Castilian = Spanish = Castellano = Español

This is a persistent misunderstanding… Before starting any Spanish translation, having this information handy might be helpful when clients or distributors tell YOU what variety of Spanish is required, without providing any geographical context.

Castilian/Spanish, Castellano/Español are all synonyms for the same language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_given_to_the_Spanish_language

In short, it avoids confusion to call the national language spoken in Spain “peninsular” Spanish or European Spanish.

In many Spanish-speaking countries in the New World, people casually use the term castellano (Castilian in English) to mean “proper” Spanish – that is, not colloquial or a regional dialect, and without a lot of folksy local vocabulary or slang that wouldn’t be understood by Spanish speakers outside of their specific country or region.

One will commonly hear “castellano” used in this sense in Mexico, for instance. It’s sort of like a U.S. speaker saying “the King’s English.” But this is a colloquial usage, and not linguistically accurate.

In some cases, what the client is driving at might be one of the “virtual” Spanish varieties used for translation purposes; for example, “Latin American” Spanish or “Universal” Spanish. These are not really Spanish dialects at all. Instead, in the translation industry they are a convenient way of indicating that the target Spanish variety needs to be comprehensible (to the extent possible) in various countries and might need to include some alternate wordings where differing vocabulary might cause confusion.

Sometimes Spanish speakers outside of the USA may in fact be specifying “Castilian” because they believe (with some cause) that a lot of what they would consider “bad” Spanish or Spanglish is spoken within the USA, and they’re concerned (also with cause) that they might receive this from any translation agency based in the USA.

• Another interesting aspect of the term castellano (Castilian) is that many people within autonomous regions of Spain who speak other peninsular languages such as Catalán, Galician or Basque make a point of calling it castellano. After all, theirs are also co-official “Spanish” languages!

Usually, when “Castilian” Spanish is requested, either:

1. The client really does mean European Spanish as spoken in Spain (and Equatorial Guinea, Gilbraltar, Ceuta, Melilla); or
2. Their own clients or distributors have told them “Castilian” as a way of saying “standard” Spanish that isn’t colloquial or regional dialect— it which case it would NOT be appropriate to translate to European Spanish.

• Spanish in Europe has some basic grammatical differences from any New World Spanish variety, including the well-known use of the second-person plural pronouns and verb forms (vosotros). In the New World, these are generally only seen in archaic, poetical or biblical styles. There are also many other important differences in vocabulary, preferences for sentence construction, and compound verb forms. Pronunciation is also very different, and this is of crucial importance when recording voiceover narrations for e-learning, video, PowerPoint, Flash, etc. A large proportion of European Spanish is intelligible to well-traveled New World speakers, but they will definitely recognize it as a different Spanish variety. Especially in non-technical text, European Spanish sounds more “foreign” to American Spanish speakers than British vernacular does to USA English speakers, for example.

As always, if clients let us know exactly WHERE the Spanish translation will be used, our expertise can help them choose the most appropriate target language variety.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Spanish Translation: World’s Largest Spanish-Speaking Populations

The figures one sees for the number of Spanish speakers per country vary tremendously. One of the biggest factors is whether the number being cited includes all “Spanish speakers”—including those who speak Spanish as a first, second or even third language—or exclusively those who speak Spanish as their first or “native” language (their mother tongue, to use the common expression in Spanish).

Many countries in the Americas enjoy rich linguistic diversity (as does Spain), and not everyone there speaks Spanish as their first language. Additionally, in Brazil and the United States, significant portions of the population speak Spanish as a second language.

It is also interesting to note that, even though the number of first-language Spanish speakers in the United States is relatively small when considered as a percentage of the population (12%), this country still represents the third-largest native-speaking Spanish population in the world.

For example, compare these “top ten” lists:

Spanish Speakers (1^st or 2^nd language) *

1. Mexico — 107 million
2. United States — 50 million
3. Spain — 46 million
4. Colombia — 45 million
5. Argentina — 40 million
6. Venezuela — 28 million
7. Peru — 25 million
8. Chile — 17 million
9. Ecuador — 14 million
10. Brazil — 12 million

Spanish Speakers (“mother tongue” only) *

1. Mexico — 100 million
2. Colombia — 45 million
3. United States — 43 million
4. Spain — 42 million
5. Argentina — 39 million
6. Venezuela — 28 million
7. Peru — 23 million
8. Chile — 15 million
9. Ecuador — 13 million
10. Cuba — 11 million

* Source: 2009 study “The Economic Value of Spanish” funded by the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union, based on population data from 2004-2005. Figures rounded to the nearest million. 2004-2005 data estimated 400 million first-language Spanish speakers, plus perhaps 25 million non-native speakers. However, the same study’s projections for 2009-2010 estimate approximately 500 million “Spanish speakers” in total.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

7 Myths About Spanish Translation for the United States

ASIST Translation Services Inc. has been translating to and from Spanish for the US market for over 25 years (as well as other Spanish-speaking countries around the world, of course!). Among the frequent topics of conversation with our translation clients are the many myths and misconceptions about the Spanish-speaking population in the United States. Accordingly, the Spanish translators at ASIST have helped compile a list of the “Magnificent Seven” myths about English-Spanish translations for use within the United States.

