ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Another modest proposal

expressisverbis — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 22:04:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: expressisverbis
Post title: Another modest proposal

How do you translate intimate bedroom language without losing the original... excitement?
After all, this may include private family expressions, couples' in-jokes, slang and, of course, a little dirty talk.
It's all about context, isn't it?

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | A modest proposal ...

Daryo — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: Daryo
Post title: A modest proposal ...

A modest proposal for the next pool question:

How do you translate pearl divers' jargon for an audience of alpine climbing guides?

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Literature

Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:25:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Post title: Literature

I don't know if you would want that but it happens. Mostly in literature or private correspondence, I assume. For the target reader probably.

[quote]WolfgangS wrote:

[quote]ProZ.com Staff wrote:

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?".

View the poll results »

[/quote]

would I want to translate that?
For whom? [/quote]

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Scholarly opinion

Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Post title: Scholarly opinion

If there is one thing that I can retain from my doctorate then it is that the answer will always be "it depends".

How could any other answer be valid without knowing the sort of text, the purpose of the translation, the target readership, the source and target languages and cultures etc. etc. etc.?

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Other

Thayenga — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:14:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: Thayenga
Post title: Other

I have come across this type of terminology in a few cases, mostly private letters. Then I either found an equivalent in the target language or, perhaps, even created a new word (if acceptable by the client) with the proper "explanation".

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Why

WolfgangS — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: WolfgangS
Post title: Why

[quote]ProZ.com Staff wrote:

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?".

View the poll results »

[/quote]

would I want to translate that?
For whom?

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang? | Other

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 09:15:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: Other

In over 40 years as a translator, I have never had to translate private slang or family-invented words!

Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?

ProZ.com Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:10:05 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you translate family-invented words or private slang?".

View the poll results »