Thread: Spanish / Latin Am. Spanish

Do you think that a translator living in Spain could do a good job translating a text from English into Latin American Spanish? Some translators say that they can translate in both variants (with a little research).






Oana

I think this would be possible if the Spanish translator has lived in Latin American countries, if not I would find it rather difficult to accomplish.

Thank you for the answer! one more question ... which is the main difference? is it the grammar, the spelling, the vocabulary...


Oana

I think it's possible to do it, the grammar is quite the same, except for the use of "vos" instead of "tu" which Argentinians already know we shouldn't use it.

BUT (there's always a but...)

What would be a very good idea is to work together, for example, Exx you proofread my translation and I proofread yours! I usually do that with and native Australian friend, when he has problems with his Spanish I proofread his work and the other way round...

Hope it helps!

Mem, does that mean you cannot use the voseo and the conjugation of the verb mentioned above in translations? I thought that was a fact. I am surprised. So only "standard Spanish" may be used??

Originally Posted by exxcéntrica

Mem, does that mean you cannot use the voseo and the conjugation of the verb mentioned above in translations? I thought that was a fact. I am surprised. So only "standard Spanish" may be used??

"Standard spanish" for Spain or any other country of Latin America, of course. Argentinians are the only ones who use the voseo. On the other hand if I make a translation for an Argentinian client I use the voseo, no problem at all. Get it?

Best regards,

Hi, Oana:

In my opinion, the translator should translate an English text into the Spanish register he or she is used to, because if not, any attempt to immitate other usage of Spanish would sound far-fetched or, at least, artificial. Imagine a Mexican translator trying to reproduce the Spanish from Madrid, for instante. Personally, I wouldn't even try to do that, because there are a lot of terms, idioms and even slang words known to the people from Madrid that few others know how to use.
Yes, the grammar is practically the same both sides of the Atlantic, but the exceptions are many. For instance, Guatemalans use the "voseo" in a different way than Argentinians do, Mem, and, as far as I know, Uruguayans and Chileans also use the "voseo", only I don't know if they use it exactly as Argentinians do.
I remember a character in Terenci Moix's Garras de Astracán. He, a Spanish author, presented in his novel a Mexican character, a very talkative woman. Her dialogues seemed very artificial to me, every time I read them I thought "We don't speak that way". That's the danger of using a register you're not used to, that is to say, of trying to imitate the form of speech of people from a country which is not yours.
As a conclusion, I would do as Mem suggests: write as an Argentinian, but if your not from Argentina, before publishing your work, ask an Argentinian to proofread your work and make it sound as natural as possible. The same goes to every Spanish variation. Otherwise, better stick to standard Spanish.

Saludos.

Carlos Roberto, very true. It always depends on the market you are writing for and also on the client.

I remember a funny story , a very good friend had to translate "mobile holder" and we suggested a lot except the one whe was obliged to use by the client: mobil-teniente. Jesus!!!

I would be quite unable to write for the Argentinian market, I am sure. I have also seen that Mexicans use a sometimes so different vocabulary that I think, answering the poster's question, it would be difficult indeed for a Spanish person to write a good translation for the Mexican market or the Argentinian one.

Very interesting! Thank you for all the answers

Have a lovely weekend!!


Oana