Reflection and Analysis of Common Issues in Translation: Spanish Dialects
As professional translators, we answer questions often, and many times, the questions have no simple answers. In this forum, I will post frequency asked questions each week, and open comments for translators to reflect based on their experience in the language, as a translator or as student of the language and the trade of document translation and voice interpretation. In this post, some of the best posts regarding the various dialects of Spanish will be listed below.
Week 1: January 20, 2020: Variation in Dialects of Spanish
Spanish is a language that is spoken in about 20 countries. Therefore, there are a lot of different variations, forms, and dialects for it. The variation of the Spanish Language depends on the region where it is spoken. For example, in Spain, the term “vosotros”, which means “you all”, is commonly used, and in countries like Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua the term “vos”, which means “you” is used by most of the population. Also, there are several different dialects among the Spanish-speaking countries. Some of the most common dialects are Castillian, Andalusian, Caribbean, and Central American. The main Spanish dialects spoken in the United States are Mexican, Central American, Caribbean, and Colonial. When it comes to translating for any of these dialects or variations, the best option is to do research on the dialect first then maybe contact a person who knows more about that specific dialect and then translate it in a way that most people can understand. Answered by: EMGF
We have many variations of the old, from those to the new differences we have in our world of ever-changing language and dialects. We have at least seven languages I know of, but there is more. To translate Spanish for a target audience/group, there are particular distinctions of those dialects that most are aware of, and online resources are a possibility to find out what language it is. However, if one can’t translate that said dialect, they would redirect to find a professional who actually would understand and translate the language. There are Ten that are known as major Spanish dialects, and the ones spoken in the US are five kinds. These dialects are Mexican, Spanglish, colonial, Carribean, and Central American. Regional differences can be how the language is stated, unique in the wording, as well as how it is spoken with different areas like California or Mexico have similar regional Spanish dialects, or in the west coast region of the US. The Central American Spanish dialect would be recognized for versatility or specific words in the language – which involve other dialects that may be well known in the Central American region. Answered by: KH
There are many different dialects of Spanish. The Spanish in Spain is different from the Spanish in Latin America, and the Spanish in Latin America is different from the Spanish in Equatorial Guinea. In fact, there are 20 countries that speak Spanish, and they all have different dialects. However, there isn’t just variation among countries, there is also variation within countries. The Castilian Spanish in Northern and Central Spain is different from the Andalusian Spanish in Southern Spain. There are 10 major dialects of Spanish, including Castilian, Andalusian, Murcian, Catalan, Canarian, Llanito, Caribbean, Rioplatense, Latin American, and Equatoguinean (Niki’s Int’l Ltd). In the United States, this number drops to 5. The major dialects are Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, and Spanglish (Spanish Dialects in the U.S). In order to translate a document for a target audience with a shared linguistic background, you first need to do some research on where the target audience is from and what dialect of Spanish is spoken there. If you are unfamiliar with the type of Spanish you need to translate to, it might be better to find someone who is from that area and is familiar with that type of Spanish and the regional differences. Regional differences include differences in words and pronunciations. As a non-native Spanish speaker I would probably always find a native Spanish speaker to translate into Spanish. If you are on your own for translating, it would be helpful to research some of the regional words used in that area. For example, you would not use “vosotros” when translating a document for someone in Latin America; likewise, you would not use “vos” when translating a document for someone in Spain. However, in the likely case you would be translating an official document, you would not use informal speech or slang anyway. If I was translating from Spanish to English, I would look up regional words that I do not know online. It is important to know your circumstances when you are translating, so you can make the appropriate judgement on how best to translate for your target audience. Answered by: GW
There are many Spanish dialects and within each dialect there are different varieties. For example we have Spanish from Spain, Mexico, different dialects in Central America and South American. In Mexico’s dialect there are many varieties and they come from certain regions. Some examples can be Norteño, Bajacaliforniense, Yucateco, Chiapaneco and many more. You can compare it to English in the U.S.. For example our English is different than England’s but we still have many differences. The way we speak English in the southern states is different than how you would speak it in California or New York for example. When it comes to translation you want to use the most common Spanish words for your target audience. If we have a higher Mexican population you want to use the more formal Mexican Spanish that most people would understand similar to how English books are in the U.S. they are all mostly the same across the nation. In the United States we have many Spanish dialects because we have people from all over the world. Even the Spanish from U.S. born Hispanics is sometimes different adding more varieties. Answered by: JV
