Tagalog Revisions
Tagalog revisions during editing must be done without restrictions. Revisers should be free to exercise their objective judgments on the Tagalog texts even if they know that implementation will take time. One of the ways to do this is by writing all comments on a separate sheet. Notes on changes which may or may not be applied on the document right at that moment, should give the originator clear and convincing reasons to make the adjustments.
Sample questions on a Tagalog translation:
1. Details of any relevant events or assessments during pregnancy until delivery.
Mga detalye ng anumang may kaugnayan pangyayari o mga pagtatasa sa panahon ng pagbubuntis hanggang sa panganganak.
The word relevant doesn’t merely mean “related” as translated here. It also means “Important” or “worthy of note”. So these two meanings of “related” and “worthy of note” needs to be captured in the equivalent. A one word equivalent will not do here. A suggestion is “mahalagang kaugnay na pangyayari” (important related event)
Problem Nature
Unfaithful to source (objective error)
Adjustment
major adjustments because of the many occurrences of the word “relevant”
Revision Done
None
Recommendation
LET PRIMARY TRANSLATOR DECIDE
2. Instead, you and your new born child will be primarily identified by a code.
Sa halip, kayo at ang inyong bagong-silang na anak ay pangunahing kilalanin sa pamamagitan ng isang code.
“Primarily identified” is translated literally as “pangunahing kilalanin”. This translation is not only unnatural or forced, but also wrong grammatically (should be “kikilalanin” not “kilalanin” if this translation is insisted upon). Since this sentence merely says that “only” a code will identify the new born child, the correct word equivalent is "lamang" (only - and no other) “Kayo at ang inyong bagong silang na anak ay kikilalanin sa pamamagitan lamang ng isang code”, unless the source cites a secondary or a tertiary identification marker.
Problem Nature
Source error, grammatical error
Adjustment
minor adjustment
Revision
insert “ki” (kikilalanin)
Recommendation
DELETE PANGUNAHING, INSERT LAMANG, FIX WORD ORDER
3. Clinical trial recruitment companies for analytical purposes and so that they may be compensated.
Mga kumpanya na nangangalap para sa klinikal na pagsubok para sa mga layuning pampagsusuri at upang sila ay mabayaran.
“Nangangalap” is incomplete for “recruitment” because it lacks an object. Its exact equivalent is “collecting/searching” and in this case – collecting what? Here in the source, “recruitment” implies that people or subjects are the object, but while English already implies this meaning, Tagalog doesn’t so Tagalog needs to spell it out as in Mga kumpanya na “naghahanap ng isasali/lalahok” (searching for participants) para sa klinikal na pagsubok. The word “naghahanap” “searching” captures the cultural register, i.e., the word used often in this word combination.
Problem Nature
unfaithful to meaning/lacking (objective)
Adjustment
semantic adjustment which will affect word order
Revision
none
Recommendation
LET PRIMARY TRANSLATOR DECIDE
4. I have read and understood the statements in this informed consent form
Nabasa ko na at nauunawaan ang mga pahayag sa porma ng may-kabatirang pahintulot na ito
People insist on translating form into “porma,” but “porma” means style. In many instances, “porma” is also a colloquial term which means a “pose”. That paper that the subject or patient will read, understand, and sign to give his or her consent is referred by everybody in the Tagalog context as “form”.
Problem Nature
wrong translation (objective)
Adjustment
delete all “porma” change to “form”
Revision
Done
Recommendation
DO THIS IN ALL DOCUMENTS
5. Printed Name Signature Date
Naka-print na Pangalan Lagda Petsa
Is it necessary to say “printed”? This description becomes useful only if the paper would like to distinguish the writing of a name by a machine - that is encoded - from one that is handwritten. Otherwise, Name, signature should be enough.
Problem Nature
source error
Adjustment
delete Printed
Revision
none
Recommendation
LET CLIENT DECIDE
Adjustments such as the examples above can't be too final for debate or discussion, however they can't also be ignored as unimportant Tagalog revisions.