As the 2nd most widely spoken language in the world after Chinese, and one of the official UN languages, Spanish translation is high on the agenda for many companies wanting to expand internationally.
Spanish translation – what to consider
An official language of 21 countries, translating content into Spanish would reach 470 million native speakers around the globe, and could open doors to Latin and South American markets, including consumers in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. Just because these markets share the same language doesn’t mean they share the same culture.
Certain linguistic phrases or cultural aspects in one market may not exist in the other – this is where localisation takes your message one step further to engage with your intended target audience.
Difference between Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish
The areas in which Spanish is spoken are so culturally diverse, that the way the language is spoken and written varies immensely. Here are a few examples:
| English | Castilian | Latin American |
|---|---|---|
| computer | ordenador | computadora |
| glasses | gafas | anteojos |
| to check | verificar | checar |
| to drive | conducir | manejar |
| wireless mouse | ratón inalámbrico | mouse inalámbrico |
| you (plural informal) | vosotros | vos (Argentina) |
| juice | zumo | jugo |
Difference between Catalan and Castilian
Even within Spain there is a wide variety of language and dialects. For example, in Barcelona, one of Spain’s largest cities, the official language is Catalan, which differs from Castilian Spanish quite drastically and the region has its own cultural identity.
Catalan isn’t a form of Spanish, it’s a language in its own right and evolved directly from Latin
- Catalan is spoken by 7 million people, albeit in a relatively small, well-concentrated area
- Under General Franco’s rule, speaking Catalan, along with other languages, was banned. After being oppressed for so many years, speakers of regional languages, like Catalan, are passionate about protecting their identity and linguistic heritage
Seamless language solutions
Our translation services cover a wide variety of market sectors, services, content and end users.
Who we work with
“Capita TI provided their usual great level of support for us on the Stopover Buddy project. Although the timescales were tight, they were always willing to help and were very responsive. They contributed to making the Stopover Buddy project the success it has been!”
“Very good experience so far, expect this to continue. Particularly of interest to me is Capita being able to connect to our KCMS content management system.”
Why choose us?
- We only use native-speaking, fully qualified translators who have over 3 years’ translation experience
- Your confidential data stays secure in our translation management system
- Our twenty-four-seven operation means your translation requests can be supported any time of day or night