Like any other language, Spanish has many different dialects and variations that vary between countries, regions within a country, and even certain groups of individuals of a particular age. Even though Spanish is spoken in 20 countries, each having individual variances in dialect distinguishable by both country and region, there are ten major dialects: Andalusian, Castilian, Murcian, Catalan, Canarian, Llanito, Latin American, Rioplatense, and Caribbean. Some variations come from grammatical differences, such as the use of vosotros in some countries while other variances come from the influences of migration or a blend of other languages. These broad dialects can be subcategorized even further by discussing regional variances. Spain has many regional dialects that can still be recognized as Spanish and have influences of the primary dialects of Spain but vary in small localized details. The Latin American dialect can also be broken down into many different regional dialects. When translating for a specific target audience, you must first understand the audience in question and the type of Spanish that they speak. This understanding will help to avoid unnecessary errors even though most written translations, regardless of the region or dialect of origin, will have few variances. Most dialectical variations among Spanish are spoken, rather than written. If you discover in your research that there is a colloquialism that would have an impact on the translation, it’s best to have a native speaker of that type of Spanish when translating a birth certificate. AS
There are many different versions of Spanish throughout the world and each is unique in its own way. The Spanish from Spain is very different from that spoken in Mexico or Guatemala. There are currently twenty countries that speak a form or variation of Spanish. But within those countries, there are different dialects and slang used. The slang used in Honduras would be different from the one used in Colombia. The best way to know which regional variation of Spanish to use when translating a document would be to simply ask the client. You could also look at the document and see if there is a clue like a stamp or seal from Chile to know. There are seven to ten dialects of Spanish currently being used in the world and the United States. A few being Castilian, Mexican, Caribbean, etc. However, the United States is home to Spanglish, which is still being argued on whether being a dialect, pidgin, or something else. The biggest regional difference in Spanish are between Spain and Latin America, but Latin America also has differences between is countries. CAMT
Spanish is a very complex language that has countless Spanish dialects; it changes between countries, states, and regions. However, there are seven different major dialects of Spanish, which include: Castilian Spanish, Andalusian Spanish, Rioplatense Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, Andean Spanish, Mexican Spanish, and Central American Spanish. All of the dialects have different slang and accents, which sometimes makes it hard for many native Spanish speakers to understand other Spanish dialects. I do not think that there is a correct answer as to what dialect or regional variation to use in a translation, because it requires the judgment from the translator. He/she will need to have an understanding as to what type of dialect is the most popular. In the case of Spanish, even though there are many different dialects, there is only one standard written Spanish. Currently, in the United States, there are five Spanish dialects: Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, and Spanglish. Mexican Spanish is the number one spoken Spanish dialect in the United States. EH
There are many different forms and variations of the Spanish language. For example, the Spanish that is used in Spain is different from the Spanish in Latin America but the people from different Spanish speaking countries can still understand each other for the most part. Also in Spanish speaking countries people from different parts of the country have tend to have different accents and slang words. When translated a document for a certain Spanish speaking audience you should look for hints in the document. You can also search the internet for answers or ask a friend who may know. There are many forms and dialects of the Spanish language in the United States. Some forms are Mexican, Castilian, Caribbean, Argentinian, and Bolivian. CP
Spanish, like many of the other languages in the world, is a very complex language that has countless dialects within itself, these varying between the countries, regions and states around the world. Despite the vast number of dialects, Spanish is made up generally of the top 7 dialects; Castilian, Andalusian, Caribbean, Rioplatense, Andean, Mexican, and Central American Spanish. Likewise, due to their differences in regions, linguistics differences are also some of the distinguishing factors that separate the “Spanish” around the world. These differences not only create separation, but cause difficulties for “native” speakers to communicate in other areas of the world. Hence, translation and interpretation can become very complicated and confusing despite the typical thought of translating “Spanish to English” and vise-versa. Much like the world, the United States contain a little bit of each dialect considering its attraction of diversity. JAFG
