Spanish translation Differences

Like popular European languages such as Italian and French, Spanish is derived from
Latin. However, we must also bear in mind that other languages such as French and
Arabic have had a strong influence on the Spanish language. When Spanish explorers
"discovered" Latin America, the Spanish language used by the early settlers evolved
into a distinctive dialect of Spanish with its own flavour and style. This new dialect of
Spanish married the European and South American cultures to become what is
generally called South American Spanish. Latin American Spanish is now spoken all
over South America in places such as Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador with each country again having it’s own
specific nuances and dialects.

The differences between Latin American Spanish and European Spanish are in many
respects similar to the differences between American and English meaning that Latin
American Spanish speakers and European Spanish speakers have no difficulties
understanding each other. The major differences between the two spoken dialects are
as follows:

Spaniards tend to pronounce the z and the c before i or e like the "th" in "thick," while
many Latin Americans pronounce it as the s. Also, some South Americans and in
Argentina in particular, often pronounce the ll and y like the "s" in "measure." They
also tend to drop s sounds, so está sounds like etá. In parts of South America, the j
sounds like the "ch" in "loch" while in others it sounds like the English "h." Finally,
the l and the r at the end of a word can sometimes sound alike. All of these
pronunciation differences coupled with a slower pace and softer tone when speaking
Latin American Spanish enable is to tell very easily where someone is from.

When it comes to South American Spanish translation and Spanish translation the
differences are again very subtle and a Spaniard will generally have no problems
understanding a South American text but there are some differences on grammar and
vocabulary making it more logical to employ a native South American Spanish
translator to translate texts specific to a particular South American market.

On grammar, two of the major differences that the Spanish translator will take into
consideration are the leísmo of Spain and the use of the pronoun vos in some areas
instead of tú. Secondly, vosotros is often used as the plural of tú (the singular familiar
"you") in Spain, while in Latin American ustedes is used.

Vocabulary is where the major differences lie and can differ vastly even within South
America emphasising again the importance of hiring a translator native to a particular
locale or market. As they say there is no substitute for local knowledge.

Here are some of the misunderstandings that can arise from not hiring a native
speaking translator to a specific market.

A Spanish translator may translate to step on as pisar while this maybe understood as
to have sex in Latin American Spanish. A Spanish translator may translate car as
coche while this maybe understood as baby stroller in Latin American Spanish. A
lápiz is a pencil or crayon everywhere, but a lapicero is a pencil holder in some areas,
a mechanical pencil in others, and a ball-point pen in others. There are also a number
of blatant differences, such as a computer being an ordenador in Spain but a
computadora in Latin America. Even within South American Spanish we have the
example where a Chinese restaurant is called a chifa in Peru and Chile but this word is
very uncommon in other dialects of South American Spanish.

All in all, when sub-contracting your translation services for South American Spanish
do your research and ensure that your translator is not only a native South American
Spanish translator but also native to the particular area/locale for which your text is
being translated.