Differences between Spanish and Portuguese

Posted On November 5, 2010By TranspanishIn Portuguese Language, Spanish Language, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

Both Spanish and Portuguese are Indo-European languages derived from Latin, and they developed on the Iberian Peninsula during roughly the same period. Though the two languages are closely related, important differences exist between Spanish and Portuguese, which can create problems for those acquainted with one of the languages when they try to learn the other.

Despite the fact that the Spanish and Portuguese lexicons are very similar, the languages differ significantly in terms of pronunciation. Phonetically, Portuguese bears greater resemblance to French or Catalan while Spanish pronunciation is much closer to Italian. Portuguese includes a greater phonemic inventory than Spanish, which may explain why it is generally more difficult for Spanish speakers to understand, in spite of the strong lexical similarity between the two languages.

Linguistic differences between Spanish and Portuguese appear more pronounced in the written language than in the spoken one due to differences in spelling conventions; however, the two languages do share a great deal of vocabulary that is spelled either exactly the same (but may be pronounced rather differently) or almost the same (but may be pronounced in more or less the same way).

Differences in vocabulary between the two languages evolved due to several reasons:

  • While Spanish retained a great deal of its Mozarabic vocabulary of Arabic origin, Portuguese’s Mozarabic substratum was not as influential. In many cases, Portuguese words of Arabic origin were eventually replaced with Latin roots.
  • During the languages’ development during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Spanish remained more autonomous, while Portuguese was more greatly influenced by other European languages, namely French.
  • Spanish and Portuguese incorporated differing influences from Amerindian, African and Asian languages.

Besides a number of “false friends,” Spanish and Portuguese share several cognates whose meaning is broader in one language than in the other. For example, Spanish makes a distinction between the adjective mucho (much/many) and the adverb muy (very/quite). Portuguese uses muito in both cases.

Generally speaking, Portuguese and Spanish grammars do not greatly differ, though minor differences do exist in terms of possessives, the use of pronouns, certain verb tenses, and prepositions.

For Portuguese Translation, visit our site Transportuguese .

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Number of Living Languages

Posted On September 29, 2010By TranspanishIn Did you know?, Languages, Tips for Translators/  No Comments

Did you know that there are 6909 living languages in the world?

Distribution of languages by area of origin

AreaLiving languagesNumber of speakers
CountPercentCountPercentMeanMedian
Africa2,11030.5726,453,40312.2344,29125,200
Americas99314.450,496,3210.850,8522,300
Asia2,32233.63,622,771,26460.81,560,19411,100
Europe2343.41,553,360,94126.16,638,295201,500
Pacific1,25018.16,429,7880.15,144980
Totals6,909100.05,959,511,717100.0862,5727,560

Source: Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 2009.

Also read: Will 90% of the languages cease to exist? and Endangered languages open database is launched online

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Transpanish Blog’s Newest Feature: “Did You Know?”

Posted On September 28, 2010By TranspanishIn English Language, Languages, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  1 Comment

As American author and scholar William Lyon Phelps noted, “One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute.” So, in the interest of uncovering some engaging linguistic facts and promoting intellectual curiosity among our readership, here at the Transpanish blog we have decided to add a new feature titled “Did You Know?”

This new section of the blog will highlight interesting language and translation-related facts through a series of light, brief articles. With facts such as the current number of languages spoken in the world and information about the world’s oldest surviving language, you’re sure to learn something new each time you visit the Transpanish blog. Satisfy your curiosity and keep your eyes peeled for some interesting facts and tidbits from the world of linguistics and translation.

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Castilian Spanish Versus Latin American Spanish

Posted On August 25, 2010By TranspanishIn Languages, Latinos, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  1 Comment

Castilian Spanish – so named for its roots in the region of Castile – emerged from Spain’s many regional languages and dialects to become the primary language of the nation. Castilian Spanish was later brought to the New World through the colonization efforts of the Spanish, where the language enjoyed widespread adoption throughout the Americas. Over time, Latin American Spanish has evolved in its own right to contain various features that distinguish it from European Spanish.

The use of the term “castellano” as opposed to “español” when referring to the Spanish language may be interpreted in a number of ways. Since there are several official languages in Spain including Catalan, Basque, and Galician, the word “castellano” is often used to differentiate the Spanish language from these regional languages. Castellano may also be used to refer to regional dialects of the Spanish language spoken in Castile, for example, Andalusian. Many times – particularly outside of Spain – castellano and español are utilized interchangeably and simply refer to the Spanish language as a whole.

The terms Castilian Spanish or castellano are often used to draw a distinction between the Spanish spoken in Spain (Peninsular Spanish) and Latin American Spanish; however, this usage is somewhat misleading since Spanish speakers in Latin America also speak what are essentially dialects of Castilian Spanish as opposed to a distinct language, as is often implied.