MYTH: Spanish spoken in the United States is “Spanglish.” It includes many English words and incorrect Spanish grammar.

FACT: Educated Spanish speakers who are surrounded by an English-speaking culture do indeed incorporate a higher proportion of loan words. As with other Spanish-speaking cultures around the world, borrowing words from other languages is more readily accepted when an exact (and brief!) equivalent doesn’t exist in Spanish. Even when translating to Spanish for other countries, it is not uncommon for our translators to include an original English term in parentheses if they are concerned that the Spanish version might otherwise be ambiguous.

Despite all this, conventional rules of Spanish grammar and punctuation apply when ASIST creates formal Spanish translations for United States speakers, and English words would never be gratuitously included in Spanish text. When "US Spanish" is designated as the target language variety, this in no way implies indiscriminate use of anglicisms, non-standard grammar or slang vocabulary that combines English and Spanish.

Among US Hispanics, in many cases their Spanish-language education may be interrupted or incomplete. This accounts for much of the “Spanglish” that Spanish speakers outside the United States always find so remarkable. Our professional Spanish translators are well aware of these issues, and work with ASIST clients to identify the appropriate educational level for the target audience—while still maintaining grammatical accuracy and adherence to correct rules of style.

MYTH: English-to-Spanish translations for the United States can be Mexican Spanish, because they represent the majority.

FACT: According to the US Census Bureau (2007 American Community Survey), only about 64% of the Hispanics across the United States identify themselves as being of Mexican origin. So, if you produce a translation that is specifically Mexican, without verifying its usability for other Hispanic groups, this potentially alienates more than a third of your target audience!

These percentages vary widely from one US city to another. For example, census bureau data (ACS 2003) about Hispanic populations in metropolitan areas (without taking into account their native language, or Hispanic residents in their surrounding counties) tells us that:

• In the city of San Francisco, less than half of Hispanics are of Mexican origin.
• Within the city of Cleveland, 82% of Hispanics are of Puerto Rican origin.
• In Philadelphia, 76% of Hispanics are of Puerto Rican origin.
• Less than 5% of Hispanics in Boston are of Mexican origin (Puerto Ricans, at 27%, represent the largest Hispanic group in that city.)
• Within the city of Columbus, Ohio, 59% of Hispanics are of Mexican origin.
• In New York City, only 8% of Hispanics are of Mexican origin. (Over 30% of Hispanics in that city are of Puerto Rican origin, and slightly over 2% stated Cuban origin.)
• However, there are many cities with large Mexican majorities among their Hispanic residents. For example, about 67% of Hispanic residents in Atlanta are of Mexican origin, 73% in Chicago, 76% in Denver, 81% in Las Vegas, 89% in Dallas, 90% in San Diego.

MYTH: Spanish is Spanish. There is only one correct version. The principal Spanish dictionary is that of the Real Academia Española; therefore, the Spanish spoken in Spain is also appropriate for all other Spanish speakers in the United States and Latin America.

FACT: Many varieties of Spanish exist around the world. The formal written and spoken versions used in various countries or regions are equally legitimate. Just as with English, the fact that a language may have originated in a one country, or has a greater number of speakers in another, doesn't make any given variety "better" than others. Certain vocabulary and grammar used in Spain can be unfamiliar for many American speakers, and in spoken Spanish the accents from regions within Spain can be hard to follow. Each translation must be tuned for the target audience, and when there are significant differences, the knowledge and creativity of the translation team will address this issue.

MYTH: “Neutral” Spanish translations will be equally comprehensible to Spanish speakers from anywhere in the world.

FACT: There is no such thing as “neutral” Spanish! Well-known grammatical differences include the use of vosotros the second-person plural form of address in Spain, and the use of vos to mean “you” in many South American countries. (In some countries, vos is less formal than the tú form, and in others, it is more formal.)

Even more problematic, however, are the thousands of minor differences in vocabulary and usage from one country to another. Words used for even commonplace objects—especially, clothing, food, plants and household items—can vary widely. Experienced translators have interacted with many Spanish-speaking cultures, and are aware of these differences. This informs their decisions about which terms to use, and whether alternate terms need to be provided in order to produce the most inclusive translation possible.

MYTH: If the Spanish translation is for Florida, it should be Cuban Spanish.

FACT: Even in Miami, census data (ACS 2003) tells us that only about 54% of the Hispanic population in that city is of Cuban origin. In Orlando, a mere 5% of Hispanics state Cuban origin, in Tampa about 35%, and about 13% in Jacksonville. It is interesting to note, however, that half of our nation's Cuban-Americans reside within Miami-Dade County.

MYTH: In Spain they speak “Castilian,” and in the rest of the world they speak “Spanish” (español).

