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Difference between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish

Spanish translation: se entiene por lo general

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English term or phrase:	Difference between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish
Spanish translation:	se entiene por lo general
Entered by:	Michael Powers (PhD)

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09:27 Jul 8, 2004

English to Spanish translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Computers (general) / language

English term or phrase: Difference between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish

I'm researching the linguistic difference between the European Spanish (Spanish Spanish) and Latin American Spanish, especially Mexican Spanish and Argentine Spanish. We have a Spanish manual which was translated by a translator in Spain. I am not sure if this is readable in Latine American people such as Mexican and Argentine people. If this is not acceptable, should we make each Spanish version for each country in Latine America? Please advise how you think of this.

radak

understandable in general

Explanation:
I have worked in telecommunications extensively, and there are some lexical (word) diferences in some selected terms; however, by and large they are the same.

For example, in Spain the word "ordenador" is used for computer, whereas in Latin America, it is either "computador" or "computadora".

However, in general the same terminology is used.

Mike :)

Selected response from:

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 05:28

Grading comment

Thank you very much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +3

understandable in general

Michael Powers (PhD)

5 +1

agree with mike

anaell

There is no such thing as Latin American Spanish

trixiemck

Focus on the target market or prime reader

BelkisDV

THERE ARE lexical differences

Manuel Cedeño Berrueta

Proofreading for adaptation essential

xxxPaul Roige

Discussion entries: 5

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

difference between european spanish and latine spanish

understandable in general

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 05:28
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 31

Grading comment

Thank you very much!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

disagree

xxx------: Analyzing the results of q2 translations, I often think that we speak different languages. So, probably your translation is readable for everybody but a translation by an american translator would be totally different.

9 mins

agree

anaell: see explanation below as i couldn't fit it all in this little box.....later got carried away as you can see... ;-))

26 mins

agree

moken: yes, it's generally understandable :O) :O)

2 hrs

agree

Cecilia Fraga: por lo general se entiende bien, pero hay algunos terminos que son completamente diferentes. Yo recomendaria una traduccion por un sudamericano tambien, pero esta seria util para toda Latinoamerica. Cualquier cosa a las ordenes! :)

3 hrs

agree

Xenia Wong

3 hrs

27 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

difference between european spanish and latine spanish agree with mike

Explanation:
i agree with mike on the "computadora" term....(was writing this in the "agree" box but explanation didn't fit) as it has just happened to me....in Spain we definately use Ordenador, and PC is translated as "Pe Ce" although everyone knows what it is.
I just received back a proofed version of one of my submissions, and for example the frase: to communicate effectively
my version: comunicarse de forma eficaz
proofed version: comunicarse (de crossed out) EN forma eficaz...
now in Spain this is not correct but it MAY be so in mexican or argentine spanish (not too sure anyway)....there are subtle differences in frasing
Furthermore with regards to Argentina, I have family there, and apart from the obvious accent, they DO say strange things, or at least seem strange to Spanish Spanish, apart from many differences with Vocabulary, i remember the first time someone there asked me about my "pollera" (i was on holiday) which was apparently skirt (falda)....as in Spain this is translated as something completely different (offensive), and vice-versa, there were words that i used that were a complete no-no in Argentina...this is probably true more for slang though
we DO understand each other very well, but written-wise there seem to be gaps......hope this helps you in a way...

anaell
Local time: 11:28
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

difference between european spanish and latine spanish Focus on the target market or prime reader

Explanation:
The answer is very simple: British English is different from American English, from English spoken in Australia, etc., European Portuguese is different from Brazilian Portuguese, French is different from Canadian French and so on. Your translation should be aimed at the target market in order to meet the client's needs.

Regards.

BelkisDV
United States
Local time: 05:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 8

3 hrs confidence:

Difference between European Spanish and Latine Spanish THERE ARE lexical differences

Explanation:
Radak:

I agree with my colleagues: Spanish is only one language, and we Spanish-speakers have no difficulty to understand one another, but THERE ARE lexical differences which can pose a problem when translating a manual.

In addition to the examples already mentioned, I am thinking of words/expressions such as “servicio”, “poceta”, “baño”, “pomo”, “tirador”, “corte”, among many others, and verbs such as “tirar” and “coger”, the meanings of which are completely different in Spain, Argentina or Venezuela.

P.S.: By the way, we say “Latin American Spanish”, not “Latine Spanish”.

Best regards,
Manuel

Manuel Cedeño Berrueta
Local time: 04:58
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4

6 hrs confidence:

Difference between European Spanish and Latine Spanish There is no such thing as Latin American Spanish

Explanation:
The differences from one country to another are notorious. The only two countries where the same type of Spanish is spoken are Uruguay and Argentina. As far as technical language is concerned, usage tends to be more uniform among the countries in South America but differs from the Spanish used in Central America.

trixiemck
Argentina
Local time: 06:28
Native speaker of:

Spanish

13 hrs confidence:

Proofreading for adaptation essential

Explanation:
A similar topic is now running hot in the Spanish Forum. Would love to see this one there too. For the time being, just want to add that proofreading by native Argentinian, Mexican, Colombian, etc. is the way to go. Money well invested, your clients should agree (and happily foot the extra bill if educated properly) but if they don't, well, at least they can't blame you. Standard procedure at an agency I work for, they take no risks. There may eventually not be many changes if any but, basically, it's all about (your) peace of mind.
Best of luck
P :-)

xxxPaul Roige
Spain
Local time: 11:28
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

Catalan

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Spanish translation: se entiene por lo general

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Spanish translation: se entiene por lo general

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