(Lost) and Found in Translation: An Examination of the Issues in Translation of YWCA Documents

At first glance, it is possible to view translation as a simple task: a change, word for word, from one language to another. The reality is far more complex; as one attempts to translate, problems rapidly emerge. Language is interconnected with culture and society and its biases through time. As a result, translators are tasked with creating a translation that is as close to the original as possible while also making it suitable for the target audience. The current research outlines issues found broadly in translation, as well as issues specific to the translation from English into Spanish of a series documents from the YWCA in Schenectady, NY. This task is rife with linguistic challenges ranging from simplification of sentences to the demands of translating for a population of women who are actively in crisis situations. It is therefore the objective of this project to examine the broad reaching cultural problems faced by the translator as well as those specific to the YWCA documents.