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Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | I don´t know any dialect well enough

Christine Andersen — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:49:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: I don´t know any dialect well enough

I draw the line at going through a text with the APA style guide. I have once or twice used the Chicago style guide, but otherwise I use British English based on specific grammars and reference books, or the client´s specific instructions if they give any.

I write specialise, organise etc. unless the client asks me to spell them with a z.
I do not normally use Oxford commas, but make exceptions now and then, and do it consistently throughout the text.

I love dialects, but was born in India with a whole range of different accents around me, and heard a mixture at school in the south of England. Home for me was on the Scottish Border, but some locals could tell which village people came from along the river by their accents ... I never picked up any of them, but they sound like music!

I lived for a while in the West Riding, but my own idiolect was fixed by then, and after decades as an ex-pat, I go for a sort of Estuary English. I read and listen carefully to English every day - you can barely escape it in Denmark.

But sadly no, I would not dare attempt a specific dialect.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | BE >> NL

Marjolein Snippe — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:09:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Marjolein Snippe
Post title: BE >> NL

[quote]Philip Lees wrote:

I once did a series of jobs that involved "translating" from US English into UK (British) English. Does that count? [/quote]

That is what I was thinking of too - I am sometimes asked to translate/localise materials from Belgian Dutch or Flemish into Dutch for the Netherlands. Or the other way around, which I do not usually accept, myself being a Northerner.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | US->UK

Philip Lees — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:47:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Philip Lees
Post title: US->UK

I once did a series of jobs that involved "translating" from US English into UK (British) English. Does that count?

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | Why not

Gregor Trebec — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:02:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Gregor Trebec
Post title: Why not

If i know the dialect, why not.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | It's interesting and rewarding!

expressisverbis — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: expressisverbis
Post title: It's interesting and rewarding!

[quote]Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:

Portugal features distinct regional dialects, but these dialectal variations are primarily used in spoken communication. Regional variations are gradually being replaced by a more standardized form of Portuguese, probably influenced by TV. Unique accents remain strong in regions like the North, Alentejo and, most of all, Azores and Madeira. My mother was born in Madeira Island and although she only lived there until her late teens, she couldn’t get rid of her accent. [/quote]

It’s not easy to translate and subtitle Island accents at the same time, but I had the chance to do it last week, and it was such an amazing and lovely experience!
The Madeirense accent is truly wonderful.
It’s melodic and full of personality. I did struggle a bit with a few terms and expressions at first, some of them really made me pause!
But that’s also what makes working with regional varieties so interesting and rewarding!

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | Yes

Maria Laura Curzi — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:10:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Maria Laura Curzi
Post title: Yes

We Latin American translators/linguists know that LATAM Spanish is just an artificial commercial invention, rather than a real language variety, but we are fine to play along with that game.
However, every Latin American country has its own Spanish with different vocabulary, nuances, semantic connotations, and, in many cases, grammar.

So, of course I do "dialect translation" into the Argentine variety of Spanish, but as I live in Buenos Aires, I can't do any "dialect translation" into 'Cordobés' nor into 'Santafesino'.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | No

Liena V. — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:33:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Liena V.
Post title: No

There is only one distinct dialect which has its own writing and vocabulary in Latvian. It is called Latgalian, from the name of the Eastern part of the country where it originates, some even consider it a separate language. I can understand it, but I do not speak it and definitely can not write in it. I was offered to do a translation into Latgalian once but had to refuse, might as well have been any other language.
Other dialects are mostly just regional variations in spoken language.

[Edited at 2026-02-24 17:43 GMT]

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | Once

Gudrun Wolfrath — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:12:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Gudrun Wolfrath
Post title: Once

Years ago, I translated from German into Bavarian.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language? | Other

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: Other

Portugal features distinct regional dialects, but these dialectal variations are primarily used in spoken communication. Regional variations are gradually being replaced by a more standardized form of Portuguese, probably influenced by TV. Unique accents remain strong in regions like the North, Alentejo and, most of all, Azores and Madeira. My mother was born in Madeira Island and although she only lived there until her late teens, she couldn’t get rid of her accent.

Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?

ProZ.com Staff — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:47:39 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you agree to do "Dialect translation" within the same language?".

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