In the Spanish language there are ten Spanish dialects in general, but within those ten it varies by countries, states, and regions. The main ten are : Spain- Castilian, Andalusian, Murican, and other distant groups. In the Canary Islands there is Canarian. In Gibraltar there is Llanito. In the Americas there are Latin American Rioplatense, and Caribbean. Within the American countries there are more smaller variations of dialects that is spoken. Lastly in Africa there are two main Spanish languages Equatoguinean and Coda. In general all of the dialects have different slang and accents as there is in every language or accent in English, which sometimes makes it hard for many native speakers to understand other dialects even if both speak Spanish. If you are needing to translate a document for a target audience, but are unsure of which variation the simple thing to do is to kindly ask the person what dialect to translate the document. As of right now the known 4 major known sub-types are Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, and Colonial. With Mexican being the most common out the others. SM
There are various dialects of Spanish worldwide. A couple examples of Spanish dialects around the world are Castilian, Canarian, Equatoguinean Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, and Latin American Spanish just to mention a few. Therefore if a document needs to be translated for a target audience it is important to know and research the dialect that specific audience speaks. It would be inappropriate to translate a document in Caribbean Spanish to someone from Central America who have a whole different dialect of Spanish. Things like where they are from, what region, district, or area of a country they are from. If for a reason you are not very familiar with their dialect and even with research done about it you can still not or do not feel comfortable translating a document it is okay to look for a person that is more accustomed to that dialect. With that being said, regional differences can range from pronunciation to grammar. Some examples of pronunciation are between someone from Puerto Rico and a person from Central America. While it is normal for a Puerto Rican person to not completely pronounce the letter ‘r’ it is not common in countries like Honduras or El Salvador. On the other hand, with grammar, for someone from Central America is more common to use ‘los’ that would not be appropriate in Spain. Bringing me to my last point, currently in the United States there are five major dialects of Spanish spoken, those being: Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, Spanglish, and in first place Mexican. Even though when we think of the Spanish language we often times forget about all the different dialects it has. It is important to keep in mind how even though its one language it has so many different branches. PP
There are various dialects of Spanish worldwide. A couple examples of Spanish dialects around the world are Castilian, Canarian, Equatoguinean Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, and Latin American Spanish just to mention a few. Therefore if a document needs to be translated for a target audience it is important to know and research the dialect that specific audience speaks. It would be inappropriate to translate a document in Caribbean Spanish to someone from Central America who have a whole different dialect of Spanish. Things like where they are from, what region, district, or area of a country they are from. If for a reason you are not very familiar with their dialect and even with research done about it you can still not or do not feel comfortable translating a document it is okay to look for a person that is more accustomed to that dialect. With that being said, regional differences can range from pronunciation to grammar. Some examples of pronunciation are between someone from Puerto Rico and a person from Central America. While it is normal for a Puerto Rican person to not completely pronounce the letter ‘r’ it is not common in countries like Honduras or El Salvador. On the other hand, with grammar, for someone from Central America is more common to use ‘los’ that would not be appropriate in Spain. Bringing me to my last point, currently in the United States there are five major dialects of Spanish spoken, those being: Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, Spanglish, and in first place Mexican. Even though when we think of the Spanish language we often times forget about all the different dialects it has. It is important to keep in mind how even though its one language it has so many different branches.
In the Spanish language according to atlalang.com there are 10 Spanish dialects in general, but within those ten it varies by countries, states, and regions. The main 10 are : Spain- Castilian, Andalusian, Murican, and other distant groups. In the Canary Islands there is Canarian. In Gibralter there is Llanito . In the Americas there are Latin American Rioplatense, and Caribbean. Within the American countries there are more smaller variations of dialects that is spoken. Lastly in Africa there are two main Spanish languages Equatoguinean and Coda. In general all of the dialects have different slang and accents as there is in every language or accent in English, which sometimes makes it hard for many native speakers to understand other dialects even if both speak Spanish. If you are needing to translate a document for a target audience, but are unsure of which variation the simple thing to do is to kindly ask the person what dialect to translate the document. As of right now the known 4 major known sub-types are Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, and Colonial. With Mexican being the most common out the others.
