If you’ve ever tried to learn a second or third language, you know translating words from one language to another is not a one-to-one deal. Professional translators need to know the nuances of both languages to communicate meaning.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services translates some of its documents into five languages besides English, according to its website. Those are Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The website says other languages are available based on need. Some of the agency’s Hmong and Somali translations drew criticism recently, as freelance journalist Gustav DeMars reported for Sahan Journal. They reviewed translations in the five other languages. And Somali speakers found one of the sentences was also lost its meaning to a literal translation.