PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR ON AMATEUR TRANSLATIONS (PART 1 OF 2)

PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR ON AMATEUR TRANSLATIONS (PART 1 OF 2)
Maybe, just maybe, some people out there are not yet convinced that I have a “proper” i.e.
fully developed sense of what “bad” translation actually is (even if it is still technically
correct and “coherent enough”).
Sometimes a “bad” translation, while having nothing gravely incorrect or misleading or just
plain incomprehensible about it, is one that just appears just poorly (i.e. amateurly) done,
suggesting that, during its creation, there was not enough thought invested on the part of the
translator to write the phrasing in such a way that it didn’t come across as unnatural or
confusing. So I rewrote Neville Chamberlain’s declaration of war against Germany speech in
a style resembling that of such a bad translation (as if it was originally written in a language
other than English before being translated into English by an amateur translator rather than a
true professional) – maybe the wording that follows (or at least some of it), if recreated
literally in whatever other language, would actually pass for “good” work translation of the
original (actual) speech (i.e. what you hear Chamberlain actually say when you click on the
link below) in this language? I don’t know.

Now I am in the Cabinet Room of 10 Downing Street as I speak to you. This morning the
Britain Ambassador that is in Berlin gave to the German government the final notice which
stated that if we would not be told by them by 11 o’clock that they would be proceeding to
withdraw their troops from Poland immediately, there would be the situation of war between
us. I must tell you now that such has not occurred; the consequence of this is that this country
is now at war with Germany. You can imagine how it hurts me that my long struggle to
achieve peace has been a failure. Yet I don’t believe that I could have done any more action
or different action, that would have gotten more success. At any time it would have been
possible to attain a peaceful and honourable resolution circumstance between Germany and
Poland. But Hitler always refused this. It was clear that he had decided to attack Poland in
any situation. And although he now says he presented satisfactory proposals that the Poles
rejected, this statement is not correct. The proposals were never made shown to the Poles, nor
to us. And while they were proclaimed in Germany’s broadcasting on Thursday night, Hitler
did not wait for comments of response to them and he ordered his soldiers to go over the
Polish frontier the next morning. His action reflects, convincingly, that there can be no
chance of one expecting that this man will ever cease his practice of enacting force in the
pursuit of his wishes. Only force will make him stop his actions. And today we and France, to
honour our obligations, will start helping Poland as it so bravely resists this wicked and
unprovoked attack against its people. We have a clear conscience. We have done all that any
country could do in looking to get peace. But the situation became that no word from the
ruler of Germany could be trusted, and no people or country could feel safe, and by this it had
become intolerable. Now, as I say that we will be going to finish it, I know that you will all
do your contribution in a calm and courageous manner. During a moment like this, the
support assurances of the Empire mean to us deep encouragement. When I have finished
speaking, certain detailed announcements at the order of the Government will be made
propagated. Your close attention for them is requested. The Government have made plans by
which the work of the nation will be able to continue during the days of stress and trouble
that may be in the future. But these plans need your help. You may be doing a role of yours in
the fighting services or doing a volunteer role in one of the portions of civil defence. If it is
like that for you, you will declare yourself ready for duty along the instructions that you will
get. You may be doing work that is essential for war to be in effect or for maintaining

people’s life e.g. work in factories, in transport, in public utilities ensuring, or in the supply of
other needed things as part of a life. If it is like that for you, it is of vital importance for you
to do your job still. Now may God bless you all and may he defend the side of the right –
what we will be fighting is evil things: savage force, deceiving conduct for misleading,
injustice, oppression and persecution. And I am certain that the side of the right will win against these evil things.