Literal translation
A literal translation is something translated where the target language reflects the literal meaning of the original language. This can result in mistranslation, i.e. a literal mistranslation.
Examples from Chinese[edit | edit source]
For example the following Chinese phrases are often literally translated:
| L1 word | Literal translation | Accurate translation |
|---|---|---|
| 冰山 (bīngshān) | #ice mountain | iceberg |
| 茶桌 (chá zhuō) | #tea table | coffee table |
| 吃药 (chī yào)
喝药 (hē yào) |
#to eat medicine
#to drink medicine |
to take medicine |
| 方便面 (fāngbiàn miàn) | #convenient noodles | instant noodles |
| 红茶 (hóngchá) | #red tea | black tea |
| 爬山 (páshān) | #to climb a mountain | to hike |
| 睡衣 (shuìyī) | #sleep clothes | pyjamas |
| 意大利面 (Yìdàlì miàn) | #Italian noodles | spaghetti |
Idioms[edit | edit source]
Idioms may or may not literally translate. Sometimes an idiom is present in both languages.
Other times the translated idiom may not be found in English, but be simple to understand. For example, the Italian "ubriaco come una scimmia" literally translates as "drunk as a monkey", obviously meaning "very drunk", [1] so if an Italian student said #"he was as drunk as a monkey", they would probably be understood even though it’s not a natural English phrase.
Sometimes the idiom translates differently. For example, "It’s Greek to me" translates into other languages often referencing the alleged incomprehensibility of Chinese or Spanish rather than Greek[2]
