaining the original message.

  
  

1. My book contains different idioms and references based on the language of the autor, in this case the S.L.

2. Due to the fact is a book based on situations in life to help students is a challenge to keep the voice and tone the autor has on the book.

Solutions

1. I do my best to use cultural adaptation technique. This involves finding the equivalent expressions based on my knowledge of the T.L.

2. It's important to capture the style very naturally. Working on understanding the writing style through the context of the book and adapting that to the T.L.

• Difficulty translating legal terminology that does not have an exact equivalent in the target legal system.

• Complex sentence structures typical of legal writing, often very long and full of subordinate clauses.

• Ambiguity in some legal concepts that may have multiple interpretations depending on the jurisdiction.

Solutions:

• I used specialized legal dictionaries and consulted legal databases to find the most accurate terms in the target language.

• I simplified overly complex sentences by breaking them into smaller segments, while maintaining the legal meaning and structure.

• When encountering ambiguous concepts, I compared the source term with the equivalent used in Panamanian legal doctrine to ensure conceptual accuracy.

- The tone and emotions in the original language were sometimes difficult to replicate in the target language.

- Some poetic lines were difficult to translate concisely without losing meaning, affecting the overall structure.

- The structure of sentences in poetry often defies conventional grammar, which can make translation tricky.

Solution

- I carefully chose words that conveyed the same intensity of emotion, considering connotations and subtleties of expression.

- I focused on balancing brevity and clarity, ensuring the translated lines fit naturally within the poem’s flow without unnecessary expansion.

- I maintained the poetic nature by restructuring sentences while preserving the essence and artistic style of the original.

/I struggled to do the translation of certain slangs correctly due to their nuance.

/I struggled to translate certain structural patterns from the SL to the TL due to author's writing style

/I had some problems facing the challenge of breaking down certains aspects of the main subjects discussed within the book.

Solutions:

I used as many translators as possible to compare possible options for the right translation.

I researched on chat gpt and on google for having a wide scope of options to pick one.

I had to use word reference and Lingue for comparing slang words between languages and It helped me solve many puzzles.

•Many expressions or idioms in Spanish don’t have a direct equivalent in English.

•Translating 50 pages is a large task that requires sustained effort over time.

Solution:

•Use dynamic equivalence by finding similar expressions in English that convey the same meaning, or rephrase the idea while maintaining the tone and cultural context.

•Divide the work into manageable sections, set daily/weekly goals, and follow a schedule. Use tools like Trello, Google Calendar, or simple checklists.

● One of the biggest challenges I faced was making the time to do the translation and taking due care to note mistakes in my techniques.

●It was a complicated matter to get the book.

Solutions

●I had to get more serious and focused in order to make the translation more coherent.

● My partner helped me get the book by contacting a writer who is out of the country.

Translating the 50 pages of the book came with several challenges. One of the main difficulties was capturing the author's tone and style in another language without losing the original meaning. Some phrases, idioms, and cultural references were hard to translate directly, and doing so could make the text sound unnatural or confusing.

Another challenge was maintaining consistency in terminology and character voice throughout the translation. Since the text was long, there was a risk of translating similar phrases differently, which could confuse the reader. Also, some words had multiple meanings depending on context, so it required careful reading to ensure the correct interpretation.

To solve these issues, I created a glossary of repeated terms and phrases to keep the translation consistent. I also read each section multiple times before translating to understand the deeper meaning. When I faced cultural references or idioms, I tried to find equivalent expressions in the target language, or if that wasn’t possible, I adapted the text to make it understandable while keeping the spirit of the original.

1. Accessing the original book – Obtaining the full text was initially difficult, which delayed the start of the translation process.

2. Time management – Balancing the demands of work with the time needed to translate and develop the thesis was a constant struggle.

3. Preserving tone and emotion – The book’s poetic, emotional, and introspective tone was hard to maintain in English without losing meaning or depth.

Solutions to Those Challenges:

1. Segmenting the work – Once the book was secured, the translation was divided into manageable parts, making the task more approachable.

2. Scheduling focused work time – Specific hours were blocked off for translation and thesis writing, treating it as a formal commitment.

3. Using dynamic equivalence – Instead of translating literally, the focus was on conveying the same emotional and conceptual impact in English, adjusting metaphors and cultural references when necessary.

The original Spanish text includes informal and vulgar expressions like “¡No me jodas!”, “mierda”, and “emputadito”. A literal translation into English with the same level of vulgarity might be too aggressive or inappropriate depending on the target audience or setting.