Many Spanish speakers in Latin America customarily refer to their language as castellano as opposed to español. For example, Southern Cone countries such as Argentina and Uruguay have a tendency to refer to Spanish as castellano, while other parts of South America alternate between the use of the terms español and castellano. In the U.S., Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Spanish is almost exclusively referred to as español.

While there is no generic form of Latin American Spanish, many countries share several features of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar that set apart Latin American Spanish from Castilian Spanish.

Read more about Latin American Spanish and Castilian Spanish

Translate your document to Spanish.

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Translated Literature Reveals Cultural Similarities

Posted On August 14, 2010By TranspanishIn English Language, Languages, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

Americans notoriously read very little in the way of foreign literature. With translations representing a paltry 3 to 5 percent of books being published annually in the United States, authors and translators alike are crying out for more fiction to be translated. Intellectuals argue that exposure to writing by foreign authors will help us to bridge gaps of understanding and bring us out of our cocoon of cultural isolation.

After reading a collection of short stories by various European authors, writer and translator Tim Parks observes that he is “struck by how familiar these voices are, how reassuringly similar in outlook to one another and ourselves.” The elements of humor and narrative forms found within the collection only serve to underscore the similarities. “Across the globe, the literary frame of mind is growing more homogeneous,” Parks writes.

There’s no doubt that translated foreign literature deserves a spot in the bookcase, but perhaps we should shelve the idea of greater cultural awareness through these works.

Read more about the topic here on The New York Review of Books.

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Recent Translation and Language News

Posted On June 4, 2010By TranspanishIn English Language, Languages, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

Here are some of the top language-related stories from the last month:

1. The recently elected president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, sports an animal last name. Could the warm and fuzzy appeal of her name have helped her to get elected?

2. As part of the state’s new comprehensive immigration reform, Arizona now requires that any teacher instructing students in the English language speak without a heavy accent.

3. Renowned scientist Stephen Hawking ponders what sort of language humans would require to communicate effectively with extraterrestrials should they one day make contact with our planet.

4. Bad translations are the order of the day. A recent diplomatic visit to Washington D.C. by Mexican President Felipe Calderón was marred due to lackluster interpretation of his comments by a substitute interpreter.

5. The Eurovision Song Contest is perennially plagued with bad English translations, and this year was no exception.

6. Icelandic-English translators can barely keep pace with the flood of financial documents resulting from Iceland’s economic collapse.

For more information, visit this article at The World.

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What Do Translators Expect from Agencies?

Posted On May 16, 2010By TranspanishIn Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

As freelance translators, we all know the importance of making a good impression on our clients and maintaining a healthy professional relationship with them; however, what about the impression the client makes on you? The translator-agency relationship can vary significantly from vendor to vendor, depending on factors such as the size of the agency, the experience of the project managers, and the overall attitude of the agency toward the translation process (quality vs. quantity). A translation agency or client with concern for the translator will strive to meet the following expectations:

» Ideally, agencies express interest in negotiating rates, deadlines, payment methods and terms, etc., instead of forcing their own terms upon the translator. If a project requires urgency or overtime, the agency offers the appropriate incentives.

» A friendly yet professional tone. When communications from the project manager are overly formal, it’s easy for translators to feel like they’re talking to a robot instead of another human being. A touch of small talk and/or pleasantries can go a long way to humanizing the relationship with the agency.

» Tactful feedback. Translators do occasionally make errors, and while they appreciate feedback about their mistakes, it’s more helpful when the criticism is given in a tactful and constructive manner.

» Keep it simple. The agency that excels at simplifying the communication process, even for the most complicated projects, makes the translator’s life much easier and more productive.

» The agency sends the complete file for the translator’s review before expecting him or her to accept the project.

» Reasonably prompt communication. Translators understand that project managers or other team members are often swamped with work; however, a quick response to a question or doubt, especially on an urgent project, is much appreciated.

» Deft handling of administrative matters. Translators rejoice when the purchase order is sent in a timely manner, the agency confirms that the invoice has been received, etc.

» Timely payment. Translators put a great deal of stock in agencies that pay reliably and within acceptable timeframes.

What do you look for in your relationship with a translation agency or other vendors?

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Transcreation: Specialized Translation for Marketing

Posted On April 20, 2010By TranspanishIn English Language, Languages, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  1 Comment

The translation of marketing and promotional materials presents unique challenges, not only from a language standpoint but from a cultural one as well. Translations of advertising copy must strive for something beyond technical accuracy; just like the carefully-crafted original text, the translation of a marketing message must be both engaging and culturally relevant to the target audience. The incorporation of specialists in transcreation and cultural adaptation to the linguistic team ensures that marketing messages are accurately conveyed without sacrificing creativity or consistency.

Transcreation services focus on adaptation of a text rather than a strict translation, guaranteeing that – by remaining faithful to the original and reflecting the local preferences and culture of the target audience – the message achieves the greatest impact in every market. Transcreation entails a host of services including translation, copywriting, and localization, bringing together the creativity and contributions of professionals whose principal interests and activities center on content adaptation.

