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