Spanish, like many of the other languages in the world, is a very complex language that has countless dialects within itself, these varying between the countries, regions and states around the world. Despite the vast number of dialects, Spanish is made up generally of the top 7 dialects; Castilian, Andalusian, Caribbean, Rioplatense, Andean, Mexican, and Central American Spanish. Likewise, due to their differences in regions, linguistics differences are also some of the distinguishing factors that separate the “Spanish” around the world. These differences not only create separation, but cause difficulties for “native” speakers to communicate in other areas of the world. Hence, translation and interpretation can become very complicated and confusing despite the typical thought of translating “Spanish to English” and vise-versa. Much like the world, the United States contain a little bit of each dialect considering its attraction of diversity.
There are many different forms and variations of the Spanish language. For example, the Spanish that is used in Spain is different from the Spanish in Latinoamerica but the people from different Spanish speaking countries can still understand each other for the most part. Also in Spanish speaking countries people from different parts of the country have tend to have different accents and slang words. When translated a document for a certain Spanish speaking audience you should look for hints in the document. You can also search the internet for answers or ask a friend who may know. There are many forms and dialects of the Spanish language in the United States. Some forms are Mexican, Castilian, Caribbean, Argentinian, and Bolivian.
Spanish is a very complex language that has countless Spanish dialects; it changes between countries, states, and regions. However, there are seven different major dialects of Spanish, which include: Castilian Spanish, Andalusian Spanish, Rioplatense Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, Andean Spanish, Mexican Spanish, and Central American Spanish. All of the dialects have different slang and accents, which sometimes makes it hard for many native Spanish speakers to understand other Spanish dialects. I do not think that there is a correct answer as to what dialect or regional variation to use in a translation, because it requires the judgment from the translator. He/she will need to have an understanding as to what type of dialect is the most popular. In the case of Spanish, even though there are many different dialects, there is only one standard written Spanish. Currently, in the United States, there are five Spanish dialects: Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, and Spanglish. Mexican Spanish is the number one spoken Spanish dialect in the United States.
There are many different versions of Spanish throughout the world and each is unique in its own way. The Spanish from Spain is very different from that spoken in Mexico or Guatemala. There are currently twenty countries that speak a form or variation of Spanish. But within those countries, there are different dialects and slang used. The slang used in Honduras would be different from the one used in Colombia. The best way to know which regional variation of Spanish to use when translating a document would be to simply ask the client. You could also look at the document and see if there is a clue like a stamp or seal from Chile to know. There are seven to ten dialects of Spanish currently being used in the world and the United States. A few being Castilian, Mexican, Caribbean, etc. However, the United States is home to Spanglish, which is still being argued on whether being a dialect, pidgin, or something else. The biggest regional difference in Spanish are between Spain and Latin America, but Latin America also has differences between is countries.
Like any other language, Spanish has many different dialects and variations that vary between countries, regions within a country, and even certain groups of individuals of a particular age. Even though Spanish is spoken in 20 countries, each having individual variances in dialect distinguishable by both country and region, there are 10 major dialects: Andalusian, Castilian, Murcian, Catalan, Canarian, Llanito, Latin American, Rioplatense, and Caribbean (Altalang.com). Some variations come from grammatical differences, such as the use of vosotros in some countries while other variances come from the influences of migration or a blend of other languages. These broad dialects can be subcategorized even further by discussing regional variances. Spain has many regional dialects that can still be recognized as Spanish and have influences of the primary dialects of Spain but vary in small localized details. The Latin American dialect can also be broken down into many different regional dialects.
When translating for a specific target audience, you must first understand the audience in question and the type of Spanish that they speak. This understanding will help to avoid unnecessary errors even though most written translations, regardless of the region or dialect of origin, will have few variances. Most dialectical variations among Spanish are spoken, rather than written. If you discover in your research that there is a colloquialism that would have an impact on the translation, it’s best to have a native speaker of that type of Spanish translating the document.
