Should we convert any measurements to metric?  That is one question we ask before translating your documents or websites into another language.  Why?  Well, while the metric system is rarely used in the United States, the metric system is used practically everywhere else around the world.  In fact, the metric system is the official system of measurement for all nations except for Burma, Liberia and the United States.

So, how should you answer this question?  Well, it all depends on WHERE the translation will be used.  If the translation will be used in the United States, then it’s best to use our common measurements (“imperial system”).  If you are translating a document to be used in another country, then the measurements should be converted into metric so the readers in the target country easily understand.  Here are a few websites which can help with the conversions:

• Metric Conversions
• World Wide Metric
• Online Conversion
• Cooking Conversion

But wait!  There is something else to keep in mind.  What standard sizes are commonly used in the target country?  For instance, I was working on a project today where we were translating recipes into French-Canadian for use in Canada.  We had to not only convert the measurements using a calculator but also make sure the converted metric value matched the sizes commonly used in the kitchen.

For instance, there was an ingredient where we had to convert “1 cup” to metric.  On the calculator, 1 cup = 237 ml.  But in Canada, their nearest measuring cup is 250 ml.  That is their cooking equivalent of a cup.  So, we used “250 ml” in the recipe.  The same is true with their other sizes.  Like 1/4 cup = 59 ml on a calculator, but their measuring cup for this size is only 50 ml.  If we used the values from the calculator, we would confuse those trying to use the recipe.  Can you imagine trying to measure 237 ml?

The same is true with oven temperatures in Canada.  We had a recipe which called for 400ºF.  On the calculator, it converts to 204.4ºC.  My first thought was to round it to 200ºC, thinking that would be more common on their oven dial.  Well, guess what?  If you look at French recipes, many use 205ºC.  That’s because they have “205” on their oven dial since it most accurately matches the 400ºF.

The art of translation is not only knowing the words used in the language, but also knowing the culture and how people live everyday in the target country.  This is why we use native-speaking translators who actually live where the documents will be used.  Our goal is for the translated documents to read like they were written directly for the reader in their country.

Please contact us to discuss your next translation project.