LanguageTran understands that what distinguishes English and Spanish, or any two languages for that matter, is more than different sounds for the same idea. We know that language is actually not only sound, but hidden meaning and context. Our professional Spanish translators operate within multiple cultural frameworks to uncover the most accurate and precise translation. To travel across multiple cultural borders, a Spanish translator must have a deep understanding of the many ways in which languages differ, from syntax to gestures to structure and logic.

The Subtext

Additions and omissions of vocabulary are just one example of the challenges faced by a Spanish translator. For instance, in Spanish, there are two ways of saying “I love you”: “te quiero” and “te amo.” The former refers to a platonic love and the latter refers to a romantic kind. Though the English language only has one way to say “I love you”, English speakers can verily understand the difference in meaning between platonic and romantic love. Doubtlessly, when we say, “I love you,” the distinction lies in the subtext.

Gendered language

Unlike the English language, Spanish is gendered, meaning each noun has a masculine or feminine modifier. Speakers of languages with gendered systems generally associate masculine characteristics with nouns that have masculine modifiers and feminine characteristics with nouns that have feminine modifiers. These associations affect their perceptions of the world. To use one of example from linguist Guy Deutscher, Spanish speakers relate the masculine word el puente (the bridge) with supposedly masculine qualities like strength. Research has shown that speakers of gendered languages can create such strong gender-trait associations with objects that it can affect the way they learn and commit things to memory. Clearly, gendered languages affect the way their speakers think and view the world. In a gendered language, the implications of gender often add meaning or detail.

Space

A more complex example of how languages differ is found when you examine how people talk about space. In Spanish, as in most languages, we can describe the relationship or location of objects with egocentric coordinates (“the salt shaker is on my left”) or with cardinal directions (“Mexican free-tailed bats migrate north in March to give birth to their young”). In several aboriginal languages spoken in Australia, space is always described with cardinal directions. Imagine being aware of the relative positions of every object around you with cardinal coordinates without having to think about it! For most, this would be very difficult, but for the speakers of Guugu Yimithirr and Kuuk Thaayorre, it is simply the natural way for them to perceive the world.

Each of these examples shows how the differences between Spanish and other languages affect the way we think. A Spanish speaker sees the world in a way that is intimately bound to the fact that they speak Spanish. A Spanish translator must be able to convey this world perception in a way that recreates the same feeling in another world. To break out of a cultural mold and freely enter a different one is the key to successful language translation.

At LanguageTran, our Spanish translators are experienced, professional and native-speakers. They can easily transcend multiple language domains, compare them and choose the most appropriate reflection of each idea, reworking it into the cultural framework of the target language. We provide an array of translation services, including certified translations and website translations.