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.
When choosing a translator, you need to look for someone who speaks and writes both languages fluently. Translators often do their best work when translating from another language into their mother tongue. Because of this, it's best to choose a translator whose mother tongue 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.
Using translation software instead of a human translator is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. The problem with translation programs is that they don't translate texts phrase by phrase but instead work on a word for word basis. They don't look at context either. This can completely change the meaning of the text and in many cases it gives you texts that are 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.
A great starting point when trying to find real translators is to see whether they belong to any kind of professional translators' association. These groups don't allow just anybody to become a member but use stringent tests to decide whether someone's work is of a high enough standard before granting them membership. Another good indication of whether someone will be up to the task is to see whether they have any experience of translating for the publishing industry, which also has very high standards.
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.
When you advertise for a translator and are inundated with applications, look at the rates that the candidates charge. Professionals usually charge higher rates that are in accordance to industry standards and they quote on a per-word basis. When someone quotes a very low rate, it's often an indication that they're out of touch with the industry and will give you substandard work.
When choosing a translator, you need to look for someone who speaks and writes both languages fluently. Translators often do their best work when translating from another language into their mother tongue. Because of this, it's best to choose a translator whose mother tongue 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.
Using translation software instead of a human translator is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. The problem with translation programs is that they don't translate texts phrase by phrase but instead work on a word for word basis. They don't look at context either. This can completely change the meaning of the text and in many cases it gives you texts that are 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.
A great starting point when trying to find real translators is to see whether they belong to any kind of professional translators' association. These groups don't allow just anybody to become a member but use stringent tests to decide whether someone's work is of a high enough standard before granting them membership. Another good indication of whether someone will be up to the task is to see whether they have any experience of translating for the publishing industry, which also has very high standards.
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.
When you advertise for a translator and are inundated with applications, look at the rates that the candidates charge. Professionals usually charge higher rates that are in accordance to industry standards and they quote on a per-word basis. When someone quotes a very low rate, it's often an indication that they're out of touch with the industry and will give you substandard work.
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