Spanish is the home language of millions of people not only in Spain but also in Latin America. It's widely spoken in other countries too, notably ones with large Latin American immigrant populations, such as in the USA. Being able to address these people in their mother tongue will be a great boost for your business but for this to work, you need to find the best person 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.
It's also very important to take your target market into account. There are different variations of Spanish and you need to decide whether your texts will be geared toward readers from Spain or from Latin American countries. In order to ensure that you'll be addressing your target market in their own language, not only linguistically but culturally too, it's preferable to choose a translator that comes from the same cultural background and will be able to use local phrases.
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.
Many professional translators belong to a professional association. In order to become members, they have to pass an exam with very stringent criteria. This means that when you choose a translator who belongs to one of these associations, chances are that it's a person who really can do the job. Publishing companies also select their translators very carefully, so someone with experience working in that industry is a good option too.
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.
Just like you wouldn't trust a doctor who charges fifty dollars for brain surgery, you shouldn't trust a translator who charges very low rates. Find out what the industry standard is. Professionals will charge rates in this price range, while amateurs rarely know what the industry standard is and will charge much less. When it comes to translation, quality costs more but it's a great investment, since bad quality will just alienate your target market.
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.
It's also very important to take your target market into account. There are different variations of Spanish and you need to decide whether your texts will be geared toward readers from Spain or from Latin American countries. In order to ensure that you'll be addressing your target market in their own language, not only linguistically but culturally too, it's preferable to choose a translator that comes from the same cultural background and will be able to use local phrases.
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.
Many professional translators belong to a professional association. In order to become members, they have to pass an exam with very stringent criteria. This means that when you choose a translator who belongs to one of these associations, chances are that it's a person who really can do the job. Publishing companies also select their translators very carefully, so someone with experience working in that industry is a good option too.
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.
Just like you wouldn't trust a doctor who charges fifty dollars for brain surgery, you shouldn't trust a translator who charges very low rates. Find out what the industry standard is. Professionals will charge rates in this price range, while amateurs rarely know what the industry standard is and will charge much less. When it comes to translation, quality costs more but it's a great investment, since bad quality will just alienate your target market.
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