The Target Country Principle
A translation can only reflect current language usage adequately when the translator is in close contact with the target language.
The target country principle expresses the proposition that translators should live in a country where the language into which they translate or interpret is in common usage. The permanent exposure to the target language and culture makes sure that the translator’s linguistic competence is always up to date.
Whether observance of the target country principle does, indeed, increase the quality of a translation depends in our opinion on the specific task in hand. It should always be applied in cases where the social and cultural characteristics of the target country are of central significance regarding the quality or validity of the translated text or interpreted speech.
The principle is tending to lose some of its weight in view of the rapidly increasing exposure to international media; the necessity actually to remain physically present in a particular country appears less important. In our opinion the question as to what the individual translator undertakes to remain in touch both with technical as well as colloquial linguistic developments is of greater importance. We stress the value of effective communication between the translator, the author of the source text and the recipient of the translated text.
A good translation can only be achieved through careful, professional application on the part of the translator. This includes the willingness to keep in touch with issues of translation enquiry, to keep track of linguistic developments and to practise ‘life-long learning’.
Our task is to deliver solutions tailored to the needs of our customers by the provision of specialist translators whose fields of competence tally exactly with the requirements of the current assignment.