“The goal of transcreation isn’t to say the same thing in another language. Indeed, it is often not possible to say exactly the same thing in another language. The aim of the game with transcreation is to get the same reaction in each language, something that translation in itself won’t be able to achieve.” [1]

The translation of copy for the marketing world differs significantly from other types of translations such as technical translations, which leave little room for creativity, and some training in copywriting is recommended. Translators with a flair for creative writing tend to produce the best results with advertising, marketing, and media texts and are best suited to work as transcreators.

Transcreation demands an intimate understanding of the source language, continuous exposure to the local media in the target market, as well as a high degree of familiarity with the target audience. A specialist in transcreation will be able to evaluate why the advertising message works for the original group, and he or she will produce materials that are culturally adapted and tailor-made for the target audience. Ideally, translators, transcreators, and those responsible for content adaptation should engage the client in a dialogue about the brand and its intended message to consumers to maintain consistency and meaning for the target audience.

[1] Bad Language, Translation vs. Transcreation

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Desktop Publishing and Translation

Posted On April 14, 2010By TranspanishIn Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

While the content of a translation is always of utmost importance, the presentation of that content should not be underestimated. Even the best translation can flop if it is presented in an unprofessional manner. Desktop publishing (DTP) ensures that a translation delivers visual impact, with a design that complements and enhances the written word. Using sophisticated programs such as QuarkXPress, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign and PageMaker, a completed translation can be inserted into any number of file types, which may or may not include graphics, for use in presentations, advertising, web layouts, etc. The desktop publishing phase is not usually handled by the translator; instead, it is assigned to a team member with specific desktop publishing and design experience.

Documents translated from English to Spanish often contain up to 20% more words – a concept known as text expansion – as it often takes more words to express the same idea in Spanish. Text expansion may result in a visually-crowded document that is difficult to read, since an increased number of words must fit in the same design. To prevent higher formatting costs down the road, documents should be designed with adequate white space to accommodate text expansion.

Designers must be sensitive to the fact that the Spanish language includes characters and punctuation not found in English. The desktop publisher will ensure that special characters appearing in the Spanish translation such as á, é, í, ó, ú, ü and ñ are preserved in the final product. Special attention should also be paid to the uniquely Spanish inverted question and exclamation marks (¿ and ¡) as well as angular quotes (« and »). Desktop publishers should carefully select digital typefaces, as some fonts do not contain these characters. It is also worthwhile to experiment with different fonts in order to choose one where the accent marks do not appear to merge into the accented letters.

Lastly, a crucial element of desktop publishing is a visual assessment of each project to make sure it is acceptable from a cultural perspective. The use of certain images or colors may be perceived as offensive in some cultures and must be adapted for the local market.

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Tips to Prevent Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Posted On February 22, 2010By TranspanishIn Tips for Translators/  3 Comments

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The life of a translator tends to be a rather sedentary one; many hours are spent hunched over the computer, pecking away at a keyboard. In addition, most freelancers generally work out of a home office, which may not be set up under ideal work conditions. While it may be tempting to dismiss recommendations regarding ergonomics and stretching as mumbo-jumbo, the truth is that they’re important considerations for the sake of your health.

RSI (repetitive strain injury) “is caused by repeated overuse and injury to the muscles of the hands, wrists, arms or shoulders. For example, constant movement of the fingers by a typist or musician causes stress on the tissues at a microscopic level.” The heavy typing and computer use associated with modern-day translation work places translators at risk for developing RSI.

Top Tips to Prevent RSI

»Stretch – Consider doing a warm up and cool down after a long session at the computer. Click here for a list of exercises to prevent RSI.

»Take breaks – Take regular breaks throughout the day, and practice relaxation techniques to release tension. When you’re “in the zone” or feeling pressured to finish a job, you may sit for hours at a time in front of the computer without taking even a five-minute break. A program called Workrave “alerts you to take micro-pauses, rest breaks and restricts you to your daily limit.” [1]

»Consider ergonomics – Set up an appropriate work station no matter where you’re working, and use good posture and positioning while in front of the computer. It’s important to have a comfortable, well-lit place to work to maximize productivity and reduce the risk of RSI. Click here for a list of ergonomics guidelines.

»Try a speech to text program – Programs such as Dragon Naturally Speaking are useful in battling the strain and fatigue associated with extended periods of typing. Speech recognition programs require patience and take time to train, but they are a viable option for those who need to set limits on the amount of typing they do.

»Investigate alternative keyboard and mouse options – Users can experiment with a trackball-style mouse or a stylus/graphic pad combination, which may provide relief for those experiencing early signs of RSI. Ergonomic keyboards are also available and reduce strain on hands and wrists.

Sources:

[1] Workrave

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