Importance of Spanish Translation

17 Sep Importance of Spanish Translation

Importance of professional spanish translation

When it comes to translation, it is always best to rely on a professional translation service provider. For starters, it is standard practice for professional translation agencies to employ people who specialize in their own field and work only with the subject with which they have translation experience. This specialization is very important. It is very well known that linguistics features of many languages can vary. Therefore it is important to not only translate a text correctly, but also adapt it, taking into account the subject, the audience and the format.

For example, when it comes to English to Spanish translation, translation of legal documents is different from translating things such as web content or technical specifications, and literary translation is a completely different thing altogether. During a Spanish translation of a legal document, it is important to know how various English legal terms are interpreted in Spanish, and it is vital that each piece of information is transmitted exactly as intended in the original text. Web content is usually aimed towards a specific audience and meant to capture its attention – a word-for-word translation isn’t as necessary in this case. Therefore, a web content translator should not only know Spanish well, but should also have experience employing plain language and have good presentation skills. They should also know the cultural expectations of the Spanish-speaking audience. For example, unlike in certain other languages, English words wouldn’t look too out of place on a website, especially if the webcopy is related to sales.

The native language

Literary translation service has its own unique set of rules attached to it. Knowing Spanish as a language is only part of it – in a way, a literary translation is creation of a new literary work in itself that doesn’t feel like a translation to a native speaker. Unlike French or Italian, the English language contains quite a few idioms that don’t work in Spanish, so it is up to the translator to communicate them properly.

How to avoid errors

Most common mistake that people make when they need a translation is use online translation tools or apps. While such tools can be good for looking up a work or a short phrase in Spanish, using them for large documents can lead to dire consequences. Unlike human translators, the programs are not devised to recognize the context or the audience, nor do they have any specialist knowledge. This can lead to very unpleasant consequences, especially in cases of medical or legal translation, where getting even a small thing wrong can, in worst cases, end fatally for someone or lead to someone getting sued over a mistake in a contract translated from English to Spanish. Things like translating “exit” into “éxito”, for example, wouldn’t occur when you hire a professional translator.

Making the right choice

English to Spanish translation is provided by many translators and translation agencies, but it is important to keep in mind that professional translators, while charge more, can deliver better results due to skills and experience.