Challenge 2: Cultural Reference – El Tiempo de Bogotá

The newspaper El Tiempo is a well-known Colombian reference. However, English-speaking readers might not be familiar with it, leading to confusion or loss of meaning.

Solution 1: Preserving Dramatic Rhythm

You successfully preserved the dramatic and theatrical rhythm of the scene. The dialogue flows naturally in English and reflects the performance quality of the original Spanish version. This helps keep the scene stage-ready and emotionally engaging.

Solution 2: Clear Character Attribution

Your translation clearly identifies each speaker (e.g., “LITTLE DEMON,” “SATAN,” “VOICE-OVER”), which is essential for a play. This makes it easier for actors or readers to follow the action and assign roles, keeping the structure professional and organized.

• Solution: Use age-appropriate language in the target text, even if it means simplifying or rephrasing the original.

• Challenge: Also one of the most difficult is the Cultural References. This book may contain cultural elements (funny names, places and more) that are specific to Spanish-speaking countries and maybe will be unfamiliar to English-speaking children.

• Solution: Use cultural adaptation. Replace or explain these references using familiar concepts or brief explanations, we could kept some but explained or shown through illustrations.

1. since it is a folk tale narrated by people it had many dirty and mispronounced words which made it difficult to translate .

To solve it, I had to use the equivalence technique and look for similar words so as not to change the original meaning of the text.

1. Maintaining the Author’s Style and Tone:

Capturing the unique voice, tone, and regional expressions (like Panamanian Spanish) without altering the original meaning is complex.

Solution

Analyze the Text Deeply:

Before translating, read several pages to identify the author's style, tone, and cultural expressions. Keep a glossary of phrases that must remain consistent. Adapt grammar and syntax naturally to the target language without losing the original flavor.

• One of the biggest challenges I faced during this project was choosing the right book. I wasn't sure which genre would be most suitable, and I had trouble finding one that hadn't already been translated.

• Another difficulty was maintaining terminological consistency throughout the translation. Some terms didn't have a direct equivalent in the target language of my translation, which further complicated the process.

• Working under pressure also affected my ability to review the translation carefully, which led to some initial errors in meaning and tone.

Solutions

• After talking to my teacher and my translation classmates, I decided to join them in translating the same book, which made the workload more manageable and allowed me to focus on quality.

• To maintain consistency in terminology, I created a glossary in which I noted all the key terms along with their final translated versions. This helped avoid confusion later in the process.

• I created a weekly schedule that included short translation sessions of 5 to 6 pages per day and breaks for review, which helped me stay organised and reduce stress, while improving the final result.

• Specialized vocabulary and technical terms: The book contains many business, organizational, and management terms that do not have direct equivalents in English or require context-specific adaptation.

• Cultural references and idiomatic expressions: Some expressions used by the author are specific to Latin American or Panamanian culture and do not translate naturally into English.

• Maintaining the author's tone and style: The formal yet persuasive tone of the author was sometimes difficult to replicate in English without making the translation sound forced or unnatural.

  SOLUTIONS:

• Use of reliable bilingual and specialized dictionaries: I used sources such as WordReference, Linguee, and business English glossaries to find accurate equivalents for technical terms.

• Adaptation rather than literal translation: For cultural expressions, I prioritized conveying the meaning rather than translating word-for-word, ensuring the reader could understand the original intent.

• Maintaining a translation journal or glossary: I created a personal glossary of key terms and repeated phrases to ensure consistency throughout the document.

  
  

  
  

- Some words or expressions did not have a direct translation into Spanish.

- The text contained technical terms or highly specialized vocabulary.

- Difficulty maintaining the same meaning or tone as the original text.

- Fatigue or distraction after translating many pages in a row.

- Lack of confidence in whether the translation was correct or natural.

Solutions found:

- I consulted bilingual and specialized online dictionaries.

- I used translation tools as support (but didn’t rely completely on them).

- I read the entire text before translating to understand the context.

- I took breaks to rest and stay focused.

- I asked for feedback from someone else to improve the quality of the work.

Undoubtedly, it was a significant challenge to obtain a book for translation and secure the author's authorization. Please draft the request in a formal and academic manner.

Solutions

It is essential to highlight that the development of this work required a significant investment of time and effort. I consider this project to be one of the most important and complex I have undertaken during my academic career, and its elaboration has been a significant challenge for me as a student."