Contrary to popular belief…..
…..translation is not just a case of transferring words systematically from one language to another. If it were, Google Translate would be ideal for carrying out translations. Other aspects, however, need to be taken into account at all times during the translation process. These include context, nuance, purpose, culture and style. Only a human translator can recognise these factors and produce a translation that is fit for its new audience. That’s where I come in.
What do I translate?
I translate text from Spanish to English. I’m a detail-orientated translator and treat every text with the utmost care, passionately creating high-quality content that is not only accurate but also culturally and stylistically fit for purpose. Although I am most at home translating about football, tourism, business and marketing, I have also worked in many other areas. Recent projects have included financial posts, articles for funeral companies, business reports about changing work patterns, a Lanzarote tourism website, information about swimming pools, football interviews, recycling and waste reduction in the workplace, furniture descriptions and texts for a bilingual school. With a lucid eye for detail I also provide revision and editing services. Recently, I carried out proofreading work for a publishing house on a translated book about the history of FC Barcelona.
A methodical approach
Before carrying out any translation, I will thoroughly analyse the source text and any important instructions in the brief in order to identify potential problems and to understand the purpose of the translation. I will then decide on the approach, taking into account the target culture and target audience. Research will take place to help understand the subject and, if required, I will compile a glossary to maintain consistency and quality. I translate with the help of CAT tools which add efficiency and accuracy to the process. I use SDL Trados but also have experience with other tools such as MemoQ. Upon completion of the translation, I carefully revise the text to ensure it reads smoothly and is free from error. Once I am confident the translation is fit for its intended purpose, it will then be passed to another translator for final checking.
Can I translate from English to Spanish?
The simple answer is no! There is an unwritten rule that as professional translators we will never translate into a language that is not our mother tongue. Why? Because no matter how many trips abroad and years toiling away with study books, we can never master a foreign language with the same lexical accuracy, grammatical correctness and complete familiarity typical of a native. Think about a foreign person you know who speaks to you in your language, Rafa Benítez the Spanish football manager for example. He may be able to communicate excellently and you can understand every word he says, but some of the expressions and choices of words are not those that a native speaker would use. In a professionally translated document, these expressions would divert attention away from the message of the text and leave the target audience with an alien and often disjointed reading experience.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
As a proud member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), I am committed to carrying out continuous professional development. This enables me to offer the highest possible standards of work by maintaining and updating my language skills, subject knowledge, and any other skills or knowledge necessary for my work. As nothing stands still, from the technology I use to the developments in my specialist fields, it is essential to keep up with all these changes throughout my career. Carrying out regular CPD demonstrates professionalism and commitment to colleagues and clients and shows I mean business and can be taken seriously. I think it is always useful to spend some time thinking about what is required to be a successful translator and which skills perhaps need to be developed a little further. This is not only true for a translator with limited experience, but also for a seasoned professional.
Spanish expertise
I have a great love for all things Spanish; the culture, the history, the people, the music, the dancing, the nightlife, the football, the beaches, the tapas, the wine, and, of course, the language. Although there is always room for improvement, I would describe myself as a fluent speaker with great communication skills. I started teaching myself Spanish about 20 years ago with books and CDs. This helped build the foundations, but it was not until I fully immersed myself with the language and culture, by living in Argentina for two years, that I really began to master the finer points of the language. Since then, I gained a First Class Honours Degree in Spanish and History and also a Master of Arts in Translation for which I was awarded a Merit. I now live in Spain so I am able to flex my Spanish muscle on a daily basis: nothing gives me greater satisfaction than working with the language and finding the correct equivalent in my native tongue through my translation work.
Hire me
If you’re looking for accurate Spanish to English translations that are culturally and stylistically fit for purpose, get in touch now and I will be happy to provide you with a quote. It would be helpful to let me know the word count of the source text, what kind of text it is, the purpose of the translation, when it needs to be completed, who the target audience is and whether it will be for reference or publication.
A Geordie In Girona 