Translations: is it better to follow the letter or the spirit?

[lucie.white]

I was wondering what the site organisers seek in translations; are they looking for more clunky but highly literal translations, or is it better to try and capture the meaning of the sentence even if it departs from the exact wording?

[roncarriere]

I posted essentially the same question a couple of days ago as an insight. See "What is a good translation?" and the response. I don't think that Doulingo provides any guidance to the question, but hope I'm proven wrong. I have decided to avoid the literal and aim toward the best English I can manage.

[lucie.white]

Ah thank you, I think I will do the same. And I agree with you that it would be helpful to have guidance from the developers!