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