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Portuguese stands in the world’s top ten languages. Spoken by over 250 million people as their first or second language, Portuguese is the fifth most used language among internet users. Widely in use across Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, it is the official language of eight nations, making it one of the most desirable languages to be translated to reach masses.
Important points to consider while choosing a Portuguese Translator
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- Type of Translation required – The majority of Portuguese language users are found in Portugal and Brazil. It is worth noting here that there is a significant difference in the way Portuguese is spoken between the two countries. While comparing in terms of vocabulary, spellings, and accent in grammar, there is a noticeable difference in the conversation and writing styles between the two countries. So, while selecting a Portuguese translator, it is important to figure out your target audience and find a translator who fits your requirement.
- Lengthier text translation – Before starting Portuguese translation, one of the main points to be considered is that the translated text is likely to be 30% lengthier than the English text. While translating, the translator must keep this in mind so as to create content that fits the size of the page the text has to go on.
- Passion for language – It is just not enough to have a sound knowledge of the Portuguese language to be a good translator. Apart from basic knowledge, they must know how to play with words. They must have a passion for language and a love for words. A thorough understanding of general knowledge and current affairs are what make a translator more proficient.
- Experience in the field – A well-experienced translation service provider is always a better choice. Knowledge of two languages is not enough to measure a person’s expertise in translations. This is a special skill that professionals have to work hard on and it takes a long time to develop.
- Word to word translations –The most common mistake is a word-to-word translation. This is a big mistake while translating important documents for your company. The translation is required to be contextual and should deliver the same meaning as the source language. Word-to-word translation is sure to provide results that are misunderstood by the audiences. For example, the slogan of Pepsi “Come alive with Pepsi,” when translated word by word in Mandarin was “bringing your dead ancestors back to life,” thus wreaking havoc in the country.
- Translation qualifications – A translator should possess valid certifications and desired qualifications and must be capable of expressing their ideas in both the target language and the source language. Only being bilingual does not mean that you are a good translator. There are certain necessary skills and experience required to become a good translator.
- Specialization –The translator needs to have relevant subject knowledge of the project assigned. Comprehensive knowledge of the required subject is a desirable attribute for a good translation service provider. Know-how of the project will help them to provide a more accurate translation. For example, if a translator has a basic knowledge of legal terms while translating a legal document, then they are sure to provide better legal translations.
- Good communication skills – Service providers who can communicate themselves very clearly are also good translators. They understand what the client wants and ensure that they do exactly that. A good communicator understands a client’s needs, goals, and desires and ensures prompt delivery, meeting the deadlines.
- Technically equipped – Translation services may require text formatting and other technical specializations. An ethical translation company is technically well-equipped with expertise in-office tools, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Translation editing software can prove to be an added advantage for Portuguese translations.
- Delivery Time – Prompt delivery is an important aspect to be considered while choosing a translator. Turnaround time with timely delivery is crucial, as most translation work is required on time. Businesses of different time zones have specific requirements as per their time preferences. So, it is important to research in advance whether the translation work can be carried outside standard working hours or not.
Conclusion
Translators are passionate about different languages; without which it is impossible to deliver the best results. Top-quality translators do not just translate words, but also help in communicating concepts and ideas between the two cultures. The character of a good translation is that it never sounds like a translation, but as originally written in that language itself.
