Our approach to translation

Note: This page is under construction

What you can (and can’t) expect of us

At JTS, our primary objectives are:

Rendering of meanings, not words
- JTS strives for translations that convey the tone, intent, and content of the original in a manner that makes them accessible to the reader and congruent with the objectives of the translation—i.e., why the commissioning party had the translation done.
- JTS does not compromise on the integrity of its translations unless compelled to do so by the client—but in such instances, JTS’s name won’t be on it.
Idiomatic expression in the target language
- In Japanese-to-English translations, we provide explanatory notes for Japanese translation reviewers so they won’t be tempted to “fix” idiomatic English because they don’t understand it (a source of much of the strange English coming out of Japan).
  - If JTS does a translation for you that has unflagged “rough spots” in it, ask your Japanese reviewers to show you the translation as we delivered it. Chances are good that the rough spots won’t be rough spots. You can save yourself a lot of redundant work (and grief) by asking your Japanese staff to enquire when they have doubts or questions about how we’ve rendered something: staffers unfamiliar with translation techniques or idiomatic English can sometimes alter translations with unfortune results.
Typographically correct formatting
- Use of punctuation, symbols, bullets, and abbreviations according to the conventions of the target, not the source, language; i.e., JTS does not deliver translations containing unconventionally placed parentheses and brackets or other symbols—frequent artifacts of Japanese and Korean manuscripts—unless complelled to do so by a client.

JTS—Translation as Craft