Translation is never an easy task. A good translator must master both languages well, but even that is not enough. There are many factors that you, as a translator, need to pay special attention to if you want to translate authentically from Spanish to English.
By now you are probably aware of many of these factors. It's unlikely that you've stumbled across translation completely blindly, but it's often all too easy to forget or overlook things we know to be true. I hope this list of translation tips helps explain everything.
spanish landscape
The importance of translating from Spanish to English
Translation, either from Spanish to English orenglish to spanishor any other variety of languages, is crucial work. Text translation is one of the best-known ways of bringing people and cultures closer together.
The very nature of the text gives it the greatest importance. If someone feels the need to translate something, surely there must be some underlying meaning behind the original text. As a translator, you must not lose sight of this fact.
Your services are rewarded financially, but take pride in helping to break down language barriers and bring people together.
Plus, we talk about two of the most popular languages on the planet. Hundreds of millions of people around the world speak these languages. In a way, you don't just work for your employer, you work for them!
Translate differently?
Read our article on 5 tips for translating from English to Spanish.
translation tips
As you might have noticed, translating involves much more than just speaking both languages. Of course, this is the first step and it's an important one, remember, but it only scratches the surface of what it really means to be a translator.
Here are some of the main things to keep in mind when getting started. They will help you take your translations to the next level.
spanish conjugations
As with English, Spanish conjugations are intended to change a verb to reflect things like the person, number of people, or time.
While conjugations serve the same purpose in both languages, they are incorporated differently in Spanish. However, if you can do it in English, there's no reason not to do it in Spanish. It's the same principle, just applied differently.
As a translator, it's up to youFocus on Spanish conjugations.and make sure you understand them correctly. Otherwise, you may misinterpret what has been said and mistranslate. As mentioned above, conjugations reflect the context surrounding a verb, so you need to understand that context to correctly translate the text into English.
Note regional settings
By now you should be aware of how different theRegional Spanish Dialectsit could be. Although, in general, everything falls under the Spanish term, there are many differences that a translator should be aware of.
Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the specifics of the dialects you want to translate into English.
Search, ask questions, or just stick to the dialects you know. The ability to distinguish these regional differences plays an important role in determining how effective your translations are for readers in those regions.
Investigation
This applies to translations of all kinds - you should research your work thoroughly. If not for you, then for the benefit of the customer.
The purpose of the work is as important as the meaning of the text. The boundaries between the two are often fluid. It's your job as a translator to know exactly what each client's goals are. To be able to translate texts effectively, you need to know the client's intentions and what they want to achieve with your work.
Make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with the goals and aspirations of those you're hiring. That way you understand what they are looking for and provide it to them in the best possible way.
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Don't translate texts word for word
It's not your job to translate word for word. That's what a robot does andYou are by no means a robot.!
The most important factor in translation is understanding the original meaning of the text. The meaning is above all that needs to be present in your translation.
When you focus on translating something word for word, you often miss the true meaning of the message.
Certain things cannot be directly translated into English, no matter how hard you try. What's worse, your attempt to do so may confuse the message due to direct translation.doesn't make sense in english.
Therefore, do your best to get the most accurate meaning of the texts attributed to you and do your best to translate themOIn English.
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Be careful with idioms and expressions
Certain things in Spanish just don't make sense in English. This is often the case with expressions.
The terms are misleading. Often they refer to universal truths, but the problem is how these truths are conveyed. Many expressions revolve around similarities between specific regions or cultures, making them meaningless to anyone outside of combat.
Furthermore, expressions themselves often contain phrases that can only be accurately represented in the language in which they were conceived. Translations of these often seem strange or inconsistent.
So it's best to avoid the phrase altogether and find a new way to convey the same message or try to find an English equivalent.
Do you know the main Spanish dialects?
Read our article about the 8 variants of Spanish
follow your intuition
It might not be the safest translation advice, but it's true. Translation is a profession that gives you a certain degree of independence and responsibility at the same time.
They are the final authority on how these texts are translated.
You must do your best to find the best way to convey a specific message in any other language. Word choice, grammar, tone of voice - these are things you need to pay close attention to. It is your responsibility to represent them in the English translation to the best of your knowledge and belief.
Uncertainty can feel daunting, but it's also what makes work fun and unique for you. There's a reason why someone chose to hire a real person instead of relying solely on Google Translate. The latter will never be as efficient or authentic as you are, so do everything in your power to show that reality.
Correct
Proofreading your text is important for ALL writing, but especially for translation.
Although much of his work consists of converting texts from one language to another, he is also a writer. Of course, you weren't the person who conceived the original text, but you are responsible for bringing it to life in another language.
Because of this, you must be just as diligent in ensuring the quality of your writing as you are in providing an accurate translation. Be sure to proofread your work thoroughly, and even ask a colleague to help you if you want them to look at it with fresh eyes before submitting it.
Diploma
I hope this list has given you something to think about. Again, just knowing English and Spanish is not enough to be a complete translator: it's a start, but there's so much more.
In fact, this article should clarify how much is needed at work. This list is not intended to discourage you, but rather encourage you to expand what it means to be a translator. If it were just bilingual, we'd be looking for a lot more translators.
Ultimately, it's up to you to do your due diligence and give this task your full attention. Don't take it seriously, you should treat it with the importance it deserves. By doing this, you will be translating from Spanish to English like a true expert!
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