Search and Verification in Translation

In the translation process, verification is a crucial step. We need to examine not only whether the translated text faithfully represents the original but also whether it adheres to the grammatical rules and reading habits of the target language's cultural context. In the information age, advanced internet technology has introduced many search engines and translation tools, such as Youdao Translation, Baidu Translation, among others, providing great assistance to translators in verifying the accuracy of their translations.

However, even with the availability of numerous translation tools, there is still a possibility of obtaining incorrect information from them. Recently, news reports highlighted that English learning software frequently contained errors related to spelling, phonetics, and translation. The main issues included incorrect Chinese explanations, erroneous arrangements of English letters, and incorrect meanings of phrases. Therefore, finding reliable search methods and using correct verification techniques are essential factors in ensuring the accuracy of translations.

This article will introduce two tools: Eudic Dictionary and Google.

Eudic Dictionary is a convenient and practical dictionary software. It is recommended for two main reasons: first, it is quick and easy to use; you can simply open the software when needed. Secondly, Eudic Dictionary offers various online query options. For instance, when looking up an English word, if the results from Eudic Dictionary are too limited or nonexistent, users can opt for online dictionaries. These include Free Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online, Bing Dictionary, Collins Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Longman Contemporary English Dictionary, among others. By comparing the results from multiple dictionaries and referring to example sentences, our verification efforts can yield more accurate results.

Using Google for verification requires mastering some search techniques. First, we can find words that start or end with a particular affix or contain a specific root. For example, entering "words ending with proof" or "words that end with proof" will yield numerous search results, with Google presenting the best results at the top. Additionally, as previously mentioned regarding parallel texts, we can also search for these on Google. By entering one or more keywords and clicking to search all web pages, we can find a wealth of parallel texts. Moreover, we can enhance the hit rate of our search keywords by using the "-" operator. When a keyword has multiple meanings or different terminologies, we can narrow down the search by adding "-". Finally, we can also search for news related to a specific country or city by entering “keyword rescue location: region country,” yielding news resources for that specific keyword within a particular city of a country.

There are many more Google search techniques. Mastering these relevant skills can make translation more efficient, and the principles for using other translation tools are similarly applicable.

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▶️：The Application of Search and Verification in Translation