But what about an example of a good translation? Or the perfect translation? One that captures the full meaning, including double meanings, of the source language, and is translated as if it originated from the mind of a native speaker of the target language?
Here's an example of a translation that comes very close to perfection. It's an ad on the Taipei MRT (Taipei's subway system), admonishing passengers to hold onto strap hangers for their safety. Here it is:
The Chinese, literally translated, would be "Pull yourself a handle!" What it means is, in a colloquial, slangish way, "Get a handle on yourself!" but it also means, in a more face-value sense, "Hang on to a handle!" The English phrase "Get a grip!" conveys the same double meaning (colloquial slang vs. face value meaning), and it's a native English expression to begin with. So it meets requirements for fidelity and transparency.
It's rare to find something so wonderfully and simply translated!
