Translating Meaning Is More Than Just Verbs

Language is more than just words. Peopletranslations and translators are used to speak to
communicate through inflection, body language,large groups of foreign workers who are
tone, and facial expressions. Translators have thedesperately seeking employment in America.
difficult job of translating words on a page. TheyTranslation services are busier than ever
do not have the benefit of non-verbal cues. Buttranslating documents from different countries
how does a translator translate not only words,since many companies now conduct business
but meaning? And what are the benefits ofinternationally. When these companies hold
translation?company meetings and symposiums, translators
The biggest responsibility of a Spanish translationare needed to help people get to their seminars,
services provider is to convey not onlyto restaurants, and to their hotels.
information but also emotion. There are manyIn some cases, meaning in language is being
words used to express emotion. Just as there areabandoned by the need for basic information.
many emotions, finding the right words can beTranslators are used to help others navigate
very difficult. Translation services try to providethrough a new country. America today, for
the best they can, but is it enough? What toolsexample, is torn between those who want to
does a translator need when looking at a piece oflearn other languages and those who feel learning
text?a new language is a form of surrender. They are
A good translator will read over the entire textafraid of being taken over by another country. So
first. Then they will begin to see beyond theinstead of learning another language, America
words and into the text's meaning. Spanishrelies on translators in order to communicate, not
translators need to choose their words carefully.understand. Understanding a culture consists of
They will translate sentence by sentence whileknowing the meanings behind words and phrases,
trying to stay as close to the emotional feeling aswhich go far beyond communicating information.
they can. This is very tedious work since thereThe benefits of quality translation are being
are words in Spanish that do not have an Englishignored. This can cause unhappiness in the
equivalent and vice versa. After a few drafts,workplace, trouble in schools, and disruptions in
they will find enough similarities in the two worksneighborhoods because every person wants to be
and will hopefully convey the meaning of one textunderstood. Translation services serve a huge
in another language.purpose in a society that is linguistically changing at
Today, translators are needed more than ever.a very fast pace. Keeping up is getting more
They are needed to close cultural gaps that existdifficult as each year passes. In America
at the workplace, in the school system, and inespecially, this has to change.
their own neighborhoods. English to Spanish