A text can be entirely correct in content and still read as flawed in the target language. Grammar findings cover this area. The subtype most often seen in translation is the sentence structure of the source language seeping into the target text.
Definition
It is a breach of the structural rules of the target language. The content may be correct. The flaw is in the language.
Source-language interference
The sentence structure of the source language is carried into the target text. The sentence is understandable but sounds foreign. The subtype is kept apart.
Recognising interference
If the text reads like a translation, there is interference. The diagnosis takes experience. Proofreading catches it.
Sentence structure
The order of elements may not follow the natural order of the target language. Meaning is preserved, flow is broken. The finding is recorded.
Long and nested sentences
A long structure in the source may have been carried over without being split. Reading becomes harder. The assessment is made according to the text.
Suffix and inflection errors
Wrong use of suffixes is a conspicuous flaw. It is frequent in Turkish. The check is made with care.
Subject-verb agreement
Lack of agreement spoils the sentence. The risk grows in long sentences. A check is made.
Noun phrase errors
Flaws in noun phrase structure can affect meaning as well. In a borderline case severity rises. An assessment is made.
Use of conjunctions
A wrong conjunction breaks the logical relationship. In that case the finding may move to the meaning level. The category is reviewed.
Tense agreement
Tenses are used consistently within the text. A shift confuses the reader. The check is made.
Excess of passive constructions
A density of passives coming from the source can sound heavy in the target language. The assessment depends on the text type. The criterion is adapted.
Definiteness and indefiniteness
Languages have different systems of definiteness. One-to-one transfer produces flaws. Adaptation is needed.
Shift of word class
Carrying a structure over as it stands produces a strained sentence. Rebuilding is needed. The flexibility is linguistic.
Severity
These findings carry lower severity than the meaning level. They still affect readability. The criterion is defined.
Increase in texts for publication
In outward-facing texts severity rises. They are the visible face of the organisation. The criterion tightens.
Detection method
Proofreading done without looking at the source finds this type best. A fresh eye is needed. The step is protected.
Limits of tools
A spell checker does not find some structural errors. Human reading is needed. The two layers combine.
Root causes
Haste, working without context and translating out of one's native language are the most common causes. The cause is examined. The measure is chosen.
Why it is counted separately
These findings measure not the content but the state of the text in the target language; a text can be flawless as information yet weak in readability, and the two situations call for different measures. That is why the category is kept separate. The measure is different.
Limits of measurement
The line between a style preference and a grammar flaw is sometimes thin. Preferences that do not breach a rule do not count as findings. The distinction is preserved.