FACT: Another article in this blog explains how Castilian, Spanish (castellano, español) are all synonyms for the same language. To avoid confusion, the language spoken in Spain should be referred to as Peninsular Spanish or European Spanish. (Occasionally, Spanish speakers use the word castellano to mean “good” Spanish; i.e., not regional or slang. But that is a colloquial expression, not a linguistically accurate description.)

MYTH: Because the metric system is used in Spanish-speaking cultures, all measurements should be converted to metric units.

FACT: Spanish speakers in the United States are immersed in a culture where “English” measurements are the norm. Accordingly in US Spanish translations, these units appear first—commonly followed by the metric conversion in parentheses). When ASIST creates Spanish translations for use in other countries, the order of measurement units is usually the opposite, because elsewhere in the world, the metric system is the norm. Exception to this rule are made when approximate metric conversions would be misleading or cause problems; for example, plumbing fittings or wrench sizes.

While we are on the subject of numbers, it should also be noted that, in Spanish, the use of commas and points to separate thousands and decimals is opposite from English. That is, they would write 1.000,01 instead of 1,000.01 as in English. This is the norm in the Spanish-speaking world, except in Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico… and the United States.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Translating to “Mexican…” Spanish?

According to the Ethnologue Web site, in addition to Spanish, 290 living language varieties are spoken within Mexico. This includes between 87,000 and 100,000 people who speak Mexican Sign Language. Eight percent of Mexico’s population speaks one of many native-american languages. When creating Spanish translations for use in Mexico, it is important to understand that much of this country’s unique Spanish vocabulary reflects Mexico’s cultural diversity, and the influence of other languages that co-exist with Spanish.

To name just a few of the larger language varieties—other than Spanish—that are spoken in Mexico:

• 1,749,000 — Nahuatl language family
• 740,000 — Maya language varieties (southern states)
• 444,000 — Zapotec language family
• 418,070 — Mixtec language family
• 367,000 — Mazahua language varieties (México, Michoacán)
• 272,000 — Totonac language family (Puebla, Veracruz)
• 252,000 — Otomi language family
• 190,000 — Tzeltal language varieties (Chiapas)
• 185,000 — Mazatec family
• 134,000 — Chol language varieties (Chiapas and Sabanilla)
• 122,000 — Huastec varieties (Veracruz, San Luís Potosí)
• 120,000 — Me’phaa language varieties (Guerrero)
• 97,000 — Chinantec language family (Oaxaca)
• 95,000 — Tarahumara language family
• 90,000 — Mixe family (in Oaxaca)
• 79,000 — Tzotzil language varieties (Chiapas)
• 59,000 — Popoloca language family
• 42,000 — Chontal language varieties (Tabasco, Oaxaca)
• 40,000 — Mayo (Sonora , Sinaloa)
• 40,000 — Plautdietsch (German language; Chihuahua)
• 40,000 — Purepecha language varieties
• 38,000 — Chatino language family (Oaxaca)
• 36,000 — Tojolabal
• 28,000 — Amuzgo language family (Guerrero, Oaxaca)
• 25,000 — Tepehuan language family
• 20,000 — Huichol (Nayarit and Jalisco)
• 15,000 — Cora language varieties (Nayarit)

Considering the incredible linguistic diversity of this country, it is hardly surprising that Mexican Spanish (like many other varieties of Spanish spoken around the world) regularly uses so many words originating from languages already spoken in that country before the arrival of the Spanish in the early years of the 16^th century.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Portuguese Translation, French Translation, Spanish Translation: Who and Where?

When you employ a translation agency to create Portuguese, French or Spanish translations of your existing material, simply specifying one of these language names is not sufficient!

• The Portuguese variety spoken by 163 million people in Brazil has important differences from the variety spoken by 10 million in Portugal. Use of verb tenses is decidedly different, as are accepted spellings of many words in the two countries—and of course, the spoken accents are very different. Conventions for formal and informal forms of address are also different, and there numerous differences in vocabulary.
• Likewise, Canadian French (native language of 7 million Canadians) has notable vocabulary differences when compared to the language variety spoken by nearly 54 million people in France—and the accents are also very different, of course. Some Canadian practices regarding punctuation, capitalization and idiomatic expressions also differ from European French.
• Spanish varieties present an even more complex mosaic, because this language is spoken in diverse regions around the globe—by nearly 500 million people, if we include those who speak Spanish as a second language. Aside from the extensive differences in vocabulary that you would expect among people from so many different nations, the most fundamental difference concerns grammar. Use of the second person plural form vosotros is commonplace in Spain, whereas it sounds archaic or scriptural to most Spanish speakers in the Americas (who generally switch to the more formal ustedes form when addressing more than one person).

To summarize, a professional translation company needs to you specify not only the target language, but exactly where the translation will be used. Their professional translators can help you identify dialect issues (and accents, if you are recording narrations for a video or e-learning), conventions for measurement units, and ensure that the grammar, vocabulary and style are appropriate for your target audience.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service interpreting and translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, studio voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com