Translating Spanish

As a teacher and translator, I tend to get a bit obsessed over language. I've been translating Spanish for about eight years now, and I'm still learning about the whole process.

A couple of important things to know about translating are the terms. The document you're translating is known as the source text and the language you're translating into is known as the target language. As I translate from Spanish into English, my source language is Spanish and my target language is English.

Ideally, you want to translate into your native language, as active knowledge of your mother tongue is much more extensive. You are more aware of the idioms, grammar and conventions of your own language and what makes a text sound good in that language.

You also need to be aware of context when you translate. As I live in Mexico, my knowledge of local culture is vital for translating Spanish. It's no good translating the words if you don't understand the meaning behind them.

What are some key points to know about translating?

a) Source and target languages

b) It's best to translate into your native language

c) Context - the cultures you are communicating between (for example, Mexican culture to American culture)