Spanish is one of the world's most widely spoken languages. It's the official language of Spain as well as most countries in Latin America. Moreover, it's spoken by communities of Latin American immigrants in countries like the USA and Australia. If your organization can address people in their own language, it will not only boost your corporate image and bring you more clients but it will also prevent misunderstandings because of language barriers. However, it's very important to choose the best candidate to translate English to Spanish.
The first requirement for a good translator in the language pair is that the person should be fluent in both languages. For a translator, it's always best to translate from the language he or she is less confident in to the language he or she speaks most fluently. In other words, you need to look for someone whose first language is Spanish.
You also need to carefully consider your target market. The variation of Spanish spoken in Latin America is quite different from that spoken in Spain. Moreover, there are regional variations and expressions that are unique to certain countries. If, for instance, your target market is mainly of Guatemalan descent, try and find a translator who either comes from Guatemala or has lived there for many years and knows the local expressions and culture.
Forget about trying to save money by using translation computer software. These programs are good for looking up separate words, like you would with a bilingual dictionary. However, they ignore context and phrases and give you an end product that is at best inaccurate and at worst completely unintelligible.
However, even human translators aren't all equal. Contrary to what many people believe, translation is not just a case of using a dictionary and not everybody who is multilingual is a good translator. Good translators use a variety of reference materials and think creatively. They also engage with the text, thinking about its meaning and the message it tries to convey.
Before choosing a translator, check that person's credentials and work experience. In many countries there are organizations that regulate the translation industry and to belong to these organizations, candidates must past very stringent translation texts. Appointing a member of a professional organization is your safest bet but it's also a good idea to look for someone who works in the publishing industry.
Before you assign the task, ask the candidate to translate a paragraph or two as a sample. Most professional translators will be happy to do this. It's a way for them to prove their abilities and for you to see whether they're a good fit. Ask several people who speak Spanish to check the sample translation and comment on its accuracy and readability.
A great way to separate the wheat from the chaff is to look at the rates the different candidates quote. Low rates are often an indication that the person is an amateur with no idea of the going rates for translation work. Don't be tempted to go with the cheapest person because, like with everything else in the world, you get what you pay for.
The first requirement for a good translator in the language pair is that the person should be fluent in both languages. For a translator, it's always best to translate from the language he or she is less confident in to the language he or she speaks most fluently. In other words, you need to look for someone whose first language is Spanish.
You also need to carefully consider your target market. The variation of Spanish spoken in Latin America is quite different from that spoken in Spain. Moreover, there are regional variations and expressions that are unique to certain countries. If, for instance, your target market is mainly of Guatemalan descent, try and find a translator who either comes from Guatemala or has lived there for many years and knows the local expressions and culture.
Forget about trying to save money by using translation computer software. These programs are good for looking up separate words, like you would with a bilingual dictionary. However, they ignore context and phrases and give you an end product that is at best inaccurate and at worst completely unintelligible.
However, even human translators aren't all equal. Contrary to what many people believe, translation is not just a case of using a dictionary and not everybody who is multilingual is a good translator. Good translators use a variety of reference materials and think creatively. They also engage with the text, thinking about its meaning and the message it tries to convey.
Before choosing a translator, check that person's credentials and work experience. In many countries there are organizations that regulate the translation industry and to belong to these organizations, candidates must past very stringent translation texts. Appointing a member of a professional organization is your safest bet but it's also a good idea to look for someone who works in the publishing industry.
Before you assign the task, ask the candidate to translate a paragraph or two as a sample. Most professional translators will be happy to do this. It's a way for them to prove their abilities and for you to see whether they're a good fit. Ask several people who speak Spanish to check the sample translation and comment on its accuracy and readability.
A great way to separate the wheat from the chaff is to look at the rates the different candidates quote. Low rates are often an indication that the person is an amateur with no idea of the going rates for translation work. Don't be tempted to go with the cheapest person because, like with everything else in the world, you get what you pay for.
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