Is your translation correct?
Sometimes you go to the dictionary to translate from your native language to your L2. Donāt be so quick to trust the first entry! I often see people use a dictionary/translator and unfortunately choose literal, outdated, or wrong translations! Here is what you can do to have a better, more accurate translation *not intended for professional translation, just language learners
Check TWO language resources
your textbook and dictionary might say different things. Cross reference to see the nuance/context
Reverse translate
try writing out a sentence and reverse translating. Did the translation make sense?
Check Google Images
this will show you exactly what you are talking about. If you donāt get a lot of accurate search results, there is probably a better word for what you are talking about
Check example sentences
one thing I like about Naver dictionary (for English-Korean) and Linguee (for English-German) is their section for example sentences from the real world. You can quickly see if your translation is current/relevant or comes from an old textbook
Google it
useĀ āquotation marksā around your word or sentence. Do news article titles, blog posts, or expected materials show up? or is it a jumbled, mismatched mess?Ā
this is also great for grammar! Sometimes your grammar is too structured: although it makes sense, no one uses it
Use a source material
search for a more authentic resource. For example, when writing about driving, look up a driverās manual in your L2. When writing about libraries, visit the webpage for a library in your L2
Look it up in a L2 dictionary
this is your best chance at seeing exactly what your word means
an L2 dictionary might also indicate the frequency of the word or if the word is outdated/no longer used
Ask a native speaker
you can use HiNative, italki, HelloTalk, or even Tumblr to find out if your translation is correct. This ensures accuracyĀ
my only caution is that native speakers can translate, but they might not always be able to explain why. They are also not required to translate for you (they are doing it for free, so donāt expect them to answer right away)
What if my translation isnāt working?!Ā Simply your sentence to words and grammar structures that you feel confident with. Assess your translation/word: is it an idiom? is it abstract? is it colloquial? You need to simplify to more universal concepts. Think about your audience: are you using the right speech level? Finally, use a template. Find a similar sentence in a textbook or source. Then modify one or two aspects. This can be more accurate than building a sentence from scratch.
