tranz-LAY-shuhn
/tɹænˈzleɪʃən/
translation is pronounced tranz-LAY-shuhn (/tɹænˈzleɪʃən/). Translation refers to the process of converting text or speech from one language into another, preserving meaning and style. It also denotes the result of that process. In linguistics, it contrasts with interpretation, which focuses on spoken meaning, whereas translation tends to have written or formal outputs. The term encompasses techniques, accuracy, and cultural adaptation across contexts and audiences.
Translation refers to the process of converting text or speech from one language into another, preserving meaning and style. It also denotes the result of that process. In linguistics, it contrasts with interpretation, which focuses on spoken meaning, whereas translation tends to have written or formal outputs. The term encompasses techniques, accuracy, and cultural adaptation across contexts and audiences.
"The book’s translation captures the author’s voice without losing its nuance."
"She did a meticulous translation of the legal document for the court."
"We evaluated multiple translations to choose the most faithful rendering."
Break it into syllables: tran-sla-tion. In IPA: US/UK/AU: trænsˈleɪʃən. The main stress is on the second syllable 'la', with a clear 'long a' in the 'lay' portion. Start with an 'tr' cluster, then an /æ/ as in cat, then /n/, then /ˈleɪ/ with a long a, then /ʃən/ where the 'tion' reduces to /ʃən/. Mouth positions: tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for /t/ and /n/, lips neutral to slightly spread, jaw fairly relaxed, vocal cords active for the vowel in /eɪ/. For auditory reference, you can compare to 'nation' or 'creation' in similar rhythm.
Two common errors are: 1) Misplacing stress, saying tran-SLAY-shun; ensure the stress sits on the second syllable: tran-SLAY-shun. 2) Slurring the /ŋ/ into /n/ or attempting an extra syllable; the final /ʃən/ should be a quick, light ending rather than a full syllable. Practice with slow syllable isolation: tran - sla - tion, then blend to trænˈsleɪʃən with a crisp /ˈleɪ/.
In US English the /æ/ in the first vowel is typical in many dialects (trans-). The primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈleɪ/. UK English shares the same structure but can feature slightly shorter /æ/ in some dialects; Australians tend to have a closer /æ/ or /a/ in the first vowel and a less pronounced rhoticity, with /trænsˈleɪʃən/ still intact but with less vowel reduction in casual speech. Overall, the /ˈleɪ/ and /ʃən/ segments are stable; rhythm and vowel length may vary subtly by region.
The difficulty centers on the cluster /tr/, the mid vowel in /æ/ before a nasal, and the unstressed /ən/ at the end. Also, the /leɪ/ diphthong requires an accurate glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ within a single syllable; rapid speech can blur the /l/ and /eɪ/ into an approximate sound. Practicing with paused segments helps you stabilize each phoneme, then blend smoothly in connected speech. IPA references: /tr/ onset, /æ/, /n/, /ˈleɪ/, /ʃən/.
Does the 'tion' in translation sound like 'shun' in all contexts? In careful speech, yes: the 'tion' commonly corresponds to /ʃən/. In rapid or connected speech, it can reduce further to /ʃn̩/ or even be lightly syllabic as a syllabic /n/ if the preceding consonants are soft, but standard careful enunciation keeps /ʃən/. Focus on keeping the /ʃ/ clear and the /ə/ reduced to a quick schwa.
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Translation comes from the Latin translatio, meaning a carrying across, from trans- ‘across’ + latus ‘side, carried’ (related to ‘to bear, carry’). In Late Latin, translatio referred to the carrying across of a message from one language to another, and this sense evolved into the medieval and modern usage of rendering texts into different languages. The English form translation emerged around the 14th century, influenced by French translation and the Latin root. Over time, the concept broadened from literal word-for-word transfer to include sense-for-sense transfer, style, register, and cultural adaptation. In contemporary linguistics and computer-assisted translation, translation now also encompasses translation memory, localization, and global content strategy, reflecting technology-driven refinements while preserving the fundamental goal: faithful meaning transfer across linguistic boundaries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "translation" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "translation"
-ion sounds
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