Invitation to Cooperate With the American Translators Association (ATA) to Formally Establish a Language Combination In Farsi To And From English

Dear Farsi Translators and Colleagues: Respectfully, the translation of Farsi to and from English in the United-States has become questionable. Due to a lack of employment, many young individuals who are familiar with the language but do not possess adequate knowledge and skills to translate, have entered the profession. As you know, the quality of the translations and interpretations produced by these non-qualified translators would disdain one of the most important canons of the ATA Code of Ethics, that is “to convey meaning between people and cultures faithfully, accurately, and impartially”. I suggest that, if you are seriously considering working as a translator or interpreter of Farsi, please cooperate with the Farsi Translation Center’s workgroup to establish a language pair at the American Translators Association (ATA). This will allow us to advocate for high quality Farsi translations and interpretations, to safeguard the Persian language, and to join the rest of the world who have already established and made their languages known by the ATA. Better yet, as ATA certification is the only widely recognized measure of competence in translation in the United-States, being certified can open doors to new business and higher compensations for us, Farsi translators and interpreters. If you have any suggestions or comments please contact me using the following email address: info@farsitranslationcenter.com

Down With Potatoes

One of the most engaging accounts of a literal translation is described in Hooman Majd’s book, The Ayatollah Begs To Differ.

In Iran, the phrase marg bar Amrica ( مرگ بر آمریکا) is often chanted at rallies and seen on signs held by unhappy protesters. The phrase is most commonly translated literally as “Death to America”, but it actually means ”Down with America”. Hooman Majd, a former interpreter for Iranian President Ahmadinejad, has explained that “Death to America” is far too harsh of a translation. As Majd pointed out, Ahmadinejad also handed out potatoes in exchange for votes, after which protesters chanted ”Marg bar seeb zameeni!” They were literally saying “Death to potatoes”, but it’s pretty far fetched to assume that their intention was to kill the spuds.

The above excerpt is from Jost Zetzsche’s book, Found in Translation, which mentions a myriad of instances of literal translations and interpretations gone wrong because of the fine nuances associated with cultural idioms and values.

How to Choose a Farsi Translator

A friend of mine recently graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Tehran. She told me that while the university has a renowned and acclaimed faculty and a very high standard for achievement, most of their textbooks were difficult to read. She specifically mentioned a textbook in economics that was translated into Farsi (Persian) and didn’t make sense because it was highly technical and had been translated too literally.

This reminded me of my own frustration as a young student in Iran when studying translated textbooks. I often wonder how students can master subjects without access to textbooks that are as high-quality as their curriculum.

Several key questions come to mind. How can we avoid these pitfalls in translating different books, documents, and texts into Farsi? What are the right criteria for choosing a Farsi translator? How is the Farsi language different from other languages? Is there an organization that can evaluate and certify Farsi translators?

The difference between Farsi and Latin languages is not just that Farsi is written right to left and uses a different alphabet. When seeking a translator for a technical document or a literary text in Farsi, education and fluency in both languages may not suffice: A good translator also must have a deep understanding of both cultures and customs. The general rule is to find a translator who is a native speaker of Farsi, educated in both languages and has a deep understanding of both.

In the US, the American Translators Association (ATA) certifies interpreters and translators in most languages but not in Farsi. The lack of a trustworthy centralized authority has made it difficult to evaluate the competence of Farsi translators. Some automated translators convert words literally without conveying the meaning dictated by the culture. The internet has made more translation tools available, but again here, it’s impossible to assess the quality of the results.

Of course, if you only need to translate a simple text without specific idioms or technical jargon, you don’t need a college-educated linguist. However, what if you need someone who understands the legal terms and procedures related to a lease contract in Iran? In situations like these, it is essential to choose a translator who can convey the precise meaning without sacrificing intent and context.

A textbook in economics may not require a deep understanding of Iranian Islamic laws or the culturally charged idioms used in contemporary poetry. However, it still requires sensitivity and cultural perceptiveness to render precise translations that convey the exact meaning and intent of the author.

You can choose to settle for inexpensive and mediocre translation, but is this really where you want to set the bar?