Pronunciation issues in translation: challenges and implications

Pronunciation is often seen as a minor detail in translation, yet it can shape meaning in unexpected ways. A simple mispronunciation can lead to confusion, mistranslations, or even embarrassing mistakes, especially in high-stakes situations like diplomatic meetings or legal proceedings. This paper explores how pronunciation affects translation, looking at common challenges such as homophones, misplaced stress, and phonetic similarities that alter meaning. Using real-life examples, we examine how both human translators and AI-based systems struggle with pronunciation-related issues. The paper also highlights difficulties faced by non-native translators and offers practical solutions to enhance pronunciation awareness. By integrating pronunciation training into translation studies, we can minimize misunderstandings and improve cross-linguistic communication. This research calls for a stronger emphasis on phonetic accuracy in translation education and explores how technology can help bridge the gap.