Spanish myths
A translator's perspective

The translation professional often has to deal with clients that don't understand what translation is and what it involves. Whether it's trying to get a client to pay you, or trying to make sure the original document you're given isn't setting you up for a bad translation, it can be difficult and can even put the best of us in a bad mood.

As such, I've put together a list of Spanish myths that clients often have about translators.

Add your own Spanish translation myths

Spanish Myths - A translator's perspective

1. Just because a person speaks Spanish and English means that he/she can translate into Spanish or English.

2. Translators can translate any subject matter, as long as the material is in a language they know.

3. Translating from English to Spanish is the same as translating from Spanish to English.

4. A freelance translator only has to worry about producing good translations in order to have a successful freelance business.

5. A native Spanish-speaker will always be a better translator than a non-native one.

6. Translators never go through dry spells and continually have work.

7. Everybody respects translators and nobody ever tries to take advantage or downplay the role of a translator.

8. Translators like when the client (or someone on the client's end) changes the final translation they deliver.

9. Only translators that are members of a professional organization can translate well.

10. If you can translate, you can interpret.

11. EXTRA: Translators are overpaid freelancers who do an easy job that any high school kid in Spanish class could do just as well.

Being a translator can make you both laugh and cry. You run into all sorts of misconceptions about what translators should be from people who don't know the real deal.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Spanish is not Portuguese 
If you can translate Spanish, you can translate Portuguese. They are practically the same language.

Translation Accuracy 
You need to translate word for word in order in order to be accurate.

Syntax? Nuance? What?! 
Languages are easy to translate word-for-word, so any computerized translator can do just as well as a human.

Translating fast for cheap 
You can do an excellent translation in 24 hours, cheaply.

Being bilingual does not equal being a translator 
I remember that I had just returned home from graduating at a USA university and one day, my father asked me how to say the following in English:

"Y,...

Two more Spanish translation myths 
-Just because they know the words does NOT mean they can speak like a native or even pronounce the words at all. Knowing the words and knowing how to ...

Translations are just a faint copy of the original 
In the end, the translator decides what exactly the orginal message is about.

Especially in some cases, you need more than just knowing both languages....

Vocational Evaluator 
If you can speak Spanish, you should be able to read and translate at the same rate. There should be no need for revision or word substitution. In other ...

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