Translating into the Right Version of the Destination Language
by Chad Richardson
October 13, 2020
When you get translation services from one language into another, you need to be sure that you’re working with a good translator. The person who does the translation needs to be fluent in both, the source and the destination language. In addition, they need to speak the right version of the source and destination language.
Different Versions of the Same Language
If your document has to be translated into Brazilian Portuguese, then the translator should be familiar with that kind of Portuguese, as opposed to the Portuguese spoken into Portugal. Of course, there might be more similarities rather than differences between these two types of Portuguese, but if you use the wrong kind, then the people reading the document or advertisement are likely to note it. In other words, the differences may seem minor to someone who doesn’t speak either of the two versions of Portuguese, but they will stand out a great deal to someone who does.
Different Types of English in the World
One can understand the difference between two versions of the same language by considering the various kinds of English spoken throughout the world today. Although American English, British English, Australian English and Indian English might all be various forms of English, they contain differences that are quite obvious to the people who speak them.
English in the US vs. English in the UK
Americans say “aluminum” while Britishers say “aluminium,” with an extra “i”; the words are pronounced differently as well. So if you were to place a large advertisement in an American city with the word “aluminium” in it (with an “i”), it would stand out like a sore thumb. The same goes for “aluminum” without the “i” in the UK.
There are many little differences like this between different types of English e.g. many words which end in “or” in American English end in “our” in British English. This applies to “color,” “honor,” “neighbor” etc. The British say “trainers” where Americans say “sneakers” and the British say “jumpers” where Americans say “sweaters.”
Translating into the Right Version of the Destination Language
The differences between two versions of the same language are many, as anyone who has had the time to study the two will know. This is why it’s necessary for a translator to be clear about the version of the destination language that they are translating into and to be familiar with it.
Contact us for accurate translations into whichever version of the destination language you need.
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