Keeping in mind the vast difference in the English and Japanese language systems, this annexure provides pertinent language and grammar tips. It is organized as follows:
I.Creating readable content: A holistic approach
II.Effective sentence construction
i.Use the linguistic aspects of the target language
ii.Restrict maximum sentence length to ~20–30 words
iii.Avoid top-heavy sentences
iv.Define the subject(s) of a sentence
v.Eliminate wordiness and redundancy
III.Use idiomatic word choices
i.Accurate word choice leads to clear understanding
ii.Idiomatic target language enhances the fluency of a translation greatly
I.Creating readable content: A holistic approach
Translation of academic material, which usually has a defined structure, requires a dual approach-the micro and the macro. If you focus only on the translation of each word or sentence, you may lose sight of the paragraph structure. Seeing the big picture and conveying it effectively is a critical process for fluency enhancement. Translating each sentence is one thing; putting them all together as a cogent whole is quite another.
We sometimes see translations in which each sentence is well translated, but the document as a whole makes little sense; in other words, the translation lacks coherence and readability. This happens because the translation does not consider the holistic output of the sentences.
The following examples will help you translate with a holistic approach.
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