| Why a Spanish Translation? Over 350 million | | | | the resources to take on complex projects and |
| people in the world speak Spanish as their | | | | deliver them in a timely manner. Things you |
| first language. If we include the number of | | | | should keep in mind when selecting a Spanish |
| people who are fluent in Spanish as a second | | | | Translation Agency There are thousands of |
| language, the total number of Spanish | | | | translation agencies and identifying a good |
| speakers in the world is well over 400 | | | | English-Spanish translation supplier is a big |
| million people. The Hispanic market is today | | | | task. Translation clients usually don't know |
| the most rapidly expanding market in the | | | | what they are paying for, especially when |
| United States. It is estimated that by 2050, | | | | they don't know the target language (the |
| there will be 56 million Hispanics/Latinos; | | | | language into which a text written in another |
| by 2050, 30% of the entire U.S. population | | | | language is to be translated). Are |
| will be Hispanic. Human Translation vs. | | | | translations handled by Spanish Native |
| Machine Translation Machine translation (MT) | | | | Speakers? The language translator should |
| is a form of translation where a computer | | | | always translate INTO his or her mother |
| program analyses the text in one language - | | | | tongue. Only a native speaker can come |
| the "source text" - and then attempts to | | | | closest to creating a translation that |
| produce another, equivalent text in another | | | | "sounds" so natural that the reader is not |
| language - the "target text" - without human | | | | even aware that it is a translation. Mistakes |
| intervention. Although this system can help | | | | can have ruinous consequences. Two Examples: |
| with specific words and some phrases in much | | | | When Chevrolet introduced the Nova to the |
| the same way as a dictionary, it shouldn't be | | | | South American market, sales were dismal. |
| used to replace a human translator. Computers | | | | Intended buyers in these countries were |
| do not have the ability to deal appropriately | | | | perplexed when the car went on the market |
| with the complexities of a language such as | | | | because "No va" in Spanish means "it won't |
| ambiguity, syntactic irregularity, | | | | go" An American T-shirt maker in Miami |
| anglicisms, false cognates, context, etc. A | | | | printed shirts for the Spanish market which |
| machine translation is similar to the one | | | | promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw |
| made by a human who lacks a deep knowledge of | | | | the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I Saw |
| the target language. Translation agency or | | | | the Potato" (la papa). How much will the |
| independent translator? Spanish Translation | | | | translation cost? Translations are usually |
| agencies provide a number advantages, and | | | | charged per word. Be sure that the Spanish |
| services that individuals cannot: Screening | | | | translation provider charges the job based on |
| of translators: While some Spanish | | | | the number of words in the source text. Many |
| translation companies maintain an in-house | | | | companies give you an estimate and the final |
| team of native Spanish speakers, others | | | | quote is based on the target document. With |
| create a network of freelance translators who | | | | this method you never know the final quote |
| they employ on a per-project basis. As long | | | | until the job is done and this may lead into |
| as the projects are coordinated and managed | | | | abuse on the part of the translator as he/she |
| efficiently, this allow a Spanish translation | | | | can use longer sentences on purpose, |
| company to match projects with translators | | | | degrading the quality of the target text and |
| who have relevant knowledge or experience. | | | | increasing your price. References and samples |
| Proofreading: Most agencies have a | | | | Don't be afraid to ask for references or |
| proofreader other than the translator to | | | | samples. References are perhaps the most |
| review the translation prior to delivery at | | | | important way to ensure a quality job. If you |
| no extra cost. In this way, you can rest | | | | have knowledge of the target language or know |
| assured that the target document is | | | | someone who does, samples may also be good. A |
| error-free and is thoroughly checked for | | | | reputable agency will not hesitate to give |
| uniformity. Meeting tight deadlines: Because | | | | you references and show you samples of |
| of their pool of translators, agencies have | | | | previous English-Spanish translations. |