How do publishing companies translate books into foreign languages?

Question

I am curious about the translation process for large-scale publishers.

Answer 1

If it is a work of literature or poetry you'll generally find that translators are artists themselves, and want to share their findings and/or influences with fellow native speakers (as well as maintain textual respectability) but this has its downfalls. Look at two different translations of the same poem or book, and the differences are magnificent, they play to the translators interpretation. Some people make a career of translating well, and become respected as artists (Stephen Mitchell, translator or Rainer Maria Rilke).
For non-literary work you'll find many grad students and semi-fluent speakers translating for extra money, they usually get paid 8-12 cents a word.

Answer 2

A lot of them have sister companies in other countries who buy the rights for books and then translate.

Generally speaking, your original publisher doens't translate it-- they simply sell the foreign rights and someone else does it.

Answer 3

Normally they hire translators. If for a work of fiction, the designated translator may "keep" to the same author for years. Translators work in all fields (from fiction to technical data to scientific matters... it is a very lucrative field for someone who has the touch)

Answer 4

Companies like Casteilla Private Limited accepts books and materials and send it to their native translators and get them translated. Those who want to translate their books contact such translation agencies and get their books translated.

Answer 5

They use professions was can translate, not only th words, but keep the meanings. Thata why cheap translations sound funny/

Answer 6

They hire translators, usually ones they have used before and know are reliable.

Answer 7

Professional translators...I knew one when I lived in Norway.

Answer 8

Word for word and very slowly. ;-)