There are many Spanish dialects and within each dialect there are different varieties. For example we have Spanish from Spain, Mexico, different dialects in Central America and South American. In Mexico’s dialect there are many varieties and they come from certain regions. Some examples can be Norteño, Bajacaliforniense, Yucateco, Chiapaneco and many more. You can compare it to English in the U.S.. For example our English is different than England’s but we still have many differences. The way we speak English in the southern states is different than how you would speak it in California or New York for example. When it comes to translation you want to use the most common Spanish words for your target audience. If we have a higher Mexican population you want to use the more formal Mexican Spanish that most people would understand similar to how English books are in the U.S. they are all mostly the same across the nation. In the United States we have many Spanish dialects because we have people from all over the world. Even the Spanish from U.S. born Hispanics is sometimes different adding more varieties.
There are many different dialects of Spanish. The Spanish in Spain is different from the Spanish in Latin America, and the Spanish in Latin America is different from the Spanish in Equatorial Guinea. In fact, there are 20 countries that speak Spanish, and they all have different dialects. However, there isn’t just variation among countries, there is also variation within countries. The Castilian Spanish in Northern and Central Spain is different from the Andalusian Spanish in Southern Spain. There are 10 major dialects of Spanish, including Castilian, Andalusian, Murcian, Catalan, Canarian, Llanito, Caribbean, Rioplatense, Latin American, and Equatoguinean (Niki’s Int’l Ltd). In the United States, this number drops to 5. The major dialects are Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, and Spanglish (Spanish Dialects in the U.S). In order to translate a document for a target audience with a shared linguistic background, you first need to do some research on where the target audience is from and what dialect of Spanish is spoken there. If you are unfamiliar with the type of Spanish you need to translate to, it might be better to find someone who is from that area and is familiar with that type of Spanish and the regional differences. Regional differences include differences in words and pronunciations. As a non-native Spanish speaker I would probably always find a native Spanish speaker to translate into Spanish. If you are on your own for translating, it would be helpful to research some of the regional words used in that area. For example, you would not use “vosotros” when translating a document for someone in Latin America; likewise, you would not use “vos” when translating a document for someone in Spain. However, in the likely case you would be translating an official document, you would not use informal speech or slang anyway. If I was translating from Spanish to English, I would look up regional words that I do not know online. It is important to know your circumstances when you are translating, so you can make the appropriate judgement on how best to translate for your target audience.
We have many variations of the old, from those to the new differences we have in our world of ever-changing language and dialects. We have at least seven languages I know of, but there is more. To translate Spanish for a target audience/group, there are particular distinctions of those dialects that most are aware of, and online resources are a possibility to find out what language it is. However, if one can’t translate that said dialect, they would redirect to find a professional who actually would understand and translate the language. There are Ten that are known as major Spanish dialects, and the ones spoken in the US are five kinds. These dialects are Mexican, Spanglish, colonial, Carribean, and Central American. Regional differences can be how the language is stated, unique in the wording, as well as how it is spoken with different areas like California or Mexico have similar regional Spanish dialects, or in the west coast region of the US. The Central American Spanish dialect would be recognized for versatility or specific words in the language – which involve other dialects that may be well known in the Central American region.
Spanish is a language that is spoken in about 20 countries. Therefore, there are a lot of different variations, forms, and dialects for it. The variation of the Spanish Language depends on the region where it is spoken. For example, in Spain, the term “vosotros”, which means “you all”, is commonly used, and in countries like Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua the term “vos”, which means “you” is used by most of the population. Also, there are several different dialects among the Spanish-speaking countries. Some of the most common dialects are Castillian, Andalusian, Caribbean, and Central American. The main Spanish dialects spoken in the United States are Mexican, Central American, Caribbean, and Colonial. When it comes to translating for any of these dialects or variations, the best option is to do research on the dialect first then maybe contact a person who knows more about that specific dialect and then translate it in a way that most people can understand.